Easter-tide: We must obey God rather than human beings

We must obey God rather than human beings:  Acts 5: 29 – 31.

After refusing to obey the orders of the Jerusalem authorities to keep quiet about Christ and his resurrection, Peter and the apostles found themselves on the defence in a courtroom.   Peter was reminded:  “Did we not tell you to keep quiet about Jesus?

Peter’s response is:  “We must obey God rather than human beings!” (Act 5:  29).  What he was saying was that they were doing ministry given to them by God.  On the other hand the religion of the high priest was in fact fighting against God and was illegitimate! 

Peter’s statement in Acts 5 verses 30-31 brings the Kingship of Jesus and his crucifixion together, highlighting the calling to submit to Jesus as “Lord”:

³⁰The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead—whom you killed by hanging him on a cross.

³¹God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might bring Israel to repentance and forgive their sins. ³² We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”

The death of Jesus is overturned by God’s rising of Jesus. Jesus’ death is not the final word, but the pathway into a new life of repentance and renewal. The resurrection gives permission and licence to the Apostles to preach the gospel.

The cross leads to the absolute Lordship of Jesus that came as a result of his resurrection and it defines the character of his kingdom.

The rhetoric of obeying God rather than humans highlights that ceasing from the proclamation of Jesus would be submitting to the selfish power hungry and greedy lifestyles of the unbelieving world.

Jesus’ resurrection says there is something better than self-indulgence.

It only is the Risen Christ that leads to repentance and to forgiveness.

We either live by the rules and values of the world - or by faith in the resurrected Christ!

Obeying the rules and values of the unbelieving society results in sharing in their judgment as offenders against God.  It is to obey God that gives ultimate victory. That gives daily victory!