1 Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was approaching, 2 and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some way to get rid of Jesus, for they were afraid of the people.
Looking for a way to kill Jesus, the chief priests and the teachers of the law were paralyzed for fear of the people. The word translated “afraid” in verse two actually means “to put in fear, terrify and frighten; to cause to run away fearful and afraid.” Hebrew Greek Key Word Study Bible New Testament Lexical Aids.
Sounds like these guys were afraid of the wrong thing – better to fear God than man! We find the following Truth in Acts where “Peter the Chicken” prior to the indwelling of the Holy Spirit becomes “Peter the Bold” regarding what others may think:
18 Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John replied, "Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than God. 20 For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard." Acts 4:18-20 (NIV)
We also find Peter in the next chapter of Acts stating:
29 Peter and the other apostles replied: "We must obey God rather than men! Acts 5:29 (NIV)
As believers in Jesus we are to submit to the governing authorities provided that it is not a sin for us to do so. Paul tells us in Romans:
1 Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Romans 13:1 (NIV)
Yet as Christians we are also we are also citizens of Christ’s Kingdom and our allegiances to His rule supersede that of an earthly rule when there is conflict between the two; hence Peter’s refusal to be quiet about His Lord when ordered by the governing authorities to be silent. Paul tells us in Philippians that our citizenship is in heaven:
20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, Phil 3:20 (NIV)
Proverbs also tells us that we are not to be fearful of man:
25 Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe. Prov 29:25 (NIV)
God places His people in a position of testimony – proclaiming how He has been kind to us, the deeds He has done and the compassion that He has bestowed upon us. We are not to be intimidated - the glory of the Lord is worth more than the approval of men. To tremble or be fearful of man will inevitably be a noose around our necks luring, ensnaring and entangling us into sin. In pleasing man over God we are asking for sure trouble.
Consider how King David sat amazed when he pondered God’s great finger work of creation and His mindfulness of insignificant man:
When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, 4 what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? Psalms 8:3-4 (NIV)
Jesus was not swayed by what man thought but rather by doing the will of God. Even His enemies brought this truth to light:
15 Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. 16 They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. "Teacher," they said, "we know you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren't swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are. Matt 22:15-16 (NIV)
We are to be faithfully following the way of Jesus, boldly teaching His truth in love through our actions and through our words.
“Be examples in all countries, places, islands, nations, wherever you come, that your life may preach among all sorts of people.” George Fox