Read John 18:15-16. Circle the word(s) that stand out to you. What is the Lord saying to you?
15 Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus. Because this disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the high priest’s courtyard, 16 but Peter had to wait outside at the door. The other disciple, who was known to the high priest, came back, spoke to the servant girl on duty there and brought Peter in.
Reflections on the Word.
Bumping into each other by chance? When I was on my last cruise, I heard someone called my name, “Kingston!” Lo and behold, there was an old friend, Hulian with her husband walking on the same deck at the same time while I was exploring the ship. What a coincidence!
When Jesus was arrested, the Eleven Disciples fled in all different directions. Do you wonder where they fled to? Where was the most likely place that they would go to? Where would you go? My suggestion is that most of them went back to the Upper Room where they celebrated their Last Meal with Jesus or they followed at a distance from the soldiers as they marched Jesus back to Annias, the high priest.
Here, Peter and another disciple “ran” into and then with each other. “15 Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus” (NIV).
God used this “other disciple” in a mysterious manner to bring Peter into the courtyard of Annias. Who would have thought that this unnamed disciple had influence to enter the home or courtyard of Annias! It must be noted that this unnamed disciple was likely at the Upper Room or was familiar with Jesus’ location.
I wonder what this disciple thought about this inquisition of Jesus. Did he say something on Jesus’ behalf, or did he remain silent in fear of the repercussions?
One can commend Peter and this other disciple for following Jesus to the house of Annias. They not only followed Jesus, but they also entered into a hostile situation. None of the other 10 disciples that we know of followed that closely to Jesus. Would you have followed Jesus that night or would you have kept hiding behind some trees from a distance? It is likely that most of us would scatter and only a few of us would be willing to risk our lives to following Jesus. But not Peter and this unnamed disciple, which is most likely John. Peter must be commended for his loyalty up to this point.
In view of the next scene, it’s easy for us to forget that Peter drew his sword to defend the Lord and was brave enough to enter Annias’ courtyard. But at this point, Peter has kept his word to that he is willing and ready to die for Jesus.
Unlike Peter and this disciple, most of us are not in danger of physically losing our lives to follow Jesus. But are we willing to “die” to ourselves so that we follow Jesus’s lead to work out His good in our lives and in the lives of those around us? Let’s follow Jesus no matter where the journey takes us.
-Kingston