Distant Disciples

DISTANT DISCIPLES

“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.” - Mark 14:54

The word, “disciple,” is defined as a follower or learner. The twelve men that Jesus chose to walk with Him during His ministry are often referred to as disciples. In a broader sense, every follower of Jesus is a disciple since he or she is following Jesus.

In Mark 14:54, the Bible says, “And Peter followed him afar off.” Peter was a disciple. He was a follower of Jesus, but in this critical moment, he followed afar off.

Does that sound like you? Are you following afar off? Perhaps there was a time when you walked closely with the Lord. The fellowship was sweet. Your joy was full. Life was wonderful. For some reason, that is not the case right now. Perhaps you've quit going to church. The Bible that you once loved and cherished is collecting dust. Your prayer-life is anemic. You never mention the Lord in conversations anymore. You've become a distant disciple. You are following afar off.

What caused Peter to drift away from the Lord? First, the Lord predicted this would happen. Peter confidently boasted that he would follow the Lord, even unto death. I don't think it was an empty boast. I believe that Peter was sincere in his statement. Yet the Lord told Peter that he would deny Jesus three times before the end of that very night. Our self-boasting is a form of pride. Pride leads to destruction.

Secondly, Peter faced fear and uncertainty. Jesus was on trial. The other disciples had fled. Peter stood in an unfriendly crowd, witnessing the trial of Jesus. The entire event was filled with hatred. It was a hostile situation that could quickly erupt into a riot. All the animosity was directed to the One that Peter had loved and followed. Peter probably knew that if his own identity were revealed, he could be facing death himself.

The longer you follow afar off, the easier it is to stay there. Such was the case for Peter. Notice a few things about his condition.

THERE WAS COLDNESS

Peter warmed himself by a fire. Even though he was physically cold, it was his spiritual condition that was most frigid. When you get away from the fire, you tend to get cold. The spiritual heat we receive when walking with the Lord is gauged upon our nearness to Him. After Jesus had walked with two from Emmaus, they said one to another, “Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?” If you follow afar off from the source of the flame, don't be surprised when you get cold.

THERE WAS COWARDICE

Peter had showed boldness many times. Now he was vulnerable and weak. When he was accused of being a disciple of Jesus, Peter bluntly denied the charge three separate times. He was once bold, but now a coward. When we follow afar off, we often face defeat and disgrace.

THERE WAS CONTRITION

Peter followed afar off and ended up regretting it. One of the greatest failures in Christian history was Peter's denial of the Lord. After this, “he went out and wept bitterly.” My greatest failures in the Christian life have come when I followed afar off. The failures we encounter are often the result of following distantly, not the cause of it. If we neglect our spiritual communion with God, we slowly drift from Him. Eventually, like Peter, we find ourselves afar off.

Here's the good news. If you are a distant disciple, that can change today. If you are following afar off, you can get close to the Lord again. Peter failed greatly, but his encounter with the risen Redeemer brought him close to the Lord once more. Peter would go on to preach the great evangelistic message on the Day of Pentecost. He would be a leader in the early church. He eventually had two epistles included in the canon of Scripture. In spite of his failures, the Lord still used Peter.

If you are following afar off, let me give you some suggestions. First of all, realize your situation. Admit that you are far from the Lord. Secondly, repent. Repentance is a change of mind that leads to a change of direction. Third, draw close to the Lord. The Bible says that if we draw close to God, He will draw close to us. The next move is yours. Get close to Him again. Next, be diligent to stay close to the Lord. Get back in church. Get back to serving God. Read your Bible daily. Pray often. Serve others. Give generously in the Name of the Lord. You will never be lukewarm or cold in your faith if you stay close to the flame. Stay close to Jesus. Walk in close communion to Him each day.

We are walking as close to God as we want to. We don't have to be distant disciples.