Brent Kuhlman

Acts 5:29-42

Forbidden to preach in Jesus’ Name. Forbidden to teach in Jesus’ Name. Who? Peter, John and the other apostles.

They are under strict orders to stop preaching Christ crucified and risen for the forgiveness of sins. To knock that off. To cease and desist. Or else.

That was the ruling from the Jewish supreme court, the Sanhedrin. Peter and James must stop preaching Jesus as the Christ. Or it will be more jail time for them. And this is no idle threat. They’ve already served time behind bars for preaching the Gospel.

But Jesus has risen from the dead. No one else in the world has ever done that. Not Buddha. Not Muhammad. Not Joseph Smith. Not even Ghandi! Only Jesus left the grave high and dry. Only Jesus came to Thomas and said: “Put your fingers where they drove the spikes. Put your hand into the gash on my side.” And then Thomas believed: “My Lord and my God!”

Yes, indeed. Jesus is Lord. Jesus is God. Died on the Cross. Buried in a borrowed grave. The Third Day He rose. “My Lord and my God!” The Lord and God who saves through the forgiveness of sins won for all by His hanging dead on the Tree and then bolting from the grave! And that changes everything!

A Jesus risen from the dead means that He truly is who He says He is: the Son of God. The living Christ. Who has all authority in heaven and on earth. Who brings a peace-filled Holy Spirited word of forgiveness to the world. He is our Lord and our God. For us and for our salvation.

But a Lord and God risen from the dead Jesus is a big time threat to those who take their do-it-yourself-religion seriously. Lord and God Jesus did the salvation job all by Himself. And He did it completely. That leaves the do-it-yourselfers out of the equation. No contribution from the I can take of myself types. No assist from them. No merit or earnings count. Just Lord and God Jesus who shows us His scars and His gash that have fully achieved the salvation of the world. And then comes His giving. Freely He speaks His Holy Spirit-filled Word of Absolution through His called and ordained sent ones: “Your sins are forgiven. Peace be with you.” That’s the viva vox Christi (the living voice of Christ) for you. And His resurrection word of forgiveness does and gives what it says.

So when Peter and John are forbidden to preach that Jesus, His resurrection, and His forgiveness, they disobey. “We must obey God rather than men,” is their resolute answer. Lord and God Jesus mandated the apostolic preaching. He apostled them with His Holy Spirited-breath to be forgiveness men for sinners. Here the Jewish supreme court has no authority. When it comes to preaching the Gospel, Lord and God Jesus must be obeyed. Even if the authorities pull out the jail card from their sleeve.

You’d think Peter and the apostles would lay low for a while. No. They’re even bolder and clearer with more preaching. Listen. “We must obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you put to death by hanging Him on a cross. He is the one whom God exalted to His right hand as a Prince and Savior, to grant repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him.”

The sermon cuts very deep. Now it’s not just the threat of prison. Now the Jewish authorities want the apostles put to death. That’s right. Snuff them out for their preaching of Lord and God, Prince and Savior Jesus. Were it not for Gamaliel’s advice they certainly would have been murdered. Gamaliel tells the court to leave the apostles alone. “Stay away from these men and leave them alone, for if this plan or action should be of men, it will be overthrown. But if it is from God, you will not be able to overthrow them or else you may even be found fighting with God.”

So the authorities call for the apostles. They have them beaten with a whip. And then the warning one more time: “We forbid you to preach or teach in the name of Jesus anymore!”

But that doesn’t stop the apostles one bit. They keep right on “teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.” They rejoice that they suffer for preaching Jesus. No greater honor than that.

You’d think threats and persecution would weaken the church. Throw the church and her preachers into a dizzying panic and helpless despair. Nope. Does just the opposite. The Word of the Lord grows under the bullying and hounding. After all, death could not hold Jesus. The authorities cruelly and ruthlessly put Him to death. But Jesus is the Lord. The one true God. The Prince and Savior of Israel -- and you His died for, redeemed, and baptized children. You’re His.

And being His means enduring the scorn of unbelievers like the authorities (religious or secular), the teacher, the coach, a relative, or whoever. With the rejection of the Lord Jesus Christ and with you being His, come their threats. Their mocking. Their taking away your job. Turning a spouse or a child against you. Taking away your property. Ruining your good name. To be a Christian these days, as it always has been, is very dangerous vocation. It comes with many perils. Many enemies. Perhaps even threat of death itself.

But no matter. Jesus is risen! “My Lord and my God!” If the intimidation or persecution come, let them be. Count it all for joy that the Lord would use you to confess His Name. For death could not hold my Lord and my God Jesus. Nor can death hold you who belong to the Risen One. We will obey God rather than men. We will cling to Lord and God Jesus who died for us. Who rose for us. Who with His forgiveness gives us life and salvation. And the Word of the Lord will grow. The Lord of the Church, Jesus Himself, will see to that. Have no fear. Do not worry. Christ is risen! He is risen indeed. Alleluia!

In the Name of Jesus.

Brent Kuhlman

Second Sunday of Easter