Luke 22:54-62
When Jesus was arrested, “…Peter was following at a distance.” (54b). He was not there to defend
Jesus, but curious as to what would happen. He cared for Him, but did not know the uselessness of
flesh. At a distance, he neared Jesus’ accusers denying knowing Him three times. Then a rooster
crowed. “The Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He
had told him, ‘Before a rooster crows today, you will deny Me three times.’” (61) As we learn later, this
was not the end of Peter’s ministry, but a beginning. Our flesh is a stumbling block to God’s desire to
work through us. Until we realize our utterly corrupt nature, we are not useful to Christ. After Jesus’
resurrection, He restored Peter and used him to lead thousands into Christianity on the day of
Pentecost. When we trust in our flesh, we follow at a distance, but let us draw near to Christ so we are
useful.