*This sermon was originally prepared to be shown as the 8:30 PM Sermon on Easter 2020

What makes a person rush into harm’s way at a time like this?

What is the motivation to risk your life for the sake of another? We see it happening everywhere, what is it that causes people to run toward this infection instead of looking out of number one. The answer for many is that they are part of a revolutionary force for good that Jesus Christ launched when triumphed over death by walking out of a tomb over 2,000 years ago. They are part of His answer to the problems in the world.

The Great Hope of Easter is that there is much much more to the world than we can see, indeed, that the spiritual —the Unseen — actually is far more powerful and important than the seen.

When we have confidence in the Resurrection of the Son of God on Easter One we can live above the tides of the current times. We can look fear and suffering in the face and know that we are up to the challenge. Death does not have the final answer when it comes to us. We KNOW that there is MORE than this life. Much, much more.

As the great follower of Jesus said, ‘to live is Christ — that is to advance Christ’s mission - but to die — WELL THAT IS GREAT GAIN. Death ushers in a totally new creation and life beyond imagination for the followers of Jesus Christ.

I remember a story about a Rabbi during a natural disaster. He was asked how he could explain such a tragic act of God. The Rabbi answered that the disaster was an act of nature. The act of God occurred when people stepped up to help each other. —Lisbeth Schwedler’s Facebook Post

So, Lisbeth and my mom and many other followers of Jesus have taken using their sewing skills to make masks. Craig Rabbeneck, a Christian who owns a manufacturing company retooled his opeation to make the N95 masks.

These people are part of a revolution of love that Jesus launched when he walked out of that tomb on Easter one. He left an empty cross and an empty tomb to launch this revolution of love.

Here’s Another example of what the Revolutionaries who follow this Risen King do…

An elderly woman has died in Belgium after turning down a ventilator to give to a younger coronavirus patient. Suzanne Hoylaerts, 90, is reported to have told doctors: ‘I don’t want to use artificial respiration. Save it for younger patients. I already had a good life.’ She went to hospital on March 20 after her condition deteriorated when she contracted Covid-19, suffering from a lack of appetite and shortness of breath. She tested positive for coronavirus and was put in isolation, meaning her daughter Judith could not visit. She died two days later on March 22.

IF the crowds in Jerusalem who saw Jesus crucified had only known what he was up to as he laid down his life the headlines would have read, ‘Young Hero Wins Hearts by Sacrificing Himself to secure a cure for their fatal disease death.’

The Empty Cross has become the most revered symbol of Easter and the meaning of all that Jesus did in his death, burial and resurrection. To this day, many of Jesus’ followers have overflowing emotions surrounding the cross.

That’s why N.T. Wright wrote this in his powerful book, The Day the Revolution Began’

You can’t get away from it. It’s everywhere.
The cross.
In homes, in films, in paintings, in pop videos. Worn as an earring, on a necklace. Stitched or studded onto leather or denim. Tattoed onto skin…

What would Coca-Cola or McDonald’s give to own a symbol that millions wear around their necks everyday?
The Cross is the universal Christian symbol, acknowledged my millions of Christians everywhere as the single visual sign of their faith.

Which is weird isn’t it?
Because the cross was originally a symbol of suffering and defeat. The Roman Empire killed thousands of its enemies by nailing them to wooden crosses.

It’s like wearing an electric chair token or hanging a little golden lethal injection from your necklace.

Jesus Christ was executed 2,000 years ago by the Romans. But Christians believe Jesus didn’t really stay dead— the Jesus beat death and rose again, beyond death’s reach.

That makes the cross not a sign of death, but a sign of the end of death.
A sign of hope, a sign of possibility-for every human being.
That’s why Christians wear crosses. —N.T. Wright in The Day The Revolution Began

For Jesus’ earliest followers who still lived under the tyranny of Roman rule wearing crosses was not yet the fashion, but they did have a deep understanding of what the cross provided for them as a symbol of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

To Jesus’ earliest they shifted their focus from the cross fully onto the Resurrection of Jesus from the Dead.

For them this meant that God was initiating a new world order — Jesus was leading a rebellion by setting hearts free and returning people to a right relationsship with their Father God. He was up to something big and His resurrection meant that all were welcome in this revolution.

On Easter Sunday we explored the powerful life changing impact that the Resurrection of Jesus from the Dead had on His closest followers. The risked their lives over and over again to the the story of an empty cross, a defeated tomb and Jesus triumph over death. They were unstoppable.

It would be easy to say, well that was then and this is now and we are too sophisticated to believe in a story like Jesus raising from the dead, yet millions today still stake their lives on the event of Easter One — that Jesus Rose from the Dead and that His followers will one day do the same.

**Jesus resurrection has changed more lives, launched more healing hands of love to serve and feed and clothe the least of these and build homes where there were none before than anyone in history.

The Revolution that Jesus launched when he walked out of that tomb on Easter One changed the trajectory of History and he’s still doing it, today.

For all of you who are going and risking and serving in the name of Jesus during this pandemic we honor you and pray for you. Thank you for being on the front lines of Jesus revolution of love. You are making a difference.

That revolution is still going on and people are still being changed by His triumph over death and promise of power for this life and eternal life beyond our one physical life.

Video Testimonies from Phos People

Enjoy these stories of what God is up in their lives because of the revolution that Jesus began in their lives…

You can see that the revolution that Jesus began is still alive and well.

I want to invite you to volunteer for this revolution of love by allowing the risen Christ to come into your life today.

If you’d like to accept Him it begins with a simple prayer like this.

Risen Jesus, I recognize that because of your resurrection that you truly are the Son of God and that I can trust you to erase my sins and remove them and that you can provide power for a whole new way of living and etneral life beyond this one.

Jesus, I accept your gift of new life today and ask that you become the Leader of my life. I will follow you the best I know how.

If you accepted Jesus today or would like to recommit to this revolution or would like to explore going up with us at Phos here’s what you need to do next:
Complete an Online Connect Card at PhosChurch.com or on the Phos Church App and let us know and we will reach out to you in the next day or two to help you take your next steps.

I hope you’ll consider their witnesses and consider following the Risen Lord into a life of hope no matter what this world or this virus throws at us!
We will overcome because He Is Risen, He is Risen indeed and so shall we!