John 18:12-17 (NIV)
Then the detachment of soldiers with its commander and the Jewish officials arrested Jesus. They bound him and brought him first to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it would be good if one man died for the people.
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, but Peter had to wait outside at the door. The other disciple, who was known to the high priest, came back, spoke to the girl on duty there and brought Peter in.
“You are not one of his disciples, are you?” the girl at the door asked Peter.
He replied, “I am not.”
Jesus’ arrest was routine. Once Jesus stepped forward and surrendered, the disciples scattered into the trees (Mark 14:50). So, the soldiers simply tied Jesus up and led Him away under guard.
But the trial process was anything but routine. Jewish law forbade trials to take place during the dark hours of the day, ostensibly to ensure transparency in the judicial process. But most of Jesus’ trial process happened in the dark of night, even if these “mini trials” were framed as mere “hearings.” The first hearing in this multi-stage affair was at the home of Annas, the former high priest and father-in-law of the current high priest, Caiaphas.
After Jesus was taken away, two of His disciples, Peter and John (who, as usual in his gospel, is conspicuously unnamed) followed at a distance. When they saw that Jesus was being taken to the house of Annas, John, who knew Annas personally, marched right into the courtyard at the rear of the group. But Peter held back and was left outside when the gate was shut. When John realized what had happened, he went back and talked to the young woman who was acting as the gatekeeper, so she opened the gate and admitted Peter.
No sooner had Peter passed through the gate than the gatekeeper asked a simple question: “You aren’t one of His disciples too, are you?” The woman knew that John was a follower of Jesus (thus the word “too”), and John seemed to have no problem being identified as such. But the form of the woman’s question anticipated an answer of “no,” which instantly turned Peter’s mind to the negative implications of being closely associated with Jesus on that night in that place. So, Peter folded, giving the first of the three denials of Jesus that He had foretold earlier in the evening.
Father, we see two models here. The first is John who, though acquainted with the high priest and his family, was nonetheless completely committed to Jesus. John had no problem being identified as Jesus’ disciple, even when the times seemed dangerous and the circumstances unsure. Peter, on the other hand, was timid. He had his antenna up, sensing the mood of the moment, and decided that in view of the uncertain times and the potential danger, it would be better, safer, to not identify himself as a follower of Jesus. Better to put his light temporarily under a bowl than to let it shine too brightly in this dark place, attracting unwanted attention. But once that first step is made into compromise, each subsequent step becomes easier, more natural, and the harder it becomes to backtrack on earlier denials. Lord, help me to never take that first step into denial, but, like John, to simply live unambiguously as Jesus’ disciple, no matter the circumstances. Amen.
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