DISTANCE BETWEEN US AND CHRIST

“But Peter was following Him at a distance as far as the courtyard of the high priest, and entered in, and sat down with the officers to see the outcome”

Matthew (26:58)

Just moments before Jesus was arrested to stand trial before the Jewish Sanhedrin council, Christ in His omniscience told Peter “You will deny me three times” (v.34).

After His arrest, we see Peter following the crowd and keeping a safe distance between himself and Jesus, with the intent to seeing the outcome.

Like Peter, we may find ourselves in circumstances where we are reluctant to be identified with Jesus. In Peter’s case, it was the guards, the elders, and the mob. For us, it’s our co-workers, our friends, and our family. Many of us claim to be followers of Christ, but our following is a mere superficial following and not one that comes from of our hearts. (Matt.22:37)

Just as Peter’s faith was tested, our faith will also be tested. The world tempts us to keep our distance from Jesus, but as He said “If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.” (Matt.16:24)

As Adam Clarke wrote: “When a man is weak in faith, and can as yet only follow Christ at a distance, he should avoid all dangerous places, and the company of those who are most likely to prove a snare to him”

Like Peter, are we only trying to follow Christ at a distance that is easy and comfortable? Or are we willing to sacrifice our comforts to be closer to Him?