Are you following Jesus at a distance?

This week's blog is a challenge to follow Jesus up close out of Matthew 26:58.

In carrying our cross daily it is essential to know if you're carrying your cross from a distance, or walking alongside him up close. Today we are going to look at Peter's last 24 hours with our Lord and ways we can learn from Peter.

Now, for those reading that may not know a lot about Peter, allow me to let you in on some details of his life. Some might say Peter was from the south side of the kingdom. He had a little gangster in him. So much so, that when Jesus was being taken away by the arresting officers, Peter cut the ear off of one of the soldiers and Jesus, as He is being taken away, heals this soldier's ear (Luke 22:49-51). 

Peter was one of Jesus’ closest disciples, walking with Him day and night, hearing His teachings, and he got to witness some of the most exciting miracles. However, Peter was human and unfortunately denied Jesus when it mattered most.
To set the scene, lets look at Matthew 26:31-36. Here we see a dinner taking place called the Last Supper. This is the last meal that Jesus would have with the disciples before His crucifixion. There is a lot happening in this conversation but for the sake of time I will mention one specific moment. 

Imagine all of these 13 men spread out throughout a long wooden table (I imagine Jesus made the table considering He was a carpenter for most of His life), eating and laughing, breaking bread and sipping wine. Among the fellowship, Jesus mentions that Peter will deny Him three times before the rooster crows. Peter vows that he would never do such a thing, and I can imagine that Peter would feel somewhat insulted, considering he was probably the most courageous of the bunch. 

That night, after this sentimental meal, Jesus is sweating blood from pure agony, knowing that He is about to bear the sin of the world on the cross of Calvary. He asked Peter, James and John to pray with Him in the Garden of Gethsemane, and they couldn’t even stay awake to pray. Imagine, as they are awoken, they see Jesus betrayed by Judas and taken away by the officers. Peter, as I mentioned earlier, in his righteous anger, cuts off the soldier's ear in his allegiance to Jesus. 

As the prosecution against Jesus begins throughout the night, Peter is tested. Matthew 26:58 says, “But Peter followed him at a distance.” 

Think about anytime you are physically distant from someone. You can’t hear their voice plainly, can’t see their face clearly, and can’t feel their presence strongly. As Peter distances himself from Jesus, he denies Jesus three times and then the rooster crows, fulfilling the prophecy released by Jesus (Matthew 26:69-75). This is a perfect representation of what it looks like to follow Jesus from a distance. We may know the “churchy” things to say, or the Christian look perfected, but ultimately if we can’t stand for Jesus when the pressures on, can we truly call ourselves believers?

These questions, this passage, and all of this commentary is meant to challenge your thought life this week. Think about what it means for you to follow Jesus up close and personal. Instead of listing off requests to God this week, I urge you to ask the Holy Spirit this week about what is on HIS heart, and where HE is leading!