A Sermon on the Resurrection and Soft Power
(Note: Sermons can be heard in audio format at https://millersburgmennonite.org/worship/sermon-audio/)
Introduction
I started riding the school bus when I was 6 years old and I’ll be forever grateful for Hot Shot, one of the bigger kids, who looked out for me. He was big and I was kind of scared of him, but he took me under his wing, showed me the ropes, where to get off and on the bus, and made sure the other bigger kids didn’t mess with me. Hot Shot must have graduated soon after because I don’t remember him being on the bus much after those first couple of years. I do remember that there were other big kids who weren’t as nice as Hot Shot. Once you became a 6th grader, you could become part of the safety patrol. The kids in the safety patrol got to wear the neon orange safety belt across their chests and supposedly help Moses, our bus driver, keep the chaos on the bus at a manageable level. Mostly, what I remember, is that the big kids who were part of the safety patrol used their authority to boss the rest of us around. I remember thinking about how I couldn’t wait to get old enough so I could start wearing that safety belt and tell the other kids what to do. I didn’t like being bossed around and so I longed for power. Well, eventually I became a 6th grader and I did get to wear the belt and like the kids before me, I started bossing the little kids around. At least, at first. I like to think that eventually I came around to a different view of power and acted more like Hot Shot, but I can’t say for sure.
One of the resources we use for the Baptism class is the Mennonite Confession of Faith. Last Sunday, during our most recent baptism class, I was reminded again of the profundity of the words in Article 8 “We place our faith in God that, by the same power that raised Christ from the dead, we may be saved from sin to follow Christ and to know the fullness of salvation.” Hence the title of my sermon. This idea is found throughout Paul’s letters. In our scripture passage this morning, in Ephesians, and in Romans to name a few, Paul reminds his readers (and us) that the same power that raised Christ from the dead dwells in us as believers. Do we honestly believe that….that we are filled with God’s resurrection power? And if we do, how does that power manifest itself in our lives? Is it active? Does it reflect the way Jesus used his power? These are just some of the questions that came to my mind as I reflected on our passage this morning.
Let us pray;
May the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in your sight, O God, our Rock, and our Redeemer. Amen.
Homily
According to a 2020 State of Theology study by Lifeway Research, two-thirds of American adults say they believe the biblical accounts of the physical resurrection of Jesus are completely accurate. The study also found that among those who attend church services at least once or twice a month, the belief in the resurrection is higher, at 89%. Even among those who don’t attend church as frequently, almost half (48%) agree that Jesus’ bodily resurrection happened just as the Bible describes it.
So most Christians it seems, and even a significant number of “nones,” believe in the Resurrection. Jesus’ resurrection is a big deal. Why? Why is belief in the resurrection of Jesus so important, especially to Christians?
First, Christ’s resurrection ensures forgiveness and reconciliation with God. The apostle Paul emphasizes this connection in 1 Corinthians 15. According to verse 17, If Christ had not been raised, our faith would be futile, and we would still be in our sins. The Message puts it this way, “If Christ weren’t raised, then all you’re doing is wandering about in the dark, as lost as ever.”
Secondly, the resurrection assures believers that death is not the end. On the Day of Pentecost, Peter proclaimed that God raised Jesus from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death. We hear this proclamation over and over again in the Gospels and throughout the New Testament as well. “Where, O Death, is your victory? Where, O Death, is your sting? Death lost its grip on Jesus. He defeated it for himself and for us. We have hope beyond the grave. We don’t have to fear our mortality. Our hope hinges on Christ’s triumph over death. Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25). He not only gives life but is life itself.
Third, Jesus’ resurrection proves that he is who he says he is . . . the Son of God and the promised Messiah. Hundreds of eyewitnesses attested to his resurrection, as Paul notes in 1 Corinthians 15:3–8, providing irrefutable proof of his role as the Savior of the world. The Old Testament prophecies about his suffering and resurrection are fulfilled in Christ’s victory over death (Acts 17:2–3).
Now I understand that this resurrection thing can be a hard thing to logically wrap our minds around this side of the so-called Enlightenment. But it is essential, as Paul notes, for us as believers to believe in the resurrection. And it seems that according to the statistics I mentioned earlier most Christians do believe that Jesus was raised from the dead.
But regardless of what we believe, there seems to be a disconnect between belief in the resurrection and a deeper understanding of how the resurrection, the same power that raised Christ from the dead, is activated in our lives. If the same power that raised Christ from the dead dwells within us, then shouldn’t that power be at work in our lives, transforming us, manifesting itself in how we think and act? How do we tap into that power? What does that look like?
I believe that the relationship between belief in the resurrection and the ability to “tap into that power” is about the connection between our faith and the empowerment that comes from it. Returning to my earlier story, only the kids who got to wear the neon orange safety belt had the authority to help the bus driver. They were part of the safety patrol and the rest of us were supposed to listen to them. The belt they wore symbolized their power. Let’s say we’re part of Jesus’ safety patrol and the resurrection is our neon orange safety belt strapped across our chests. What does the resurrection symbolize?
One, the resurrection symbolizes transformation and the possibility of new life. It is a source of spiritual renewal and empowerment for us. The resurrection encourages us to live in accordance with the teachings of Jesus and to embrace a life characterized by faith, love, and hope.
Two, the resurrection is central to the gospel and to the hope ministered by it. Because Jesus conquered sin and the grave, we too have victory in Jesus. It is through Christ’s death and resurrection that we have been redeemed. Hallelujah!
Three, the resurrection offers us hope for us now in this life. The resurrection can be a source of great comfort, reminding us that even in the face of hardship, illness, and even death, we can have faith in the promise of new life through Christ. The resurrection empowers us to live out our faith no matter what.
Belief in the resurrection is fundamental to our faith as Christians. But that belief is not latent, it is active, it is, like Jesus, alive.
Each day, the same power that raised Christ from the dead is transforming us.
Each day the same power that raised Christ from the dead is redeeming us.
Each day the same power that raised Christ from the dead is empowering us to live
But what does that power look like in the practical sense? Does it look like the way Hot Shot used his power? Or does it resemble the way the other bigger kids acted? If the safety belt is a symbol of the power we have through Jesus’s resurrection, how do we exemplify that power? I believe we can find some clues in the term soft power and how Jesus exemplified this power in his life, death, and resurrection. The term “soft power” refers to the ability to influence and attract others to obtain the desired outcomes, rather than using coercion or force. It’s about shaping the preferences of others through appeal and attraction.
Jesus practiced what he preached, living out his ministry with love, compassion, and humility, which attracted people to his message and mission. Jesus didn’t rely on force or authority but rather on the transformative power of his message and the personal relationships he built with people.
Jesus’ use of soft power is evident in several ways:
- Jesus believed in the potential of people and invested time in teaching and mentoring them.
- Jesus led by example, his actions reflected his teachings, demonstrating integrity and gaining moral authority.
- Jesus looked beyond immediate circumstances and worked towards a long-term vision for humanity.
- Jesus sent his followers on missions, empowering them to spread his message and serve others.
- Jesus showed deep care for communities, often expressing grief for their struggles and offering hope.
Romans 8:11, says, “And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit, who lives in you.”
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary on Romans 8:11 suggests that if the Spirit is in us, Christ is in us, and this Spirit brings a new and divine life to the soul.
Just as soft power involves influencing others through attraction and appeal rather than coercion, the verse suggests that believers are empowered by the same Spirit that enabled Jesus’ resurrection. This empowerment allows us to lead and influence in a manner that is transformative and life-giving, akin to the way Jesus led with love, compassion, and moral authority. It’s a power that works not through outward force but through inward transformation, enabling us to make a significant impact on the world around us.
Ephesians 1:19-20 states: “That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms” (NIV).
This verse too can be seen as highlighting a form of spiritual soft power. We as believers are endowed with a divine strength that is not forceful or domineering but is instead characterized by its life-giving and transformative nature.
The same divine power that raised Jesus from the dead and is now at work within us can empower us to live out our faith and influence others in a positive non-coercive way.
In the church, power is often understood in the context of God’s sovereignty and Jesus’ example of servant leadership. However, throughout history, there have been instances where individuals or groups have confused spiritual power with worldly power, leading to the use of force or coercion in the name of faith.
We must be careful that we do not misinterpret scripture to conform to preconceived notions or how we may see power “working” in the world around us. This can result in a skewed understanding of power that justifies violence and coercion, which is a departure from the biblical depiction of Christ’s power as life-giving and transformative.
In the gospels, Jesus wielded power through healing, teaching, and ultimately through his sacrificial death and resurrection. The “power” that believers are called to embrace is one that reflects these aspects of Christ’s ministry—the power to heal, the power to serve, and the power to love.
So how can we as Christians manifest “the same power” in the places where we live, worship, and work? How do we live differently because Jesus has been raised from the dead?
First, we follow the example of Jesus, who came not to be served but to serve others.
Second, we stand up for the marginalized and oppressed, just as Jesus did, working towards creating a just and equitable society where all individuals are valued and treated with dignity.
Third, we encourage personal spiritual development and integrity in ourselves and others. A rich personal relationship with the Spirit allows the power of Christ’s resurrection to be more fully realized in our lives.
Fourth, we work towards reconciliation, bridging divides and healing wounds. The power of Christ’s resurrection empowers us to be ministers of reconciliation.
Fifth, we can embrace gratitude, make and keep promises, live truthfully, and practice hospitality.
In all of these ways, we demonstrate a power that is rooted in love, service, and transformation, reflecting the true nature of the power that Jesus embodied and taught.
Friends, the world has a pretty skewed view of power. But greater is he who is in us than he who is in the world. Amen?
Our belief in the resurrection is crucial to who we are as Christians. The same power that raised Jesus from the dead dwells in me, dwells in you, dwells in all of us.
The same power.
And it is through that power, not by our own strength, not by coercion or domination, that we and the people around us can be transformed into the likeness of Jesus, who used his power to serve others and give his life for all.
Let us pray,
Mighty God, fill us in a new way with your resurrecting power so that our lives may reflect the power of your love to change us and those around us from the inside out.
Amen.
Slow Mover 