John 18:15-18 – Standing with Jesus

Simon Peter followed Jesus from a distance as the Lord was bound, to appear before the high priest Annas. Mathew 26:58 made it clear that he “followed afar off.” Here he was in a deep dilemma. He probably loved Jesus enough and was anxious to know what would happen to Him. Yet he was too afraid to be identified with Jesus, for fear of being rejected by people if he stood with Him. In the moment Jesus needed him most, he was too afraid to stand up and be counted. Isn’t this how our flesh would often respond? One thing is sure, the Lord would rather that we be for Him all the way or not at all. He knows that we cannot make great impact when we sit on the fence.  

Peter followed only to the entrance of the court of the high priest. He was not allowed in because he was unknown to the high priest. Here we are introduced to an unnamed disciple who was known to the high priest. We are not told precisely who this disciple was. Some had suggested that he was John, the beloved. But then John was a fisherman from Galilee and was far removed from Jerusalem. Hence it was unlikely to be him. Others had suggested that he could be either Nicodemus or Joseph of Arimathaea. Yet no one can know for sure.  But he was allowed into the court of the high priest.

The focus of these verses was on the actions of Peter. His earlier zeal and well intentioned effort to protect Jesus was renounced by the Lord Himself.  So it’s understandable that he now would just follow from afar. We are told that the unnamed disciple then spoke to the doorkeeper, and sought permission for Peter to enter the court of the high priest. He was then allowed into the court. He stood near a maid who recognized he was a disciple of Jesus. Notice how she asked Peter, “You are not also one of this man’s disciples, are you?” Had he said, ‘Yes I am’, he would not have to deny the Lord anymore. But his fear of being identified with Jesus got the better of him. If only he had boldly stood with Jesus, he would have avoided a whole lot of explanations and other lies. We know that once a lie is told, it could never be stopped. More lies would have to be told to cover that first lie. Here we see Peter being swept into the whole avalanche of untruths that his first lie had gotten him into.

Peter, we are told, stood with the soldiers and other enemies of Jesus in the court of the high priest, near the charcoal fire they had started. And while he was warming his cold hands, his heart and soul would certainly be comfortless. How would you and I respond should we face with a similar circumstance as Peter? It’s easy to be critical of him, but it would be different when the one being tested is us. Hear the timely advice of Paul, “Let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he falls.” It is needful that we hold our conviction with thoughtful uncertainty, not relying on our own strength.