The apostle John wrote how, “the band and the captain and officers of the Jews took Jesus, and bound him, and led him away to Annas first; for he was father in law to Caiaphas, which was the high priest that same year. Now Caiaphas was he, which gave counsel to the Jews, that it was expedient that one man should die for the people. And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple: that disciple was known unto the high priest, and went in with Jesus into the palace of the high priest. But Peter stood at the door without. Then went out that other disciple, which was known unto the high priest, and spoke unto her that kept the door, and brought in Peter. Then said the damsel that kept the door unto Peter, Are not you also one of this man's disciples?”, and in chapter eighteen and verse eighteen of his book John shared how, “Peter stood … and warmed himself” at the enemies fire where we read:
And the servants and officers stood there, who had made a fire of coals; for it was cold: and they warmed themselves: and Peter stood with them, and warmed himself.
The verse reads, “And the servants and officers stood there, who had made a fire of coals; for it was cold:” John began with the words, “and the servants” which means “and the slaves, men of servile condition and bondmen” “and officers” or “and attendants of the high priests” “stood there” which means “were standing in the courtyard” “who had made a fire of coals” or “that prepared and produced a heaping pile of burning coals”, “for it was cold” which means “because, since and on account that the temperature was cold outside”. John shared how the “slaves and attendants” were standing within the courtyard, and they “made” a burning fire of coals because it was “cold” outside”
The verse goes on to say, “and they warmed themselves: and Peter stood with them, and warmed himself.” John continued with the words, “and they warmed themselves” or “and the servants and officers” heated their own selves”: “and Peter stood with them” which means “and Peter, whose name means a little rock or stone was standing among the servants and officers”, “and warmed himself” or “and heated his own self”. John shared how the “servants and officers” were “warming” themselves by the “fire” which they made, and Peter joined them in “warming” himself.
When we think through John's words in this verse, we learn how the temperature was “cold” outside in the courtyard where the “servants and officers” were located. They “made a fire” to “warm” themselves, and Jesus' disciple “Peter” was standing with them “warming” himself as well. This all seems to be natural behavior, however, “Peter” was among the people who “arrested” Jesus and were as His enemies. We shall see how this proximity to Jesus' enemies would cause “Peter” to continue to “deny” that he knew or belonged to Jesus, and this would fulfill Jesus' words that Peter would “deny” Him three times. God loves people, and He knows them. He knows their limitations, and He knows their sins, and still He sent His Son Jesus to die on the cross for their sins. Many people think themselves to be better than they truly are, and Jesus came to “save” people regardless of how great or small they think themselves to be.
Next time we see John shares how, “the high priest then asked Jesus of his disciples, and his doctrine”, 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".
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