Following at a Distance

It is Holy Week. I usually break from reading my Bible in a Year at this time and reflect on the Passion of Jesus. Every year, it seems, God opens my eyes and heart to something different, something new. It blesses me and delights me when God does that; it is a reminder of how deep, wide, high, long and broad the richness and beauty of His word is. So it came as a bit of a surprise to me when the phrase "at a distance" caught my attention the first three days of this week. I just thought it was a little odd. But, it appears twice in the Gospel of Luke and when God says something twice, I usually listen extra well.

Luke 22:54-62 is the account of Peter who followed "at a distance" as the chief priests, the officers of the temple guard and the elders seized Jesus and led Him away to the house of the High Priest. There, as Jesus was interrogated and abused by the Chief Priest, Peter sat by the fire in the courtyard. A servant girl looked at him and said "This man was with Him." Maybe she had seen Peter and Jesus at the market, or at the temple when Jesus turned the tables over, or maybe she had seen Peter with Jesus as Jesus rode the colt into Jerusalem. We don't know where or when, but she had seen Peter together with Jesus and associated them together. They belonged together and why, she may have thought, wasn't he with Jesus now?

Shortly thereafter, while still warming himself at the fire, another person identified Peter as having been with Jesus. His answer: "Man, I am not!" And again, at verse 59, we read that an hour later, someone said "this fellow was with Him, for He is a Galilean." Peter, according to Matthew 26, answered with oaths and cursing "Man, I don't know what you are talking about." What follows then is perhaps one of the saddest and most poignant verses in the Word: "Just as Peter was speaking, the rooster crowed. The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him:"Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times." And he went outside and wept bitterly." (Lk 22:60-62)

Denied Him three times. Peter. Peter who was the first to confess Jesus as the Christ. Peter who was one of the three disciples taken up to see the Lord Jesus transfigured. Peter who was brazen enough to ask to walk on water. Peter who couldn't decide whether he should let Jesus wash all of him or none of him. Peter who had been asked to prepare the Passover meal. Peter who had been asked by Jesus to come and watch with Him in the Garden of Gethsemane. Peter who boldly drew his sword and cut off Malchus' ear. Peter who had so confidently declared "even if I have to die with you, I will never leave you." Peter, who had seen Jesus raise Lazarus from the dead, who had seen Him heal Jairus' daughter, whose own mother-in-law had been healed by Jesus. He saw Him teach the masses, feed the five thousand, heal blind Bartimaeus. Peter had seen miracles, had revelations and victories with Jesus. But now, now when it counted, he followed at a distance.

And why? Why would Peter follow at a distance? It could not have been disinterest; otherwise he would not have followed at all. It was not hatred of Jesus because remembering Jesus’ words and seeing the piercing look of Jesus made Peter weep bitterly. I submit to you that it was fear…fear made Peter follow at a distance.

Think about it…things were spinning out of control. From the time that Peter lopped Malchus’ ear off to the courtyard…it was all so not what Peter wanted or planned. And being out of control usually makes us very, very afraid. And when we are afraid, it is usually just easier to follow at a distance.

How often do we do the very same thing? Yes, Jesus, I can read my Bible, go to my small group, show up at church, but I can’t be too close to you right now. It might cost me, it might hurt. Yes, I’ve seen great things, I’ve beheld answered prayers. But I just cannot be too close to you. Right now, things are just too painful. Things are too confusing. Things are too difficult. Life is just taking too many unexpected turns. Of course I’ll follow you, but forgive me if it’s at a distance.

Beloved, this is an odd verse; it isn’t exactly a verse most preachers or teachers will “camp on” at Easter. And I really am not sure why God chose this verse for me to write about. Except that the second time that at a distance is used is in Luke 23:47-49. “

47The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, "Surely this was a righteous man." 48When all the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their breasts and went away. 49But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.

The centurion saw what happened, had a revelation and praised God. Even the people who had demanded “crucify Him” saw what happened and beat their breasts. But the women who had walked with Him, who had followed Him, stood at a distance and watched. The ones closest to Him stood at a distance.
Nothing was turning out the way anyone thought it would. Everything was going wrong. And so, it is easier to stand at a distance and watch, rather than get too close to Jesus.

I am sure there are some who may be reading this whose lives are spinning out of control, or who feel like everything is going wrong, nothing is going according to plan. And it is easier to stay at a distance. Retreat is a safe option, but retreating from Jesus is never a safe option. Beloved, this is the time to stay close. Draw near, even in the midst of anguish and pain, draw near.

You see, although it may be Friday…Sunday is coming.