From Following at a Distance to Warming by the Enemy's Fire:

Today, we explore a story similar to what many experience in their journey of following Christ. The story of Peter's denial under pressure and fear should comfort and encourage many who have been led to believe by the enemy that they have committed an unforgivable sin. The Holy Spirit guided Luke and the other Gospel writers to focus on a side story separate from the main drama of the crucifixion. We are meant to see that God is abundant in grace and mercy toward those who have, through their actions, denied Christ and, like Peter, repented and were forgiven. The first warning sign we see in Peter is that He followed Christ at a distance.

But Peter followed him at a distance, right up to the courtyard of the high priest (Matthew 26:58).

It was probably past midnight when the soldiers and temple guards arrested Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. John tells us that they bound Jesus before leading Him across the Kidron Brook to the high priest’s palace on the west side of the Temple area. Annas had been the high priest for ten years, and the position was supposed to be for life, but the Roman procurator Gratus removed him. Annas's son-in-law, Caiaphas, held the title of High Priest, but he was more a puppet of Annas (Acts 4:6). Most people still viewed Annas as the most influential figure in much of the nation's political and social life. Annas and Caiaphas lived in the palace compound of the high priest’s residence, separated by a courtyard. Living lavishly through their various money-making schemes, they were well protected with walls, gates, servants, and guards. First, we’ll read Luke’s account, and then, to get the complete picture of all the drama, we’ll look at what the other Gospel writers record. Luke writes that Jesus was arrested:

⁵⁴Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance. ⁵⁵But when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them (Luke 22:54-55).

As mentioned in our meditations over the past few days, more than 450 Roman soldiers arrested Jesus, and likely the temple guards increased the total to around 600 people. After Jesus was taken into custody, the eleven disciples scattered, but two of them met along the way as they followed the large crowd. Luke doesn’t specify who the other disciple was, but it was probably the apostle John. True to his style, John rarely referred to himself in his gospel. He wrote:

¹⁵Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus. Because this disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the high priest’s courtyard, ¹⁶but Peter had to wait outside at the door. The other disciple, known to the high priest, came back, spoke to the girl on duty there, and brought Peter in. ¹⁷”You are not one of his disciples, are you?” the girl at the door asked Peter. He replied, “I am not.” ¹⁸It was cold, and the servants and officials stood around a fire they had made to keep warm. Peter also was standing with them, warming himself (John 18:15-18).

A progression is evident in the two passages of Scripture above. When we follow the Lord from a distance, we shouldn't be surprised to find ourselves warming our hands at the fires of our enemies who oppose the Lord and His kingdom. Paul the apostle prophetically wrote about a future time for the Church when many will distance themselves and fall away from the faith. Here’s what he wrote:

Let no one deceive you in any way, for it [The Day of the Lord] will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness—the son of destruction—is revealed (2 Thessalonians 2:3; emphasis added).

Other English translations use the terms "falling away" and "apostasy" to describe this rebellion that will occur on Earth. These are critical days for God’s people because if you, too, are following from a distance when things get tough and you need to stand for Christ, how will you avoid joining the rebellion and sitting with the enemies of God by the fire? Be mindful of which side you are on in this war against the forces of darkness. To keep these reflections brief, we'll continue tomorrow on Peter's brokenness. If you can't wait, you can click the link below. Keith Thomas

The video teaching on The Three Time Denial of Peter the Apostle is one of 64 YouTube videos. Here’s the link to it: https://youtu.be/J0HeOB6D6_w The written study #61 in Luke is found at the following link: Peter, the Broken Disciple

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