Following Jesus at a distance

The Gospel of Matthew tells the account of Jesus’ arrest, trials and crucifixion in chapters 26 and 27. It was just after His arrest that He was taken before the High Priest and the Jewish counsel 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.” He did not walk by Jesus’ side. He did not want to be seen with His Master right now. It is this act that would make it easy for Peter to take the next step—denying Jesus three times (read verses 69-75).

There is no strength in following Jesus at a distance. There is no help for resisting temptation, no courage to cope with fear and no strength for our weaknesses while we are satisfied in following Jesus at a distance.

Matthew 4:1-11 gives the account of Jesus being tempted by Satan. One after another came the temptations, but Jesus was able to cope with those temptations because He held to (and quoted from) the Scriptures.

There is wonderful strength given to us when we search the Scriptures and hold to the Bible’s teaching. This would find us doing just like Jesus did.

The writer of Hebrews wrote of Jesus being tempted, but also gave us some important encouragement.

“For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted” (Hebrews 2:18).

But this strength to overcome temptation does not come from following Jesus at a distance. This is why we find Peter weeping bitterly after his three denials (Matthew 26:75).

Though it is a shame that Peter failed to walk by Jesus’ side on this occasion, too many today are still satisfied to follow Jesus at a distance.

These will often wonder why they do not experience the joy, comfort and strength that living close to God’s Son is supposed to bring.

One example of this might be someone who attends worship and carries their Bible with them. But what is seen in their life during the coming week may be far different. If we act like the rest of the world and do nothing to serve Jesus in our daily walk, neglect to read the Bible or pray during the week, we show something significant about ourselves in a negative way. James 1:22 says, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” Following Jesus is an every day privilege and responsibility. Stay close to Him!

A second sad thing the above Scripture shows about Peter is that on this day, he expected “to see the end.”

Surely the end of Jesus’ life would mean the end of His plans to redeem man from his sins, and the end of all hope of eternal life. But three days after His death, the seeming “end” would be found to simply be the beginning. Jesus rose from the dead!

Matthew 28:1-8 says, “Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb.

And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it.

His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men. But the angel answered and said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified.

He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you.’ So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word.”

(See also 1 Corinthians 15:118).

Jesus is alive forever!

We serve a living Lord! His faithful followers (Mark 16:16) will live forever with Him (John 14:1-6). We must be sure that we are following closely by Jesus’ side, and not at a distance.