Good morning Riverside County brothers, sisters and friends. Let’s pray. Tim Montoya here and what a beautiful Resurrection Sunday it is. Happy Easter to everybody and thanks to all the technical and worship servants of the Riverside County Church of Christ who are facilitating a great celebration. It is a tremendous blessing to see each other’s faces on our screens. We have been studying about the Resurrection of Jesus since March 8^th one week before we were given the national secure in home order to help stop the spread of COVID-19 virus that has taken so many lives and stopped the world in her tracks. This will be our Easter lesson about the Resurrection of Jesus and how it changes our love for Him. We will be in Johns Gospel chapter 20.

Let us remember that our Almighty God is with us to help us and even though we may weep in the night His joy comes in the morning. We can celebrate because in Jesus we know that our greatest enemy sin and death has been defeated in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ our Lord. Up from the grave He arose with a mighty triumph over His foes! He arose a victor from the dark domain and He lives forever with His saints to reign

This is what our God says to us

“Sing the praises of the LORD, you who are faithful to Him. Praise Him, because His name is holy. His anger lasts for only a moment. But His favor lasts for a person’s whole life. Weeping can stay for the night. But joy comes in the morning. Psalm 30:4-5

–On Friday the Son of God was brutalized and tortured to death and died at 3pm. He was hurriedly buried by two secret followers before the Sabbath began.

–On Saturday His mangled and pierced body lay in rest. Sabbath Saturday was quiet. His followers were grief-stricken and hiding behind locked doors on Saturday.

–On Sunday at early dawn a powerful Angel of God came down and rolled the heavy stone away from the tomb and the Roman guards ran for their lives. The Son of God had conquered death and paved the way for His people to follow Him.

What is God saying to us on this Resurrection Sunday?

I Know God is saying that we Must,

1. Love Jesus as Family          John 20:11-18

But Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she cried, she bent over to look into the tomb. She saw two angels dressed in white. They were seated where Jesus’ body had been. One of them was where Jesus’ head had been laid. The other sat where His feet had been placed. They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?” They have taken my Lord away,” she said. “I don’t know where they have put Him.” Then she turned around and saw Jesus standing there. But she didn’t realize that it was Jesus. He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who are you looking for?” She thought He was the gardener. So she said, “Sir, did you carry Him away? Tell me where you put Him. Then I will go and get Him.” Jesus said to her. “Mary” She turned toward Him. Then she cried out in the Aramaic language, “Rabboni!” Rabboni means Teacher. Jesus said, “Do not hold on to Me. I have not ascended to the Father. Instead, go to those who believe in Me. Tell them, “I am ascending to My Father and your Father, to My God and your God.” Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news. She said, “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that He had said these things to her.

• V.11 Mary was selected by Jesus to see what she saw.  She was seeking His body; she was seeking, and grieving and she saw the angels first! Then Jesus!
•   Proverbs 8:17— I love those who love Me, and those who seek Me diligently find Me.
• V. 16 All Jesus had to do is say her name and she immediately recognized Him. My sheep hear my voice because He calls them by name. Jn 10:3
• V.17 Because you Love Me, I have a mission for you. Go tell by brothers and sisters. My Father & your Father, My God & your God.   FAMILY in Heb 2:11
• 20:18 She should not keep Him to herself but go on mission. Be an apostle to the Apostles. A messenger to the messengers.  “She told them all that He said.”
• Let’s do our part and listen to Jesus in these times. Follow directions and seek Him diligently in prayer and Scriptural devotion. Romans 13:1-2 & 1Tim 2:1ff
• New Creation—This is what Jesus is showing us. He is the firstborn from the dead.

John Polkinghorne—Physicist/Theologian

“The new creation represents the transformation of the universe when it enters freely into a new and intimate relationship with it’s Creator, so that it becomes a totally holy and sacred world, saturated with the Divine Presence.”

2.        Love Jesus as a Genuine Believer does      John 20:24-29

But Thomas was one to the 12 disciples. He was called Didymus. He was not with the other disciples when Jesus came. So, they told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “First I must see the nail marks in His hands. I must put my finger where the nails were. I must put my hand into His side. Only then will I believe.” A week later, Jesus’ disciples were in the house again. Thomas was with them. Even though the doors were locked, Jesus came in and stood among them. He said, “May peace be with you!” Then He said to Thomas, “Put your finger here. See my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” Thomas said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen Me, you have believed.” Then Jesus told him, “Blessed are those who have not seen Me, but still have believed.”  Jn 20:24-29

• One week after resurrection morning. Doubting Thomas is called to genuine faith.
• Thomas called Jesus, “My Lord and my God!!! One must grow in faith to love God like this.
• God initiates with us to develop this love that believes the most fantastical things about Him. Initiation is a true indicator of LOVE.

N.T. Wright

The Message of Easter is that God’s new world has been unveiled in Jesus Christ and that you’re now invited to be a part of it.

3.        Love Jesus as His Co-Worker        John 21:9-17

When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals. There were fish on it. There was also some bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat. He dragged the net to shore. It was full of large fish. There were 153 of them. But even with that many fish the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask Him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them. He did the same thing with the fish. This was the third time Jesus appeared to His disciples after He was raised from the dead. When Jesus spoke to Simon Peter. He asked, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these others do?” “Yes, Lord,” he answered. “You know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” Again Jesus asked, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” He answered, “Yes Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of My sheep.” Jesus spoke to Him a third time. He asked, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” He answered, “Lord, you know all things. You know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.”

• Peter was asked about Love 3 times. Do you Love Me more than these others? He asked him 3 times because he denied knowing Jesus 3 times. 
• If You love Me, you will feed and take care of my lambs and sheep.
• Loving Jesus means we are coworkers with Him in helping other to come to Him.
• In verses 18-23 Jesus told Peter how he would die. Peter saw John following them. Everyone dies. Jesus’ resurrection broke the devil’s power in fear/death.

N.T. Wright

Death is the ultimate weapon of the tyrant; resurrection does not make a covenant with death it overthrows it. Christ’s resurrection doesn’t mean escaping from the world; it means mission to the world based on Jesus’ Lordship over the world.

• The Apostle John wrote of Peter’s death, but Jesus did not disclose his death in John 21:18-23.   “Suppose I want him to remain alive until I return. What does that matter to you?”  “You follow ME.”
• The Apostle John waited until he was an old man imprisoned on an island call Patmos and Jesus gave Him a vision of His return.
• We now wait with the same longing and expectation for Jesus’ triumphal return as our God has promised.   Revelation 1:5-8
• “May grace and peace come to you from Jesus Christ. He is the faithful witness, so what He has shown can be trusted. He was the first to rise from the dead. He rules over the kings of the earth. Glory and power belong to Jesus Christ Who loves us! He has set us free from our sins by pouring out His blood for us. He has made us members of His royal family. He has made us priests who serve His God and Father. Glory and power belong to Jesus Christ forever and ever! Amen. Look He is coming on the clouds! Every eye will see Him. Even those who pierced Him will see Him. All nations of the earth will mourn because of Him. This will really happen! Amen. “I am the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord God. “I am the God who is, and who was, and who will come. I am the Mighty One.” Revelation 1:5-8
• Continue to pray and keep in contact with our friends who also desperately need the Love of Jesus to saturate their lives as Family, Genuine believers, and co-workers. Remember that His resurrection changes how we love HIM.

As we share in the Lord’s Supper together, we give thanks with overflowing hearts for the Love that He has poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit He has given to us and the Grace that He bestows upon us in the sacrifice of His Son’s body and the pouring out of His blood that frees us from our sins so we can live as new creations as well until He comes again to make all things right.

• May the Lord bless you; may the Lord protect you; may He shine His face upon you and be gracious to you. May the Lord smile upon you and give you peace.

On the night that Jesus was betrayed He took the loaf, broke and gave it to His disciples saying, “This is My body with is given for you take and eat it. Then He took the cup and said drink from this cup for it is the New Covenant in My blood. As often and you eat the bread and drink the cup Remember Me.

• Take some time to silently confess to Him.

Let’s Pray.

• We thank you O Lord for the sacrificed body of Your Son and His precious Blood poured out for us and this promise of resurrection that we have in Jesus Christ. In this time of crisis please make our prayers and lives be lives that honor you, listen to you as we experience Your Love as Family, Genuine Believers in Jesus and His Co-workers. Please fill us with Your Spirit and use us to lead many to Your righteousness. Dear heavenly Father, almighty creator of heaven and earth, please establish your kingdom in our midst, Dear Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on us sinners, Dear Blessed Holy Spirit, breath of the Living God, renew and transform us and the whole world into the image of Jesus.                 

                                                         We pray this in the powerful name of Jesus.