Do we Preach Rebellious Gospel? (Part 1)
This is in response to "Jesus Crist waa a true rebel" by Gabriel D;Souza in this forum on 2nd April 2011.
The phrase that caught my attention was, “Jesus was a rebel.” it is not relevant; it’s not a new idea. It’s been said by those on the hippie-fringe of the church for as long as I can remember. It sounds good, it sounds cool, radical, like, you know, something hip young dudes think is, like, totally, whatever. The trouble is, it just isn’t true. Jesus was no rebel. Jesus was the most humble, submissive man ever to walk this earth. He never committed a single rebellious act or had a single rebellious thought. That would have been sin; and as you know, Jesus never sinned. If he did, the gospel is dead.
Rebellion is opposition, resistance, defiance to authority. With that in mind, was it even possible for Jesus to rebel?
Bible say's, When they came to Capernaum, those who collected the two-drachma tax came to Peter and said, “Does your teacher not pay the two-drachma tax?” He said, “Yes.” And when he came into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth collect customs or poll-tax, from their sons or from strangers?” When Peter said, “From strangers,” Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are exempt. However, so that we do not offend them, go to the sea and throw in a hook, and take the first fish that comes up; and when you open its mouth, you will find a shekel. Take that and give it to them for you and Me.” Matthew 17:24–27
We should not be told that God Incarnate is under no man’s authority, but from this passage, we can see from Jesus’ own words that he had no one on earth to rebel against. Yet, so that he would not cause offense, He submitted to authority that had no legitimate expectation of his obedience. Not quite the picture of a rebel, is it?
Of course, in his Trinitarian relationship with the Father, Jesus was under authority. This is an authority to which he willingly, humbly, submitted. Philippians 2:8 tells us, “Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” In his agony in Gethsemane, he prayed, “Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done.” Luke 22:42.
The submissive spirit of Jesus is also seen in the Apostle’s teaching. Children are to be obedient to their parents Ephesians 6:1–3; Colossians 3:20), wives to their husbands (Ephesians 5:22; Colossians 3:18; Titus 2:3–5; 1 Peter 3:1), slaves to their masters (Ephesians 6:5–8; Colossians 3:22; Titus 2:9–10), and all to their shepherds (1 Corinthians 16:15–16; Hebrews 13:17) and the civil authorities (Titus 3:1; 1 Peter 2:13–16). Only one circumstance is given in which we are to disobey any authority: when it conflicts with higher authority. When forbidden to preach, Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:27–29).
Our Lord was not a rebel, and we are not called to be rebels. We are called to “pursue peace with all men” Romans 12:18. That may not appeal to the postmodern crowd that values the radical and edgy, but it is what the Lord demands of us.
Pastor.Arun D'souza
House of Blessing Ministry
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