Following Afar

Today's NT reading comes from Luke 22:54-71. Our key verse is v.54 'and Peter followed afar off.' (KJV). What happens when you follow Jesus at a distance?

1. YOU BECOME A LONE RANGER: No accountability. And then you end up falling into greater sin, as Peter did in our text today. Mark's Gospel tells us that, not only did Peter deny Christ, he also began 'cursing and swearing' (Mark 14:71).
2. YOU GET INTO THE WRONG CROWD: When you follow Jesus afar, you end up in the wrong crowd, just like Peter did. He stood by the fire with the enemy. Then sat down and joined them (v.56), and eventually ended up denying the very One that he said he would die for (v.33).
3. YOU LOSE YOUR TESTIMONY: What a tragedy here. Peter is found 'cursing and swearing'. He lost his testimony for the Lord. After cursing and swearing, his testimony had been damaged.
4. YOU GET CONVICTED OVER YOUR SIN: (v.61-62). Here's the good news. God is a loving God and used a rooster to call Peter back to repentance. That rooster crowing represents a new day dawning. Later, the angel would tell the women at the empty tomb, "Go tell My disciples--and Peter--that He is going before you in Galilee; there He'll meet you." (Mark 16:7). And later, Jesus cooked Peter breakfast on the sea shore (John 21). When we repent, Jesus forgives and restores! Aren't you glad He does? When we 'follow afar', nothing short of repentance will get us back. And when we turn around and come back, we find sweet forgiveness. Are you following Jesus afar? Be assured that Jesus is waiting to welcome you back.