Distance vs Devotion

Good Morning! 

Another nugget from Sunday’s sermon comes a little later in the night that Christ was arrested. Let’s take a look at a portion of Luke’s narrative of that night:

Luke 22:7-34 English Standard Version (ESV)

7 Then came the day of Unleavened Bread, on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. 8 So Jesus[a] sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat it.” 9 They said to him, “Where will you have us prepare it?” 10 He said to them, “Behold, when you have entered the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him into the house that he enters 11 and tell the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says to you, Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ 12 And he will show you a large upper room furnished; prepare it there.” 13 And they went and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover.

14 And when the hour came, he reclined at table, and the apostles with him. 15 And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16 For I tell you I will not eat it[b] until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” 17 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, “Take this, and divide it among yourselves. 18 For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” 19 And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 20 And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.[c] 21 But behold, the hand of him who betrays me is with me on the table. 22 For the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed!” 23 And they began to question one another, which of them it could be who was going to do this.

24 A dispute also arose among them, as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest. 25 And he said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those in authority over them are called benefactors. 26 But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves. 27 For who is the greater, one who reclines at table or one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am among you as the one who serves.

28 “You are those who have stayed with me in my trials, 29 and I assign to you, as my Father assigned to me, a kingdom, 30 that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

31 “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you,[d] that he might sift you like wheat, 32 but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” 33 Peter[e] said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death.” 34 Jesus[f] said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day, until you deny three times that you know me.”

Footnotes:

a.     Luke 22:8 Greek he

b.     Luke 22:16 Some manuscripts never eat it again

c.     Luke 22:20 Some manuscripts omit, in whole or in part, verses 19b-20 (which is given… in my blood)

d.     Luke 22:31 The Greek word for you (twice in this verse) is plural; in verse 32, all four instances are singular

e.     Luke 22:33 Greek He

f.     Luke 22:34 Greek He

Using our current vernacular, Peter says in verse 33:  “Lord, I am going to stick with you like glue.” Jesus knew better.  So, let’s move on down to a later event … after Jesus allowed Himself to be arrested:

Luke 22:54-62 English Standard Version (ESV)

54 Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest's house, and Peter was following at a distance. 55 And when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them. 56 Then a servant girl, seeing him as he sat in the light and looking closely at him, said, “This man also was with him.” 57 But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know him.” 58 And a little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not.” 59 And after an interval of about an hour still another insisted, saying, “Certainly this man also was with him, for he too is a Galilean.” 60 But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. 61 And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.” 62 And he went out and wept bitterly.

As the preacher put it, there is a difference between devotion and distance.  There is no doubt in my mind that Peter loved Jesus and was devoted to Him.  He even grabbed a sword to defend Jesus before Jesus stopped him. But, like most human beings, Peter, in that very moment, seeing all the force brought out against Jesus, shrank back.  He became “unglued”, if but for an instance.  And that instance was enough for Satan.  

WIIFM?  What happens when your testimony of Christ is challenged?  Am I any different than Peter … bold in a crowd of believers, less so when confronted?  What is God trying to teach me in this passage?  Listen, the cause of Christ has hazards.  Some people are going to mock you. Some people are going to threaten you.  And some people might even try to “kill” you, figuratively speaking.  It is the price we pay for devotion.

Several years ago, I began writing a church play based on the happenings in the upper room where the disciples had sequestered themselves after the crucifixion.  You will remember that Jesus appeared to ten of the disciples when the men returned from Emmaus.  One of the things I wonder about is how Peter reacted when coming in face to face with the risen Lord.  Did Peter remember his boast?  Did Peter remember Jesus’ admonition?  Did Peter remember Jesus’ gaze? 

Do I?

Agape’

Mr. Jim

  

Prayer:  Father, thank You for Your forgiveness when I choose distance over devotion. Help me cling to Jesus in every situation – even when I am afraid.  In Jesus’ Name … Amen.

Scripture for today:  Luke 22 … read the whole chapter.