Morning Meditation – He Followed at a Distance
Morning Meditation with George Hutchings
He Followed at a Distance
Mark 14:54 “But Peter followed Him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. And he sat with the servants and warmed himself at the fire.” (NKJV)
Peter was with Jesus pretty much from the start of His ministry. He watched as Jesus preached to thousands of people and heard the Word of God from the Lord’s own lips.
He watched as Jesus performed miracles ranging from feeding the five thousand to even himself taking a few steps on water! There should have been no question from Peter as to who Jesus truly was as His power and authority could only come from God.
Yet, when Jesus was taken into custody and bound and lead before the high priest, Peter kept his distance. He still followed but no longer from Jesus’ side or his heels like he did throughout Christ’s ministry. During the good times Peter was at Jesus’ side but during the hard times he stepped away from his savior.
I have a friend who traveled with me to Kenya. He was paired up with a pastor who had a church in a slum area. The two exchanged email addresses and continued the relationship. But my friend deliberately distanced himself from me. Over lunch, I was told what happened.
The luncheon was for me to ask for $10,000 for bunk beds for the new school students. My friend was told prior to the lunch what the meeting was about. My friend is wealthy and $10,000 is nothing to him. But, he cut me off when it came time to do business and has further distanced himself from me.
He dodges a sacrifice. I can take ‘no’ for an answer, but now he won’t return phone calls or emails. I thought we were friends but are now distant. We now no longer enjoy coffee and a doughnut together or lunch. He does not want to be seen with me.
Perhaps that’s how Peter felt. Perhaps Peter thought, “If I follow Jesus closely, I’ll have to sacrifice.” So, he only wanted a distant relationship and lied about being one of Christ’s disciples.
We also can fall into that attitude. We know Jesus when we need Him but aren’t as interested when things are going well. But then, something happens. It comes time to sacrifice and we don’t want to be inconvenienced.
Christianity is okay if I can pamper myself. But if I must love and help support girls 6,000 miles away in an arid area, count me out.”
Or, closer to home: “If I must fight abortion by picketing an abortion clinic, count me out. That’s radical! If I must be at church Sunday morning, count me out; the golf ball is more important. Christ is okay when I need Him, but to sacrifice for Him is too radical.” So, we worship ourselves and walk with Him at a distance.
Lord, allow the girls at Juanita School for Girls to walk with you closely. Our girls have sacrificed all their lives without purpose except only to survive. Allow them the sacrifice of purpose of walking close to you, ready to sacrifice for the sake of the Kingdom. Let them not pamper themselves but sacrifice with the spirit of the Good Samaritan.
In Jesus’ name, amen.
Work continues on the dorm building. Below is a rendition of what the completed building should look like. We need to outfit it with beds and $200 supplies a bed, mattress, pillow, and sheets for one student. Donate today at www.JuanitaSchoolKenya.org. Or, text your donation to 801801, use Venmo @HeronFund (JuanitaSchoolKenya), or mail a check to Juanita School at PO Box 425, Cottleville, MO 63338.
George Hutchings, Co-Founder and President
Juanita School for Girls, Jungle Kenya
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