AT A DISTANCE ROSS SMITH
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Over recent days, I have been most interested in the apostle Peter’s behaviour, one of the more colourful New Testament characters. He is first formidable, impulsive, passionate, a leader, and a lagger, and I am sure Peter’s idiosyncratic traits have been recorded for our instruction and benefit. The fact that his name means a “ROCK” suggests he was a man of stature although there does not appear to be any historical records to substantiate this. Still, no doubt his profession as a seaman and fisherman would have developed his physique, and his proclivity for the use of the sword is well documented.
Some of Peter’s, what we may call quirks, are particularly noteworthy during the short period leading up to the crucifixion of Jesus. In Mark chapter 14, we see Peter vigorously avowing his allegiance to Jesus no matter what happens, and at this time, he has the unqualified support of 10 other disciples. Mark records them as saying;
Mark 14:31 But [Peter] (As the spokesman .. comments mine) said more vehemently and repeatedly, [Even] if it should be necessary for me to die with You, I will not deny or disown You! And they all kept saying the same thing.
In just a few short hours, all that Jesus had tried to teach them begins to transpire. It is obviously late in the evening. They proceed to the Mount of Olives for a short time before they then relocated to Gethsemane. This was a place that Jesus and His disciples customarily visited, which allowed Judas Iscariot to easily find him on the night of his arrest. Gethsemane is defined as “a place or occasion of great mental or spiritual suffering”.(Merriam Webster)
It doesn’t take long for Judas to escort “a crowd of men with swords and clubs, who came from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders [of the Sanhedrin” to disrupt the quiet and sanctity of Gethsemane. (Mark 14:43) In equally a short time there is an exodus, not unlike that conducted by Moses but this time maybe by Peter, for he is always portrayed as the spokesman, and no doubt took some lead in this mass departure.
Mark 14:50 Then [His disciples], forsaking Him, FLED,all [of them].
This is where this record becomes so very relevant. In verse 54, a graphic scene is depicted, a collage of emotions and events well-suited for exploration in this day and generation so that we do not succumb to the same distressing malaise.
The key phrase is, “AND PETER FOLLOWED HIM AT A DISTANCE”. From that point, the event continues to deteriorate.
Mark 14:54 AND PETER FOLLOWED HIM AT A DISTANCE, even right into the courtyard of the high priest. And he was sitting [in the firelight] with the guards and warming himself at the fire.
By locating “right into the courtyard of the high priest” Peter was trespassing on dangerous ground, he had entered hostile territory. Whilst this location may have been “legal” it certainly was not expedient, for it is remote from Peter’s previous proclamation of sincerity. Should we also be casual in our commitment, professing allegiance but in reality, “FOLLOWING AT A DISTANCE” we too will be called to account for our instability or double-mindedness.
Matthew 12:36 But I tell you, on the day of judgment men will have to give account for every idle (inoperative, nonworking) word they speak.
This statement “AT A DISTANCE” is inconclusive of “how far” that distance was, but it suggests a form of remoteness. “DISTANCE”, as in Mark 14 was no different to “DISTANCE” today, a furlong or a mile is the same today as in Peter’s day, and while our measurements might be more accurate the “degree of distance” is the same.
The only “distance” mentioned that has changed was “a day’s journey”, and so while “distance” is the same, the method of transport makes the difference in reaching the destination.
Today, many of us “follow at a distance”, and although we may “associate” we do not affiliate or integrate, that is, “to associate oneself; be intimately united in action or interest.” You may well ask “how far is “AT A DISTANCE”, it may be just out of earshot and certainly can be “out of sight”.
We are told in 1 Kings 19:12 that His voice is “a still small voice” and if we do not hear His voice as suggested in Isaiah 30:21, “a voice behind us directing our path”, then maybe we are “AT A DISTANCE”, like those in the parable of the sower, being consumed by the inappropriateness of the “courtyard” of respectability.
Mar 4:18-19 And the ones sown among the thorns are others who hear the Word; (V19) THEN the cares and anxieties of the world and distractions of the age, and the pleasure and delight and false glamour and deceitfulness of riches, and the craving and passionate desire for other things creep in and choke and suffocate the Word, and it becomes fruitless. (Or we languish at a distance, because our preferences are like the “men with swords” those who were supposedly respectable, “from the Sanhedrin” .. comments mine)
This is the same choice Peter made, it was prompted by self-preservation, in this case, his life, and in our case, our preferences, our ego, our pride all of which constitute doublemindedness, and its concomitant malaise of “total instability”. No doubt Peter’s “INSTABILITY” demonstrated three times that evening as he denied the Christ, only “FOLLOWING AT A DISTANCE”.
It is not long before “AT A DISTANCE” becomes “FROM A DISTANCE”. Today’s pandemic has exposed such people, now content to sit in their recliner chairs in their slippers, warming themselves by the fire pit of TV evangelists and unproven ministries, content to watch the action “FROM A DISTANCE”, trying to hide their true identity behind a flickering flame of convenience rather than boldly stand in a blaze of glory.
Isaiah 50:11 Behold, all you [enemies of your own selves] who attempt to kindle your own fires [and work out your own plans of salvation], who surround and gird yourselves with momentary sparks, darts, and firebrands that you set aflame!–walk by the light of your self-made fire and of the sparks that you have kindled [for yourself, if you will]! But this shall you have from My hand: you shall lie down in grief and in torment.
In our generation, we will be barraged by multitudes of voices telling us how to live, how to gratify our passions, how to have it all. You will have dozens of television channels at your fingertips. There will be all sorts of software, interactive computer modems, databases, and bulletin boards; there will be desktop publishing, satellite receivers, and communications networks that will suffocate you with information, all hearths and hobs replica of that which Peter stood around, temporary warmth devoid of security.
Mark 14:54 AND PETER FOLLOWED HIM AT A DISTANCE, even right into the courtyard of the high priest. And he was sitting [in the firelight] with the guards and warming himself at the fire.
There is a very significant difference to “sitting in the firelight” to “WALKING IN THE LIGHT”, the former requires no progress, the latter the expending of “every effort” as Peter wrote in 2 Peter 1:5, the former is at a distance from the action, whilst the latter is the spearhead of action.
Why do we cater to our need of “warmth” by hovering around the flame and embers of fires lit by disparate interests, stoked by dissidents to the truth, still acting as interested observers but still only “associates” not “activists, skulking in the shadows exposed by the flickering fires of convenience?
This “AT A DISTANCE” is a direct contravention of the intention for God’s people and the Word, which offers up accommodation cosseted in God’s care and watchfulness.
Exodus 33:21 (A) And the Lord said, Behold, there is a place beside Me,
Psalm 25:14 The secret [of the sweet, satisfying companionship] of the Lord have they who fear (revere and worship) Him, (See the study “Secret Sweet Companionship”)
Mark 10:16 And He took them [the children up one by one] in His arms.
Isaiah 40:11 (A) He will feed His flock like a shepherd: He will gather the lambs in His arm, He will carry them in His bosom,
From this example, we can see that “AT A “DISTANCE”, such a simple term, in reality, translates into “DENIAL” and the consequences are clearly defined in the Word of God as,
Matthew 10:33 But whoever denies and disowns Me before men, I also will deny and disown him before My Father Who is in heaven.
SELAH
Ross Smith 