Mark 14:54-59: a reflection

54Peter had followed him from a distance, until he came into the court of the high priest. He was sitting with the officers, and warming himself in the light of the fire. 55Now the chief priests and the whole council sought witnesses against Jesus to put him to death, and found none. 56For many gave false testimony against him, and their testimony didn’t agree with each other. 57Some stood up and gave false testimony against him, saying, 58“We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and in three days I will build another made without hands.’” 59Even so, their testimony didn’t agree.

As Jesus is being tried, a small detail is noted about Peter: he had followed him at a distance, into the courtyard of the high priest, and sat with the guards, warming himself at the fire. Peter followed, but at a distance; near enough to see, but not close, keeping his distance from Jesus even as he followed. And it was there, following at a distance, sitting among Jesus' enemies, that Peter would soon deny him three times. The distant following set the stage for the fall.

Notice the phrase: Peter followed at a distance. He had not abandoned Jesus entirely; he followed. But he followed at a distance, not close to Jesus, keeping back, near enough to watch but not to stand with him. And this distant, half-hearted following, among Jesus' enemies, was where his courage failed and he denied his Lord. The following at a distance was a following that could easily fall; and it did.

That distant following is a warning about our own discipleship. We can follow Jesus at a distance, near enough to be counted among his followers, but keeping back, not close to him, not standing openly with him, following half-heartedly and from afar. And such distant following is perilous; it was where Peter's courage failed and he fell. Following at a distance leaves us exposed, among those who oppose Christ, without the closeness to him that would strengthen us to stand. Do not follow Jesus at a distance, keeping back, half-hearted, near enough to be counted a follower but not close to him. Follow him closely, standing openly with him, rather than hanging back at a distance. Peter's following at a distance set the stage for his denial; do not follow so, distant and half-hearted, but draw near to Jesus, following him closely, lest a distant following leave you exposed, as it left Peter, to the failure of your courage in the hour of testing.

Lord Jesus, as you were being tried, a detail is noted about Peter: he followed you at a distance, into the courtyard, and sat with the guards, warming himself at the fire; near enough to see, but not close, and it was there, following at a distance among your enemies, that he would soon deny you. Show me the warning in that phrase: Peter followed at a distance. He had not abandoned you entirely; but he followed at a distance, keeping back, not standing with you; and this distant, half-hearted following was where his courage failed. Let that warn me about my own discipleship. I can follow you at a distance, near enough to be counted among your followers, but keeping back, not close to you, not standing openly with you, following half-heartedly and from afar. And such distant following is perilous; it was where Peter fell. Following at a distance leaves me exposed, without the closeness to you that would strengthen me to stand. Keep me from following you at a distance, keeping back, half-hearted; help me follow you closely, standing openly with you, rather than hanging back. Peter's following at a distance set the stage for his denial; keep me from following so, distant and half-hearted, and help me draw near to you, Lord, following you closely, lest a distant following leave me exposed, as it left Peter, in the hour of testing. Help me follow you closely.