We are told by John and the other Gospel narratives that Peter followed the Lord and those who arrested him in the garden to the high priest’s palace or courtyard (John 18:15). However, John adds that another disciple also followed, but apparently not with Peter, who followed at a distance (Mark 14:54; Luke 22:54). The other disciple, we are told, was known to the high priest. At first Peter was refused entry, but the other disciple came to the gate to let the woman who kept the gate know that Peter should be allowed entry (John 18:16)
When the gatekeeper permitted him to enter, she asked Peter if he was also one of Jesus’ disciples, indicating that she knew the other man was, indeed, one of his disciples. However, Peter denied it, and went to be with the men who were warming themselves by the fire in the courtyard, which was lit for that purpose (John 18:17-18).
At this point we need to ask, first, what was Peter doing there? Who was the other disciple, and why was he there? Why would Peter deny knowing Jesus, when he showed he was willing to die with him in the garden (John 13:37; 18:10)? None of the narratives tell us beyond doubt what actually occurred or who the other disciple was, but, if we consider the facts logically, we can know the ‘probable’ answers to these questions. For example, the only disciple the texts tell us who spoke with or had any dealings with the high priest was Judas, the betrayer (cp. Matthew 26:14-16; Luke 22:4-6), and we know he was there (Matthew 27:3-5). Moreover, the gatekeeper would also have known that Judas was one of Jesus’ disciples (cp. John 18:17), for she had seen him before. Although we cannot know this for certain, Judas was probably the other disciple who followed, but he walked among the men who arrested Jesus (John 18:15, not at a distance, as did Peter (Mark 14:54; Luke 22:54).
What, then, about Peter, why did he follow Jesus, but hide the fact that he was one of his disciples? Was it a cowardly act that contradicts his willingness to die with Jesus (John 18:10)? Not at all, at least the most logical consideration wouldn’t allow for cowardice, any more than a spy for one nation is a coward for hiding his identity for the purpose of gathering information from another nation that would help his homeland. Peter followed after the Lord in order to see how the proceeding would go for him (cp. Matthew 26:58). Why would this be important to Peter at this time? ‘Probably’ Peter left the other disciples in the garden and told them he would follow after Jesus to see what would occur, and, knowing that, it could help them in gaining Jesus’ release. However, if this is logical and true, Peter’s identity might get in the way of seeing the end of the matter. He could have been expelled from the high priest’s house, or been arrested, himself, and then how could he gain Jesus’ release? Logical (?), perhaps; politically motivated (?) yes, but none of it was according to the will of God, whom Jesus told Peter was in control of the events that would transpire (John 18:11). Peter, while seeking to serve Jesus in the flesh, found he was unable to do anything but deny knowing him!
Once more, Peter was questioned concerning his relationship with Jesus, when one of the men at the fire asked him, if he was one of Jesus’ disciples, but, of course, if he was to remain anonymous in order to secure vital information to be used later, Peter had to deny knowing Jesus once more (John 18:25).
Finally, one of Malchus’ (cp. John 18:10) relatives came to the fire and, seeing Peter, asked him if he didn’t see him in the garden with Jesus. However, Peter denied knowing Jesus for the third time (John 18:26-27), just as Jesus claimed he would (John 13:38), and immediately the cock crew! Thus, we are able to understand from this that Jesus’ agenda cannot be served by one laboring in the flesh. If we try, one way or another, we shall deny the Lord before the world, which calls into question, in my mind at least, the effectiveness of political power serving Christ. Is it possible to use the power of this world to serve our Lord, or does our dabbling in politics only serve to diminish the power of God in the Gospel? Jesus told us what to do (Matthew 28:19-20), which is where God expresses his power in this world (Romans 1:16; 2Timothy 1:8)! He has never told us that going to Caesar for help would help further the Gospel of Christ. That is pure conjecture on our part, just as trying to obtain Jesus’ release was pure conjecture on Peter’s part.
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One response to “Serving Christ in the Flesh”
Yep! This has been brought home to me by the fact that I am now the treasurer of our HOA Board. The efforts are similar to what I did in the church for 35 years; and with the exception of Sunday School teaching (which was gratifying) the accomplishments were often of the flesh.