Mark 14:51-54 A young man, wearing nothing but a linen garment, was following Jesus. When they seized him, he fled naked, leaving his garment behind. They took Jesus to the high priest, and all the chief priests, elders and teachers of the law came together. Peter followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. There he sat with the guards and warmed himself at the fire.
Many people believe the young man mentioned who fled in fear, leaving his linen garment behind, was Mark. Of course, this happening seems rather inconsequential to the significance of the story. Yet, by revealing this information, Mark emphasizes that all of the disciples were in fear and fled as we read last week in the previous verse: Then everyone deserted him and fled. However, he then reveals to us Peter's determination to follow Jesus' captors wherever they were taking Jesus. Probably, Peter was attempting to carry out his words to Jesus, “Even if all fall away, I will not.” Peter was a strong-willed fisherman, not a man of an equivocal mind. His intention was not to abandon Jesus, regardless of the cost. In fact he was so strong in that belief that he drew a sword and cut off the ear of the servant of the chief priest. But Jesus did not back him up in his intentions to do violence to his captors. In fact, Jesus said, “Put your sword back in its place for all who draw the sword will die by the sword." This of course brought Peter into great confusion, for how could he defend Jesus from his accusers if he could not even fight them? So Peter withdrew from the scene of the arrest, but then proceeded to follow Jesus to the courtyard of Jesus' main accuser. As Jesus said earlier in the garden, “Simon,” he said to Peter, “are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour? Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” Peter wanted to prove he was strong in all ways in his commitment to his Lord
Simon's determination, his will, lead him to the place where Jesus was taken; but when the final test came, Peter was not strong enough to overcome the circumstances of that day of days. Peter was chief of the apostles, the leader Jesus placed so much faith in when Peter called him the Son of the living God, and Jesus said, And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. (Matthew 16:16 & 18) But now as Jesus had predicted, Peter could not fulfill his promise to his LORD AND MASTER to remain true to his calling. Often, Peter's dilemma is our dilemma. We set rules and regulations for our lives. We promise God what we will do and what we won't do; but when the conflict, desire, or temptation comes into our lives, we are like Peter. We can hear the words of Jesus: “I tell you the truth,” Jesus answered, “today — yes, tonight — before the rooster crows twice you yourself will disown me three times.” Peter denied Jesus. He could not continue to believe Jesus could either extricate himself from this circumstance or keep himself safe in the midst of adversity. He probably was questioning Jesus' deity, power, and authority. Even though he had seen Jesus do miraculous acts that no man from the beginning of time could do, his allegiance to Jesus as the Son of God wavered; his faith was not built on solid ground. Prior to this night, Peter thought the man who could calm the seas and quiet the wind, the one who healed the sick and raised the dead could not possibly be helpless in the hands of wicked men. Surely no men could take the Son of God into custody. NOT POSSIBLE! But what Peter was seeing with his eyes and hearing with his ears made him believe that Jesus was not defending himself and God seemed far from the scene. How could God's Son, Jesus, be powerless and where was the Father who loved the Son? Peter's conclusion under pressure and in great fear was to deny his Lord. He went away weeping after he knew he had fulfilled the words, Jesus spoke to him earlier: “Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.”
How often do we deny Jesus' reality and feel that God is not at the scene when we experience difficulties and trials of life? How often do we say that things just don't change and remain the same as they have been from the beginning of time? In our despair, the mindset of human nature takes over and the supernaturalness of God takes a backseat in our thinking. Why pray, nothing will change? Why serve God, I always have problems? These attitudes can take over in our lives and dominate our thinking if we give the natural mind a foothold and forget the Lord and his blessings. We become heathens in our thinking, not men and women of the Spirit. In reality, God never abandons us. But when our thinking goes astray, we abandon ourselves. We leave behind the good teaching and the truth we have received; we leave behind the knowledge of the Word; we leave behind the kindness and help of our brothers and sisters. Sadly, we even leave behind the miraculous works that God has accomplished in our lives--countless miracles of grace and mercy. We succumb to the belief that the powers of the world are greater than God's power.
In today's scripture, Peter was confused, alone, and feeling abandoned by God to the hands of men: consequently, he feared. But God had a greater plan for him, just as He has a greater plan for you. As you abide in Christ by faith through the power of the Holy Spirit, God performs his perfect will. Peter knew the Word. He knew Jesus said, Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven. (Matthew 10:32-33) But Jesus was not ashamed of Peter when he stumbled. He knew Peter's heart, his love for God; so He was not finished with Peter. God is not finished with you even if you have been struggling with unbelief, doubt, or fear. You are a child of God, and He plans for you to inherit his kingdom and all the heavenly blessings He has stored up for you. Right now He wants to make your life more productive, more alive in Him through his mighty power in you. After Peter's denial, God placed Peter as the leader of his nascent church. What great plans God has for YOU! Look up, revival is on the way!
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