Hey everybody, thanks for joining us today on Pastor Rick's Daily Hope, the Bible teaching ministry of Rick Warren.

Well, today, we're starting a series called The Miracle of Mercy.

Rick's going to show us how God's mercy can lift your guilt, heal your wounds, and transform the way you live.

So let's jump right in for part one of a message called Easter means it's a new day of mercy.

Now this week, all around the world, literally hundreds of millions,

hundreds and hundreds and hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of millions of people

are going to get up in the dark before daylight and go out to attend

an Easter sunrise service.

Easter is the only holiday that we celebrate at the break of dawn.

Why is this?

Because it was at the break of dawn on a brand new day that we heard the news that Jesus Christ

had raised from the dead. And it changed everything. Now, it's Easter. So let's just start

with Easter story. Look up here on the screen. Let me read you part of the Easter story.

Early on Sunday morning, as the new day was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went out to see the tomb.

This is where Jesus had been buried after dying on the cross three days earlier.

Suddenly there was an earthquake when an angel moved the giant stone away from the opening of the tomb. This is one of these walk-in kind of tombs, not under the dirt tomb, and then sat on the stone.

Now the Bible says the angel's face shone like lightning and his clothes were brilliant white.

Now when the Roman guards saw this happen, they shook with fear and fainted.

Well, I guess so.

So then it says, then the angel spoke to the women who had gone up there, I don't know,

to bring flowers or whatever.

Don't be afraid.

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