Following Jesus At A Distance - Mark 14:66-72 Series

Introduction: Plan B

Last Sunday our church did a song called Death Was Arrested. See what you think of this verse: Our savior displayed on a criminal's cross

Darkness rejoiced as though heaven had lost

But then Jesus arose with our freedom in hand

That's when death was arrested and my life began What do you think of that line, “Dark-ness rejoiced as though heaven had lost”? Was Satan happy when Jesus died?

In Revelation 12, John tells the story of a woman and a dragon. The woman is Israel, she gives birth to the Messiah, and the dragon wants to devour the child. Does the dragon succeed? Does John say, “The dragon devoured the child, but then, three days later God turned the tables”? No. The dragon failed. Satan’s effort to destroy Christ was not in cruci-fying him; it was in preventing the cross. That’s what would have destroyed the entire mis-sion of Christ. Wasn’t that the point of all his temptations? And when Peter said, “You’ll never go to the cross,” what did Jesus call him? Satan. In Gethsemane, Satan did every-thing he could to so weaken and demoralize Jesus that he wouldn’t drink the cup. But it didn’t work. Jesus submits to arrest, and now he’s on trial.

So Satan throws everything at Jesus—injustice … Jesus stands firm. False accusations … Jesus doesn’t say a word. Unfair condemnation … Jesus is as strong as ever and boldly proclaims the truth.

This isn’t looking good. And it seems like at this point Satan panics. He throws the whole Sanhedrin into a frenzy. They start spitting on Jesus and punching him and beating him like a bunch of crazed gangsters. And the whole time Satan is watching saying, “Come on Jesus—bail. Call those 12 legions of angels.” But Jesus stands strong.

And when it looks like he’s going to go ahead and drink that cup, I don’t think Satan was celebrating. I think he’s shouting, “No, no no!!! This can’t be happening!”

So now what? What happens next in Revelation 12 when he fails to destroy the Messi-ah? He goes after the Church. That effort begins in verse 66. Satan sees the disaster unfold-ing in Jesus’ trial, the cross is going to happen, so he turns his attention to the courtyard. “There’s Peter … by himself. If I can’t destroy Christ, what if I could destroy the Church before it even starts? Jesus said whoever wants to save his life will lose his soul (Mark 8:34-36). Jesus clearly isn’t willing to save his own life, but what about Peter?”

Following at a Distance

Mark 14:54 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.

Following Jesus is it can be dangerous. So Peter comes up with this new form of dis-cipleship—“I’ll still follow him, but at a safe distance so I don’t get caught up in what they do to Jesus.” Best of both worlds, right? You get to be a follower of Jesus, but without the danger. You can be a Christian, but without the cross.

Examples of Distance

This is something we’re all tempted with when following Jesus gets embarrassing or too costly. If you follow at a distance, you can identify with Christianity in socially ac-ceptable ways (talk about your church, or that you’re spiritual or that your faith is really important to you)… —but steer clear of actually mentioning Jesus by name and running the risk of sounding a little kooky.

Sometimes following too close to Jesus, obeying his words, can cost you money—or your job or popularity. It might mean you’ll have to give up some forms of entertainment. Or maybe a relationship or a hobby or drinking practices. Following Jesus at a distance lets you still be a Christian without letting go of those things.

Following at a Distance Saps Your Strength

A Tiny Test

Well let’s see how this works out for Peter. Last time we watched Jesus face down the Israeli Supreme Court. Now Peter’s test.

66 While Peter was below in the courtyard, (okay, here it comes) one of the slave girls of the high priest came by.

Not exactly Darth Vader stepping onto the scene. It’s hard to think of a less powerful, less intimidating figure in that culture. A slave … girl. The strongest of the Apostles vers-es the weakest and lowliest person around.

67 When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked closely at him.

She notices him, steps closer, checks him out.

67 … "You also were with that Nazarene, Jesus," she said. That’s not a compliment. Remember Nathaniel’s question, “Can anything good come from Nazareth?”

There’s no threat of bodily harm at this point. What’s at stake here is embarrassment. A bunch of military grunts around the fire find out you hang out with a Nazarene… , the kinds of jokes that start flying aren’t going to be much fun.