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At A Distance
Mark 14:54 NKJV
“But Peter followed Him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. And he sat with the servants and warmed himself at the fire.”
We meet up with Peter, one of the closest of the disciples to Jesus. He was in the inner circle of the three who did much with Jesus. We know them as Peter, James, and John.
Of the three, Peter was highly blessed.
But Peter is not feeling blessed at the arrest of Jesus.
Everyone has now left Jesus and fled away.
Furthermore, the night is dark, and Peter, wanting to be hidden by the darkness, follows behind Jesus and his accusers, at a distance.
Have you ever followed along in a crowd, not letting anyone know that you know Jesus?
In addition, do you deny Him by your silence?
Perhaps, you shug off your close connection to your Best Friend.
The crowd is often against Jesus.
You want acceptance by your co-workers, your neighbors, and your “friends.”
Therefore, you don’t admit that you accepted Lordship of Jesus Christ in your life.
Now, in fact, you are not putting Him into the place of Authority, but turning your back on Jesus.
Do you see it?
It is just like Peter on that night of the arrest of Jesus, so many years ago.
Peter had said he would never deny Jesus, just a short time before he denies Jesus three times.
Notice, that Peter has crept into the servants area.
They are sitting around a fire, and Peter has sat down in the midst of the crowd to warm himself by their fire on this chilly night.
Is he thinking of other fires shared with the disciples and Jesus?
Is he thinking of the times of laughter and fellowship with the Lord?
Or is Peter only thinking of avoiding arrest himself, and of keeping himself safe, hidden, and warm?
When he is questioned if he knows Jesus, Peter denies Him.
Over and over Peter will deny Jesus.
Do you?
You remember the account in the Bible. It was Peter who, after loud protestation that he NEVER would deny Jesus, did just that.
Loudly, crudely, and a full three times.
He denied His Lord THREE times before the neighborhood rooster crowed twice, just as Jesus had foretold.
Do you do the same?
Do you downplay your beliefs and your morals when the crowd questions you, directly or indirectly?
What do you do when your speech is surrounded by the vulgarity of others?
What do you do when the name of your Lord is taken in vain?
Do you attend when you are invited to places that you know the Lord would not approve of?
What do you do?
Are you finding a place to sit in the midst of the crowd and warming yourself by a fire, without testifying of Jesus Christ and all that He has done for you and meant to you?
Jesus turned and looked at Peter (Luke 22:61 NKJV), and Peter ran off and wept.
Do you weep when you are by yourself and realize that you have denied the Savior of the world Who died for YOUR SINS?
Jesus takes you at your word.
In Mark 16:7 NKJV, the women were told to tell the disciples “and Peter” of Jesus’ resurrection. Peter is added on as he had denied that he was one of the disciples. Imagine, the horror of realizing that his words were taken to Jesus’ heart.
Finally, imagine for a moment the fact that all that you say is heard and understood by our Lord today as well.
Will you be His…or not?
Lastly, have you followed along without true commitment?
Look around.
There you are, merely sitting on the outskirts of His fire to get the warmth and comfort of Christianity, without the pain of the cross you are asked to carry.
Is it time to pick up the cross and profess Jesus as Lord of all of your life?
Only you can answer.