“In the Bible, God has given us a record of His encounters with mANKIND.  Some are wonderful and dramatic, and others sad and heavy hearted. Today, I want to look at such AN ENCOUNTER WITH A man who became one of God's great men of faith, but before that came about the Bible shows us his personal struggle in getting there.”

 I’m Dennis Finnan, host and speaker on the World, the Word & You! Broadcast and in a moment we’ll talk about this man in the rough…

 …As I mentioned in opening the program, In the Bible, God has given us many records of encounters of men and women with Himself.  Some of them are wonderful and dramatic, and others seem to be sad and heavy hearted. Yet I surmise God gives us both to show us that we all have a choice in this life in relationship to Him. A choice that can bring us too, great blessing or sorrow.  As such, let’s look at a man who became one of God's great men of faith, but before that came about, the Lord shows us his very own personal trials in getting there.  Inasmuch, as this is a real life account given to us in the fully inspired Word of God, we can all learn some valuable lessons from it. So after another moment for a musical pause for the day, I'll return to talk about this man named Peter who often FOLLOWED FROM AFAR. Stay tuned…

…As I read my Bible, I often come across a verse of Scripture that stands out far above others and in effect jumps out of the pages of Scripture and grabs my attention.  Sometimes it can be a whole section, and at other times just a small verse or phrase. Such is the case I want to share with you right now. But, to do it I’ll need to read the entire Scriptures surrounding the event for your full understanding of it. As I mentioned before, my topic involves a man named Peter, and is found in the New Testament in the Gospel of Luke chapter 22. We read,

1. Jesus Institutes the Lord’s Supper

Luke 22:14-62 (NIV)  When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. 15 And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16 For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.” 17 After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you. 18 For I tell you I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” 19 And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 20 In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you. 21 But the hand of him who is going to betray me is with mine on the table. 22 The Son of Man will go as it has been decreed, but woe to that man who betrays him.” 23 They began to question among themselves which of them it might be who would do this.

2. The Disciples Argue About Greatness

24 Also a dispute arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest. 25 Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. 26 But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. 27 For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves. 28 You are those who have stood by me in my trials. 29 And I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred one on me, 30 so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

3. Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial

31 “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” 33 But he replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.” 34 Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.”

4. Jesus Mentions the Need of Supplies for the Journey Ahead

35 Then Jesus asked them, “When I sent you without purse, bag or sandals, did you lack anything?” “Nothing,” they answered. 36 He said to them, “But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one. 37 It is written: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors’ ; and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in me. Yes, what is written about me is reaching its fulfillment.” 38 The disciples said, “See, Lord, here are two swords.” “That is enough,” he replied.

5. The Prayer in the Garden

39 Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. 40 On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” 41 He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, 42 “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” 43 An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. 44 And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. 45 When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. 46 “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.”

6. The Betrayal and Arrest in Gethsemane

47 While he was still speaking a crowd came up, and the man who was called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him, 48 but Jesus asked him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?” 49 When Jesus’ followers saw what was going to happen, they said, “Lord, should we strike with our swords?” 50 And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear. 51 But Jesus answered, “No more of this!” And he touched the man’s ear and healed him. 52 Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple guard, and the elders, who had come for him, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come with swords and clubs? 53 Every day I was with you in the temple courts, and you did not lay a hand on me. But this is your hour—when darkness reigns.”

7. Now the event that tells us of Peter’s Denial of Jesus

54 Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed [from afar]. 55 But when the [soldiers] had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. 56 A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, “This man was with him.” 57 But he denied it. “Woman, I don’t know him,” he said. 58 A little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” “Man, I am not!” Peter replied. 59 And about an hour later another asserted, “Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean.” 60 Peter replied, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed”. 61 The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the words the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.” 62 Peter  went outside and wept bitterly.

Now most of you who are listening to this reading of Scripture have heard this tragic story of Jesus’ betrayal and His follower’s faithlessness. But God gives us a look at one man in particular, who boasted of his strength in following the Lord. This man's name was Peter. Now Peter was a Jewish believer who grew up in a working man's home. Peter learned early that life involved hard work, much toil and tremendous sacrifice to just chip out a living. Peter was a fisherman of Bethsaida, a rough and hard life and place for living. The people around him were tough too, and often abusive, so one can imagine Peter grew to be a rough and strong man himself. In fact, Peter became known as the “hot-tempered” one. Now, Peter first met Jesus at Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John the Baptist was preaching. The Bible tells us that Peter and his brother Andrew were followers first of John the Baptist, which indicated they were willing to stand out from the crowd and declare their allegiance to the Old Testament promises of the coming of the Messiah.

Both Andrew and Peter were indeed strong men with character and faith. But one day Jesus passed by and called Peter to personally follow Him. Actually Peter's call was triple in nature, for he was called to be a friend, a disciple and finally an apostle. As Peter responded, he left his life's work and trade to follow the Master teacher and Messiah. In so doing, Peter walked closely with Jesus for more than three years.  Through daily contacts he saw that Jesus Christ was no mere man, but was indeed the living God come in flesh. Through that close personal relationship, Peter's character was strengthened and deepened. Indeed, Peter was a trophy of God's grace. However Peter was also human, like you and me. His character had many strengths, but also many flaws. By studying the Bible's account of Peter, we can find Peter was often an impulsive man., yet tenderhearted and affectionate. Still at other times he was boiling and fiery by temperament. However, Peter became a leader among the apostles and was named among the inner three who walked the closest with Jesus. Indeed, if there ever was a man who followed Jesus it was the man named Peter. But, as I read to you from Luke chapter 22, I came across a single verse that gripped my attention, where the Spirit of God spoke and said,

Luke 22:54   "Then they arrested Jesus, and led him, and brought him into the high priest's house. And Peter followed afar off."

Wow! Here Peter presents a strange mixture of courage and strength, sprinkled with a good dose of weakness and superficial commitment.  Yes, in this particular case we look upon Peter with wonder and pity as we see him shrink into spineless compromise. Yet, let us not be too condemnatory, for God gives us this account to show us our own inner hearts. Yes, we may resemble Peter in following Christ too during the easy times. But now we learn that Scripture says , "Peter followed from afar."  Let's apply this and consider some of the causes why many who profess Jesus Christ, today, follow Him at a distance.

In Peter's case, various causes were at work surrounding his life, but alas they were first at work in him, for as far as the Lord Jesus was concerned, there really was no reason Peter should not have followed closely with a fully surrendered commitment to Him.  Now first of all, one cause of failure here is what dogs the steps of many a believer today.

 #1 PEOPLE FOLLOW JESUS FROM AFAR BECAUSE OF – “THE FEAR OF MEN”

It is the "fear of man that brings a snare."(Prov. 29:25)  Yes, the Bible says Peter took his eyes of the power and might of the Creator God He followed, and it made him a coward!  Today many like Peter fear following the Lord closely for what others might say or do. If we identify too closely with Christ, we may be laughed at, or worse persecuted and suffer a loss of something. Now without a doubt this might be true, but Jesus warned us all when He said,

Mark 8:36 (NIV)  What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?

John 15:20 (NIV)  Remember the words I spoke to you: ‘No servant is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.

Today many followers of Jesus are like young Peter, they follow Jesus from afar, not realizing they are trading the blessings of God for the cheap imitations of the world. This perhaps is the greatest cause of  little commitment among God's people. However there's a second cause of following from afar.

#2 PEOPLE FOLLOW JESUS FROM AFAR BECAUSE OF – “A WANT OF FULL LOVE”

Yes, it is this “half-heartedness,” or want of full love that keeps many back from truly loving and following the Lord. The truth is Peter, who boasted so loudly of his love, faith and commitment to the Lord, really did not love Christ as much as he thought and professed. He loved Christ enough to be near him when the blessing flowed, and happiness resulted. But when the rough times came, and suffering and loss was evident - his love wasn't deep or strong enough. 

This too, can be seen in many professing Christian’s love today, especially in the area of marriage.  Today millions of American homes are being shattered by divorce and marital infidelity. Why? Because most enter the state of marriage without really understanding what real love is. Most young couples who "fall in love," think love is something you get, rather than something you “will to give” at any cost and sacrifice. In the Bible, God gives us His definition of love in one Greek word – “Agapeo”. What is agape love? It is a love of the will more than the emotions. It is a love that is predetermined to be set upon another or something regardless of the state or future of it.  It is a love that cannot be broken or lost  by any failure or circumstance of life of that which is loved. 
Friends, that is the kind of love God has for those whom He sets His love upon.  Although we have sinned against God, rejected Him and even crucified Him, before the foundation of the World, God determined in His mind to set His love upon the human race - and as such once that love flows to those whom He chooses out, it can never be broken off or lost! However, Peter models for us  not divine love, but the frailty of human love that says as long as I get, am pleased and warmed, as long as the blessings flow - I will love in return. But when the going gets rough, persecution comes, suffering and loss appear, well such love is lost! This is exactly the dilemma of many who profess to follow Jesus today. When the organ plays, the choir sings, the offerings are fat, and merriment is afoot, all is well. But when persecution starts, funds grow weak, public sentiment and opinion become sharp and disdainful - many follow from afar.

Friend how is it with you? Are you a believer? Are you fully committed to Christ and His church, or do you stay aloof or run when things grow tough and troublesome? Do you stand aloof, sit on the fence and follow from afar, never really committing yourself to God, and His people, when things haven’t gone your way, or perhaps you have suffered some abuse or criticism?  Then you like Peter need to reexamine your commitment of love, and ask the Lord to give you a deepened fully-surrendered heart of love for Him, His people and His Word. 

But wait, were not through yet because there's a third reason why many follow from afar like

#3 PEOPLE FOLLOW JESUS FROM AFAR BECAUSE OF – “A LOVE OF WORLDLINESS”

Yes Peter suffered this too. It is the infection of sin we all have called WORLDLINESS! Listen to the words of Jesus on this subject,

Mat 6:24 (NIV)  “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.

Paul the apostle describes this in a sad case of another believer where we read in,

2 Tim 4:10 (NIV)  for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia.

Now Jesus said earlier, that following Him required a total commitment (Luke 14:26-27) where one could not follow Him and also attempt to follow the world that has rejected Christ. This is what in the Bible is called “worldliness.” Perhaps the best definition of this is,  "the personal accommodation of our pleasures and desires of ourselves to the spirit of our age." Indeed, it is a choice that says the things of this world and its system of life without God as head, will take precedence over following and obeying God and His eternal plan and purposes for my life. 

Yes, worldliness is often a cause for distant following of the Lord; for fear to come close to God will cause some kind of loss. Yet Jesus said, "What shall it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his own soul?" Peter probably struggled with this too and stayed at a distance when the loss of this world's prestige, and goods were seemingly at stake. Yet, the Lord wants us to remember that no one can follow Him, and receive His full blessings if we do not put the world and its system of life happiness behind us.

Now when God's people do this, such actions always are accompanied with consequences. What consequences followed Peter's action? Well first, it was the peril of a dreadful fall. Following afar Peter fell into the terrible sin of denying Christ among his fellow men. Backsliding is often the result of a half hearted following of the Lord. As a pastor I see this often! When God's people begin to drop back and no longer fully follow the Lord, they soon fall into sins and situations that compromise their life and testimony for Christ. Soon God and His kingdom take second place, then third place and soon no place! Then the Devil moves in and ensnares them in sin. 

However this is not the only consequence. Outward perils come, but what may be worse is the inner peril that always accompanies following from afar. It is  “dissatisfaction and unrest of the soul.” Inward peace and joy vanishes and the soul and heart of the believer becomes miserable.  When joy is gone, so is usefulness to God. One great preacher who forsook God's ministry for a great salary in the business world later told how the Lord never left Him alone. The words what good is it to have a saved soul and a wasted life keep running through his heart and mind until he dropped to his knees and rededicated his life to fully serving Christ. Perhaps the best example is found in the Old Testament in the life of a great man of God who took His eyes off that which was eternal. His name is David. King David lusted after the world of flesh and forsook God to drink of the broken and contaminated well of adultery. No one knew of David's sin but God. Although David was able to hide it, we find what happened in his inner soul. We read in,

Psa 6:6 (NIV)  I am worn out from groaning; all night long I flood my bed with weeping and drench my couch with tears.

So David called out to God,

Psa 51:7-12 (NIV)  Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. 8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice. 9 Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity. 10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. 11 Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

Oh how David longed to have inner peace and joy which was lost when he followed the Lord “from afar” and fell into the sin and uncleanness and adultery. The stain could not be washed away, except by God who can cleanse the heart. He cried out for this, for all the pleasures of one night could not pay for the weeping and groaning of his heart that accompanied his sin against God and man. Yes, Peter too followed from afar, and he soon denied Christ and wept bitterly.  Perhaps today I am speaking to someone who is following the Lord Jesus “from afar.” You no longer belong to a local Bible believing Church, no longer faithfully attend and serve there. The Word of God is rarely read by you, and the things of the Lord have grown strangely dim.

Also, there may be someone listening today who has experienced the perils of that and have fallen like David into actual sin. Your disgrace and failure is eating you alive. There seems to be no sunlight in your days, and the cold of winter blows through your soul.  Let those who have a God consciousness of this right now know that the Lord is not far from those who seek Him.

Friends there is no sin God will not forgive, nor cleanse, to those who seek the Spirit's help. Jesus calls to you to return to the fold, and to recommit your life and heart to a full surrender of love for Him. Paul warned Timothy, "Stir up the gift of God that is within you." The image is that of stirring up a fire and adding fresh fuel, getting rid of the ashes in one's life that have smothered the flame. For when we return to the Lord and make a fresh commitment that fire in the heart will come to life and burn brightly again. So friend, I say to you  - Perhaps its time to do something about “following from afar.” Today is the day of salvation and also, renewal - come to Jesus as you are, fully committing your heart and life to Him, and the promise of Scripture is - He will receive you…

…How often today we see people confessing to know Christ, attending church, submitting to all forms of church rituals - but in effect they are "following from afar." Would to God, each one of us would recheck our commitment and see if our trust, hope and faith is not in some religious system, or what benefits we get from it, but wholly and fully in the Person and work of Jesus Christ alone. It is He who alone is worthy of our devotion and our worship, and when that full commitment and surrender of our heart changes or is never connected - we will follow – “from afar.”  May God touch your heart today to know where you stand.