You Cannot Follow

What was that? Jesus was going where Peter couldn’t follow? No. Not possible. Peter would die to see His reign established. There may be a glorious battle or a few rebels. If necessary…

They went for a walk. Deny Him? Crazy. Today?

“Pray,” Jesus said. Everything was confusing. It had been a long, busy week. Sleep came. The rest of the evening was a mixture of sleep and nightmare waking.

Swords. Shouts. Torches. Judas. The battle had started! Peter drew the sword Jesus had counseled his followers to buy, and swung. No time to think or aim – Peter had made a promise.

Never yet had Peter been so surprised as when he heard Jesus rebuking him, and witnessed his Teacher healing the enemy. The enemy!

Torches flickered into the distance. Jesus was gone. Silently, Peter followed.

Only one disciple remained with Peter. They trailed the mob to the house of the high priest. At the door, a servant girl challenged him. “You are not one of this man’s disciples, are you?” Peter’s breath caught. “I am not,” he mumbled, and moved quickly towards the fire.

While warming himself, another man confronted Peter. After a quick reply, Peter diverted his eyes and moved to the edge of the firelight.

A man asked him, “Were you with him?”

“No, no.” This wasn’t right. Where was the great battle – the establishment of the King? Old doubts raised by Jesus’ cryptic comments returned. Until the cock crowed, Peter hadn’t realized. This was it. This had been the chance to stand.

A question in his eyes, Peter turned to his Teacher’s face. How many times had he practiced that movement? Never would the memory of that face, that instant, be forgotten.

“You cannot follow. You cannot follow.” The words echoed in Peter’s mind with resounding clarity. It was not so much that the road was blocked as Peter was unable to walk, even crawl, this road Jesus trod.

Failure didn’t come easy for Peter. For the first time he noticed the tears streaming down his cheeks. The nightmare engulfed him. He fled to the black streets.

To God be all glory.