Daily Deovtion for March 14, 2006

To Jerusalem with the ComPASSIONATE Christ
Day 14

 

At a Distance

 

They took Jesus to the high priest, and all the chief priests, elders and teachers of the law came together.  Peter followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. There he sat with the guards and warmed himself at the fire.  Mark 14: 53-54

 

They took Jesus to see the high priest, Caiaphas (Matt. 26:54), following a detour to the house of Annas (John 18:13). The fact that so many were assembled in the middle of the night shows that it had all been pre-arranged. From the moment of His arrest, the authorities had it all mapped out. He was not going to get out of their grasp again. They had decided what was going to happen to Jesus, and were not about to let the truth get in the way of what they wanted. With respect to the charges, Jesus was an innocent man.

 

Peter followed from a distance, bravely in a way, considering what he had done. He managed to get into the quadrangle, or inner hall, of the high priest’s palace.   Mark’s Gospel doesn’t tell us how Peter managed to get in, which is interesting since he is the one who had cut off the servant’s ear earlier.  Perhaps the crowd was still there and Peter was able to mingle, anonymously, a cloak pulled over his head and face. It was cold, so a cloak was not out of place. Peter drew near to the courtyard fire, probably in an iron brazier, and sat among the servants and assorted hangers-on.

 

There is another explanation that the Gospel of John provides that helps us understand.

 

Simon 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, but Peter had to wait outside at the door. The other disciple, who was known to the high priest, came back, spoke to the girl on duty there and brought Peter in.  John 18:15-16 

 

Who could this other un-named disciple be who would be known to the High Priest and who would also be close to Peter?  Could it be Judas? 

 

As Peter faced the flames his face was exposed, for the fire gave off light as well as heat. Later, someone recognized him, and Peter was forced to make the first of the denials that would haunt him for the rest of his days.

 

Interestingly, the original text says that Peter turned towards the ‘light’, not towards the fire. Light not only shows us the way, it can also show up our failings. Meanwhile, the Light of the World faced His accusers.

 

Prayer
Lord I want to know more about You – I want to follow, I want to be in the Light that You give, but I am afraid of what may be exposed in my life.  Help me to accept Your love, Your grace, Your forgiveness as I change from being “at a distance” to being “Your disciple”.  Amen

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