Matthew the apostle wrote how Jesus found His disciples, “Peter, James and John” asleep while He prayed in the garden of Gethsemane, and after allowing them to continue sleeping, telling them to get going, being seized by the religious leaders as well as elders and a multitude, Jesus said, “I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and you laid no hold on me.” Matthew continued, “But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled. And they that had laid hold on Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled”, and in chapter twenty-six and verse fifty-eight of his book, Matthew wrote how, “Peter followed him afar off” where we read:
But Peter followed him afar off unto the high priest's palace,
and went in, and sat with the servants, to see the end.
The verse reads, “But Peter followed him afar off unto the high priest's palace, ...” Matthew began words, “But Peter” which means “moreover and Peter who was one of the twelve disciples whose name means a little stone or rock” “followed him afar off” or “went in the same way after Jesus from a distance” “unto the high priest's palace” which means “to the uncovered courtyard of Caiaphas' house who was the chief priest”. Matthew shared how “Peter” went behind those who led Jesus to “Caiaphas' house” where the “scribes and Sanhedrin were gathered”.
The verse goes on to say, “... and went in, and sat with the servants, to see the end.” Matthew continued with the words, “and went in” or “and entered”, “and sat with the servants” which means “and was seated alongside the bondmen, slaves and people of servile work”, “to see the end” or “to observe, perceive and know the termination and finish of what would happen to Jesus”. Matthew shared how Peter wanted to see what would happen to Jesus so he “entered” the courtyard area where the “bondmen” and “servile people” were seated.
When we meditate upon Matthew's words in this verse, we notice how Peter was interested in the outcome of Jesus, so he “followed” at a distance behind the people who capture Him. Those who “follow” Jesus are to be “close” to him, but because he regarded his life and was fearful, Peter kept his distance. God desires an intimate relationship with every person, and when they submit their lives to Him as their personal “Savior and Lord”, they are not to “follow” Him “afar off” but to be as “close” to Him as possible at all times.
Next time Matthew shares how, “the chief priests, and elders and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book
“Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the
marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the
Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms
Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County"
in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com
; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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