Spectator

TITLE: Spectator
DATE: April 16, 2019
TEXT: Mark 14:54 – ESV - 54 And Peter had followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. And he was sitting with the guards and warming himself at the fire.
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I can watch a movie for 2-hours..but if I leave the room for 30 seconds to fill my water glass, I miss the biggest action scene of the movie Always.

I can last three hours at a baseball game, but the moment when the guy throws a bag of peanuts to me is when the guy on 3rd base steals home and wins the game. All the way home I will listen to my fellow-fans talk about the incredible way the game ended.

Well, that’s the kind of thing which happens when you are a spectator and not a participant.

On July 4, 1776 the English King, George the III, was a spectator and not a participant. He was responsible for all of the giant British Empire, but most of the time he remained unconcerned. That's why, on July 4, 1776, he was able to write in his diary, "Nothing of importance happened today."

George had no way of knowing that the long-festering hatred of the American Colonies against Great Britain had ended with the adoption of the Declaration of Independence.

On Maundy Thursday, Peter, under the devil’s influence, tried to turn himself from a participant to a spectator.  He had tried the same earlier at the dinner when the Savior had tried to wash his feet “No, no!”, Peter had declined,  But Jesus wasn’t going to allow anyone to remain being a mere spectator at the group’s last meal together.

During the dinner Peter had boasted of how he would, no matter what would others might do, remain a faithful, active servant of the Savior. That boast had disappeared when Peter had disappeared into the dark.

Now, once again, Peter was trying to become a spectator in the life of Jesus. Jesus had been arrested and Peter was trying to go unnoticed and remain anonymous. He had forgotten that there is no such thing as secret discipleship.  

Either the secrecy destroys the discipleship, or the discipleship destroys the secrecy. You can read what happens to Peter’s faith that night. A few days later you can hear how the risen Redeemer sends a message to His disciples, AND Peter.

The question which comes out of this devotion is this: "What have you written in your Christian diary today?"

Did you record, "Nothing of importance happened today?" Have you been will you be, a spectator, rather than a witness, to Jesus? We dare not be mere watchers like Peter. When we do that, people at work remain uninvited to meet the Savior; family members are left without an introduction to Jesus Who died to bring us truth.

THE PRAYER:  Dear Lord Jesus, You could have remained uninvolved with my soul's salvation. You could have watched from heaven. But You loved enough to get involved. Help me to get involved in my following of You. In Your Name. Amen.

The music which introduces and concludes our devotions was written by Guy Baumann. He along three of his brothers perform on the album: The Baumann Brothers which may be ordered here: http://thebaumannbrothers.com/index.html