Peter Followed Afar Off - Mark 14:54

Mark wrote how those who captured Jesus led Him, “away to the high priest: and with him were assembled all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes”, and in chapter fourteen and verse fifty-four of his book, Mark shared how, “they led Jesus away to the high priests”, where we read:

And Peter followed him afar off, even into the palace of the high priest:

and he sat with the servants, and warmed himself at the fire.

The verse reads, “And Peter followed him afar off, even into the palace of the high priest:”. Mark began with the words, “and Peter” which refers to “and the disciple of Jesus whose name means a little rock or stone” “followed him” or “went after Jesus” “afar off” which means “from a distance and separation of distance, “even into the palace” or “until Jesus and His captors reached the uncovered courtyard of the house. In the Old Testament particularly of the courts of the tabernacle and of the temple in Jerusalem” “of the high priest” which means “belonging to the chief priest”. Mark shared how “Peter” followed Jesus and the arresting crowd at a “distance” until they reached the “palace” of the “high priest”.

The verse goes on to say, “and he sat with the servants, and warmed himself at the fire.” Mark continued with the words, “and he sat” which means “and Peter was seated, fixed and established” “with the servants” or “alongside the slaves, people of servile condition, under-rowers and subordinates”, “and warmed himself” which means “made warmed and heated himself” “at the fire” or “beside the fire which the servants hung around”. Mark shared how Peter “was seated” and “warmed himself at the fire” of the servants of the priests and religious leaders.

When we meditate upon Mark's words in this verse, we note how Peter desired to “see what would happen” to Jesus, but He “followed” Jesus and the arresting crowd from a distance. Rather than staying with Jesus throughout His arrest, Peter left Him like the other disciples. The actions of Peter should be a warning to anyone who decides to “follow” Jesus “afar off”. Because He was not faithful to Jesus in this manner, it lead to Peter denying Jesus in the future. God desires to have a close relationship with every person through His Son Jesus, and the best position they can choose is to be as close to Him as possible. Those who distance themselves from Jesus will find themselves “seated and warming themselves” at the “enemies' fire” and be inclined to deny Him when their difficult trials appear.

Next time Mark shares how, “the chief priests and all the council sought for 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. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".