Kelly Cohoe

Read: Luke 22:54-62

Then they seized him (Jesus) and led him away, bringing him into the high priest’s house. ButPeter was following at a distance. (Luke 22:54, NRSV)

I believe that one of the great challenges facing the church today is how to interact with our culture. There is considerable pressure felt even by the church to tow the cultural line and not ruffle any feathers.

I think Peter felt that pressure. Jesus had suddenly become unpopular and was hated by the political/religious establishment. While the rest of the disciples flee when Jesus is arrested, Peter still follows Jesus, but at a safe distance. Upon arriving at the high priest’s house, Peter then tries to blend in with the crowd around the fire. When called out as a follower of Jesus, he denies Him three times.

In these difficult times, it has broken my heart to see former followers of Christ deserting Him. But I wonder if most of us struggle not with turning away from Jesus, but choosing to follow Him at a safe distance, essentially blending in with the culture around us. No matter what our reasons or motivations may be in doing this, I just don’t see Jesus blending in with the crowd. In fact, he stood out from the crowd and was crucified for it.

REFLECTION:

• Prayerfully consider how you might be following Jesus at a safe distance.
• What fears or concerns lead you to blend in with the crowd?
• What would it look like for you to stand out of the crowd and stand up for Jesus?