Stratford church of Christ Column
The Gospel of Matthew tells the account of Jesus’ arrest, trials and crucifixion in chapters 26 and 27. After Jesus had prayed three times in the Garden of Gethsemane, He was betrayed by Judas and arrested.
In chapter 26:47-49 we read the following: “And while He was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, with a great multitude with swords and clubs, came from the chief priests and elders of the people. Now His betrayer had given them a sign, saying, ‘Whomever I kiss, He is the One; seize Him.’ Immediately he went up to Jesus and said, ‘Greetings, Rabbi!’ and kissed Him.”
It was just after His arrest that He was taken before the high priest and the Jewish council for trial. From Matthew 26:57, 58 we read, “And those who had laid hold of Jesus led Him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled. But Peter followed Him at a distance to the high priest’s courtyard. And he went in and sat with the servants to see the end.”
Did you see it? This passage tells two very sad things about Peter on this occasion. The first was, “Peter followed Him at a distance.” On this occasion, he did not walk by Jesus’ side as usual. He did not want to be seen with His master right then. It is likely that Peter feared that if he stayed close to Jesus right then, his own physical life could have been in jeopardy. After all, Peter (and the other disciples) had fled earlier that evening during Jesus’ arrest (Matthew 26:56).
It was this act of following Jesus at a distance that would make it easy for Peter to take the next step—denying Jesus three times. We read in Matthew 26:69-75, “Now Peter sat outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came to him, saying, ‘You also were with Jesus of Galilee.’ But he denied it before them all, saying, ‘I do not know what you are saying.’ And when he had gone out to the gateway, another girl saw him and said to those who were there, ‘This fellow also was with Jesus of Nazareth.’ But again he denied with an oath, ‘I do not know the Man!’ And a little later those who stood by came up and said to Peter, ‘Surely you also are one of them, for your speech betrays you.’ Then he began to curse and swear, saying, ‘I do not know the Man!’ Immediately a rooster crowed. And Peter remembered the word of Jesus who had said to him, ‘Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.’ So he went out and wept bitterly.”
When we choose to follow Jesus, it must be constant and for the remainder of our lives. The reason for this is found in the command of Jesus given in Revelation 2:10. In this verse Jesus said, “Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.” Christ followers (Christians, Acts 2:38-39) are those who have learned from the Scriptures that their continued salvation and spiritual strength depends on following closely to Jesus for as long as they live on this earth.
We find in Peter’s example that there is no spiritual strength in following Jesus from a distance. There is no help for resisting temptation, no courage to cope with fear, no strength for our weaknesses while we are satisfied in following Jesus at a distance.
There is a terrible risk of being lost once again when we have chosen to follow the Lord as a Christian, but later choose to turn back to the world of sin. Peter himself would later describe this spiritual tragedy. “For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: ‘A dog returns to his own vomit,’ and, ‘a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire’” (2 Peter 2:20-22).
Many today will endeavor to follow Jesus, but at a distance. When this happens, they may wonder why they do not experience the joy, comfort and strength that living close (faithfully) to the Son of God is supposed to bring. Such persons might carry their Bibles to church on Sunday, but during the remainder of the week, not have much emphasis placed in serving the Lord with their daily walk. Frequently neglecting to read the Bible or pray during the week also shows something significant about their spiritual life.
Is this not simply following Jesus at a distance? Following Jesus every day is a privilege, an honor and a responsibility. Don’t try to just keep Him in sight. It is important to stay close to Jesus!
A second sad thing the above Scripture shows about Peter on the day Jesus was arrested is that he expected “to see the end” (Matthew 26:58). If this was truly “the end,” it would surely mean the end of Christ’s plan to redeem man from his sins, resulting in the end of all hope of eternal life.
But on the third day after His death, the seeming “end” would be found to simply be the “beginning.” Jesus rose from the dead (Matthew 28:1-8)! He lives forever, and so will His faithful followers. Each of us must be sure that we follow closely by Jesus’ side (Mark 16:16) and not at a distance.
