Following the Lord Afar Off by F. M. W.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 2, 1909

Following the Lord Afar Off

By F. M. W.

THE disciples chosen by our Lord presented many phases of character. Thomas was of a careful, conservative nature, who could be convinced only by the sight of his eyes. Peter, on the other hand, was quick and impulsive, ready to speak and act, not only for himself but for his fellows as well.

When the Lord asked his disciples who he was, Peter was quick to declare that he was the Christ of God. When the Lord warned his followers that they should all forsake him and flee, thereby seeking to fortify them against the great trial of their faith, impulsive, self-confident Peter resented this imputation of weakness. He assured his Master that although all men should forsake him, he would forever remain steadfast; and had the Master's kingdom been one of this world, and of a nature to be defended by the sword, no doubt Peter would have been a valiant and steadfast soldier. He was quick to draw his sword in the garden in defense of his Master, but when he saw the Lord surrounded and made a prisoner, and marched off amid the ridicule and scorning of the motley throng that surrounded him, his courage fled, and his hope well-nigh forsook him. The record is: “And Peter followed afar off.”

Rash and impetuous Peter still loved his Lord. There was something which still drew him on to the palace of the high priest, and although in his weakness he dissembled, and in the hall mingled with the indifferent, reckless throng, his heart still went out in yearning for his divine Lord. But this very

attitude of dissembling on his part was the source of further weakness and further failure. Accused by those who stood by of belonging to the following of Jesus, he repeatedly denied the accusation, and finally, to give emphasis to his denial, he vehemently declared with cursing and swearing that he even did not know the Lord.

With what interest must the Master himself, wholly unmindful of his own safety, have regarded the attitude of his erstwhile follower. What a pang the denial of Peter must have brought to his loving heart! But he offered no words of rebuke, and yet he would indicate to Peter that he had taken cognizance of his attitude. The record says: “And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter.” What commingled emotions must that look have expressed!

In it Peter saw love, sorrow, and rebuke blended. He realized the poignancy of the grief he had caused his loving Master. He saw as never before the baseness and ingratitude of his own selfish heart. He realized that in the time when the Lord needed most of all his sympathy and help, in the time when all had forsaken him and fled, he himself had added to his own cowardice the sin of base denial. As these feelings rushed in upon the heart of Peter, he was overwhelmed. He remembered the word of the Lord, who had warned him beforehand of the part he was to act, “and Peter went out, and wept bitterly.” These were such tears as he had never shed before. They were tears of genuine sorrow and contrition of heart. His life of selfishness stood out before him in clear outlines. The days that Christ spent in the tomb were to Peter days of humiliation and mourning.

From this state of mind he was startled the third day after the crucifixion by a message sent him from the Lord. Mary had visited the tomb. An angel had revealed himself to her, with the most startling but joyous announcement that the Lord had risen. He sends a message to her companions. He says: “Go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.” Why was Peter singled out from all the others as a recipient of a special message? The Lord knew of Peter's grief, and he takes this first opportunity to send to him a message of hope and cheer. Is it any wonder that Peter with bounding feet hastened to the open sepulcher? And with what feelings must he have met his Lord later in the day, as Christ gave him audience! Sweet indeed must have been the assurance of forgiveness from the divine lips. Joyful indeed must have been the heart of Peter as he realized once more that Christ recognized him as his own.

There are many Peters in the world to-day, impulsive, headstrong, and selfish, following their Lord afar off, and denying him in their Christian experience. There are many who have a name to live, and yet are dead, whose profession is a mere formality. There are also grieving Peters, those who see their weakness and unworthiness, those who realize that they have denied the Lord who bought them with his own precious blood. To this class the words of the Saviour come to-day: Go and tell Peter that I have risen. Christ is not in the grave. He sits on the throne of grace to minister to the poor and needy, the weak and fallen. His mighty hand is stretched down to the lowest depths to save. He will grasp every hand reached out to him. He will fill every heart open to receive his grace. May God grant that we shall not follow him afar off, but that we shall come near, and enjoy the communion of his blessed presence.

F. M. W.