Christ is Risen! (Because God is More Powerful than the Government!)

John 20:1-18

As we enter Easter weekend and we remember the death and Resurrection of Jesus, the focus is normally on the miraculous power of God and unearned salvation represented in this season. Or bunnies and eggs. Either way, Jesus’s radical economic message isn’t central to the text of the Easter narrative or our traditional celebration of Easter Sunday. When you head into church this Sunday you will hear the good news told in wonderful, amazing ways, so I’m going to consider that covered, and I’m not going to dig into the text the way I normally would.

Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!

But, as you are enjoying some Easter chocolate, remember that the Easter story is essentially the story of God coming to us through a poor person in an occupied land. That person spoke out against the systems of power in that land, and called on it’s people to follow God and love one another as they loved themselves. Because of the radical nature of his message, state and religious powers conspired to kill him in a way that would send this message: You will not defy us! But God is more powerful than any state power.

Christ is risen, and the powers that stand against God’s people should tremble. So, even if the text of your Easter reading doesn’t say much about politics or economics, its still there. God’s radical love triumphs over state violence. We should be working and praying for that now as well.

So, if you are feeling like some radical economics would do right this Easter, here’s a sermon I did from a few weeks ago where I have a good bit to say about Paul and a bit more to say about a tax on wealth. Have faith. God can do anything. Happy Easter!