Peter… followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest
Mark 14:54
There was still a flicker of hope. One man felt that he wanted to be close to Jesus on this night. You have to love Peter’s devotion. He ran, but he couldn’t stay away. Maybe this man will bring some comfort to Jesus in His suffering.
Then someone recognised him: “You… were with the Nazarene” (14:67). Peter denied it, but she wouldn’t be put off: “This man is one of them” (14:69). “The bystanders again said to Peter, ‘Certainly you are one of them, for you are a Galilean.’ But he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, ‘I do not know this man of whom you speak’” (14:70-71).
God orchestrated three events to converge at the same moment: (1) As Jesus was being dragged across the courtyard, He heard Peter swearing, “I do not know this man.” (2) The cock crowed (Luke 22:60), and at that same time (3) Jesus turned and looked straight at Peter (22:61).
There was great pain in that moment for Peter, but what kind of agony was there for Jesus? This last man standing, Christ’s bravest friend, was taken from Him. Why did this have to happen?
Because Jesus bore the sins of the world alone. The disciples couldn’t help Him. There was no role for them to play. No one could contribute to what Jesus was doing here.
No one can ever say, “I had a part in this. I helped him.” Jesus didn’t do His redeeming work with us, He did it for us. He was utterly alone.
Why do you think Jesus had to go to the cross alone?
