6 - Compromise
Mark 14:
43 Just then, while Jesus was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve apostles, arrived. A crowd carrying swords and clubs was with him. They were from the chief priests, scribes, and leaders of the people.
44 Now, the traitor had given them a signal. He said, "The one I kiss is the man you want. Arrest him, and guard him closely as you take him away." . . . . .
50 Then all the disciples abandoned him and ran away. . . . .
53 The men took Jesus to the chief priest. All the chief priests, leaders, and scribes had gathered together.
54 Peter followed him at a distance and went into the chief priest's courtyard. He sat with the guards and warmed himself facing the glow of a fire.
(God's Word)
At this point Peter found himself in an uncomfortable and compromising situation.
We remember that when Jesus warned the disciples that He would be arrested and they would all run away from Him, Peter had responded by proclaiming his confidence in himself and boasting that he would never abandon Jesus, even if all the others did.
Peter did not hear all the ungodly pride that was evident in his words and attitude.
Then in the garden when Jesus began to be overcome with the anguish of what He was about to face, Peter went to sleep.
This was Peter's first form of abandonment. By giving in to that sleep, he was saying, 'I really can't handle this level of anguish in You, Jesus. So I'll just blank out Your pain and I'll sleep through Your prayer.'
After the arrest took place and Peter understood the gravity of the situation, he realised that he really didn't want to be identified with Jesus. This caused two things:
first, he was ashamed that Jesus had been right all along that Peter didn't have the moral courage that his pride caused him to boast of;
and second, he realised that he did indeed want to see for himself what would happen to Jesus.
So, Peter tried to hide himself by sitting among the servants near the fire outside the judgement hall. This way he was close enough to see Jesus, but he felt the darkness of the night would keep secret his identity.
In other words, Peter was now identifying himself with the enemies of Jesus. He was warming himself at THEIR fire. He was hiding in THEIR midst. He was being cowardly and saving his own skin.
Prayer:
Father, when I am tempted to compromise my identity as a follower of Jesus, please help me to remember, that He was not ashamed to go to the cross taking on my sin and paying the ultimate price for me.
Keep me in the time of temptation, so that I always stay true to who You have called me to be,
in Jesus' name I pray,
Amen. |
