Mar 14:54 KJVLite And Peter followed him afar off, even into the palace of the high priest: and he sat with the servants, and warmed himself at the fire.
Peter followed afar off even into Herod’s place. And when he was cold, he warmed himself beside the fire of the servants of Herod.
When Christ was arrested at Gethsemane, all His disciples fled. He was left to stand alone against such travesty of justice. He was arraigned before a kangaroo court, and He had no one to stand by Him. Peter however followed, but afar off. His allegiance was not entire, yet he followed. He was probably offended at Christ rebuke at Gethsemane for cutting off the ear of His assailant. He did not understand what was happening yet he followed, but afar off.
The mob that served the Lord looked murderous. It was suicidal to declare its allegiance to the Lord. Having been rebuked by the Lord for taking a stance, his courage was deflated. He saw the Lord surrender to such travesty without a fight. He refused to weld His miraculous power to defend Himself. Surprisingly, God seemed silent as His beloved Son was arrested by a belligerent mob. He was so traumatized by this that Peter began to distance himself. It seemed the Lord wanted to be taken, so he will not subject himself to unnecessary beating for declaring his allegiance. He followed but afar. He followed just enough to be a disciple, but not enough to draw the attention of the mob to question his allegiance. He followed far enough to be accepted by the mob as part of them. He did this so he will not suffer the same fate of Christ.
“How many believers are following the Lord yet not entirely because they are disappointed? How many have neglected their commission because they do not understand God’s dealings? How many believers have lost the fervency of their first love in the coldness of their trials? Many believers are now following the Lord just enough to satisfy their religious piety yet not enough to be true Christians. We go to church on Sundays to pay our religious quota yet not ready to live entirely for God for the rest of the week; we follow Jesus but afar off, just enough to look “Churchy” but not wholly to be influenced by Him. Many believers use their traumatic life as a legitimate excuse to consecrate wholly, follow entirely and obey completely? This however is not acceptable to the Lord.”
Mar 14:54 KJVLite And Peter followed him afar off, even into the palace of the high priest: and he sat with the servants, and warmed himself at the fire.
Peter had just seen Jesus arrested, maltreated and dragged to be arraigned before the high priest. He saw his dreams being dashed, his resolve for the faith diffused in such travesty of justice. How could this happen? Why will the Lord subject himself to such abuse? Why will He not call on His heavenly Father to thunder down His power to vindicate Him? His love for the Lord will not let him hold his peace. He decided to fight for the Lord. He charged towards the mob that had come to seize the Lord to defend Him. Outnumbered and unarmed against such mob, he put his life in jeopardy for what he believed. To his amazement he was rebuked by the Lord for such courage as He surrendered Himself to such injustice and travesty of due process. They have no right to arrest Him in the night ignoring the due process of the law.
Peter could not understand why He will not put up a fight by exercising His miraculous power? Why did He surrender to such kangaroo court? Such questions could have plagued his resolve, infesting his commitment with confusion. With no answers to light his path with divine counsel, clamoring in doubt and burdened with such questions, his steps become weighty and he began to slow down, distancing himself from the Lord. He still followed Jesus but afar off.
Mar 14:54 KJV And Peter followed him afar off….
His confusion entangled his walk slowing his commitment, he followed Jesus afar off. His allegiance to the Lord was challenged and faith tested. His love for Jesus will not allow him to break off entirely so he followed yet not as previous. He was so traumatized by what had happened at Gethsemane and it affected him immensely.
How many believers are following the Lord yet not entirely because they are disappointed? How many have neglected their commission because they do not understand God’s dealings? How many believers have lost the fervency of their first love in the coldness of their trials? Many believers are now following the Lord just enough to satisfy their religious piety yet not enough to be true Christians. We go to church on sundays to pay our religious quota yet not ready to live entirely for God for the rest of the week; we follow Jesus but afar off, just enough to look “churchy” but not wholly to be influenced by Him. Many believers use their traumatic life as a legitimate excuse to consecrate wholly, follow entirely and obey completely? This however is not acceptable to the Lord.
There is nothing as following afar off in Christianity. That is backsliding. God is calling us to complete dedication. We must know that even when we do not understand His dealings, He is still working for our good. Peter did not understand how such maltreatment could end up fulfilling prophesies for the kingdom so he backslided. However, God sovereignly used this travesty to manifest His redemption for humanity; he worked things out for his good.
Let us follow even when we do not understand. Let us not give up even when all seem lost. We might be traumatized at our Gethsemane, horrified at our Calvary but let us not give up because our resurrection will surely manifest to fulfill His promise. Let us follow intimately and closely even if it seems it is over for at the end, we will see His glory.
