9 March 2016
St. Athanasius Lutheran Church
Lent 4 Midweek
Greenspring
Village, Springfield, VA
Jesu Juva
“The
Little (or BIG!)
Peter in Each of Us: Keeping Your Distance”
Text: Matthew 26:57-58; 1
Peter 3:13-22
He watched them as they bound Jesus, as they
cinched up those ropes tightly about His hands. Those hands
that had done nothing wrong. Those hands that had so
often reached out in compassion. Those hands that had touched lepers,
restored sight to the blind, gave hearing to the deaf, and embraced the
unloved. Those hands now tightly bound, as if they could do harm. As if they
were a weapon. Those hands that had done nothing but good.
Then they shoved Him. Get going! they yelled into His ears, clearly enjoying the power they
now exercised over Him. As if they had any power. Did they forget how He had
just knocked them all down by just the power of His Word? But soldiers aren’t
paid to remember, but to act. And so they did. Manhandling
Jesus out of the Garden and to Jerusalem.
Peter just watched at first. But then slowly one
foot followed the other, and he followed the hostile group . . . from a
distance. Never letting them get out of his sight, but
never getting too close either. Lest they turn on him.
Lest they decide to let him get a taste of the steely sword he had just pulled
on them. Back across the Kidron Valley, up the slope
to Jerusalem, in the gate where Jesus had entered to shouts of Hosanna just a
few days ago, through the sleepy streets, and into the courtyard of the High
Priest. But not too far in. Near the wall, so he could
blend in. Near the gate, in case he needed to make a quick getaway . . .
Perhaps Peter tried to console himself with the
thought that he hadn’t left Jesus. He had said that even if all the others fell
away, he never would (Matt
26:33). He
was there; where were they? But even as he thought it, he knew it wasn’t true.
He was trying his best, but his best wasn’t enough. He was afraid; so afraid.
He was confused, he was distraught. He wanted to be with Jesus. He wanted to
speak, he wanted to act, he wanted to die with his
friend, his Lord. But something was holding him back. Something was keeping him
away. Something was making him keep his distance.
You know how it is. So do I.
For how often do we, too, keep our distance from our Saviour?
Afraid to speak. Failing to act.
Strong when it’s easy but weak when too much is being asked of us. Hiding our faith lest we be mocked or attacked. Wanting to
blend in with the world and not stand out; to be popular and not considered
odd. Maybe, like Peter, we console ourselves with the way we come to Church
every week and with what we give . . . but still you know in your heart how
weak that excuse sounds. For faith is something to be lived
not just in Church, when it’s easy, but in the world, even when it’s hard.
We see Christians in other parts of the world being persecuted and killed for
their faith, yet look at us! How we keep our distance, not wanting to get too
close; not wanting the danger. Like Peter, we try our best, but our best isn’t
good enough, is it?
So thanks be to God that
in Jesus, God did not keep His distance from us. That in love for us, He didn’t
just draw near to us, but became one of us. Jesus, God in human flesh and
blood. You can’t get any closer than that. And in our flesh and blood He went
through all that you do. He knows the fears and temptations, the worries and
troubles. But where we are weak, He is strong. Where we fail, He delivers.
Where we shrink back, He never does. He fights for us against all our enemies,
even on the cross, and wins. Our sin is forgiven through His sacrifice, our
death and grave are overcome in His resurrection, and our hell lies in ruins by
His descent. For that man hauled off with His hands bound together would not
remain bound for long. In just three days He would be free. To set us free.
It is the freedom now given to us in Holy
Baptism, where the Lord who drew near to us now draws us to Himself. That’s
what Peter wrote - yes, the same Peter. It is a changed man who could later
write so differently than how he once acted, writing: But even if you
should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of
them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always
being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the
hope that is in you. For after Jesus rose and restored Peter, Peter
realized he was safe in the ark - the ark of Christ and His Church. For he was
baptized into Christ - the Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the
right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected
to him. So what did he have to fear?
Oh, Peter still had his moments, as will we. Our
sinful natures still get the better of us. But how good to
know that those sins and failures cannot separate us from the love of Christ.
That we, too, have forgiveness and restoration. That
the promises we have received in baptism will never be taken away. Maybe Peter
wrote that as much to teach and remind himself as to teach others. And we
cannot be reminded too often, either.
Peter followed at a distance because he expected
the worst. But the worst, in the end, turned out to be the best. And for us too. So when you shrink back and follow from a
distance, expecting the worst, the worst might happen - but the best is not far
behind. For the God who raises the dead to life is able to bring good from evil
even now. And He will. He promised. He promised you.
And so we sang our prayer, based on that promise,
earlier:
Jesus, lead Thou on Till
our rest is won;
And although the way be cheerless,
We will follow calm and fearless.
Guide us by Thy hand To
our fatherland.
If the way be drear, If
the foe be near,
Let not faithless fears o’ertake
us;
Let not faith and hope forsake
us;
For through many a woe To
our home we go.
Jesus, lead Thou on Till
our rest is won;
Heav’nly leader, still direct us,
Still support, console, protect us,
Till we safely stand In
our fatherland. (LSB
#718 v. 1-2, 4)
In the Name of the
Father, and of the (+) Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.