When Jesus was arrested, the disciples ran.  Then, two of them (Peter and John) circled back around and followed the group to Caiaphas’ and Annas’ quarters.  John was familiar with the guards, so he went in promptly with Jesus.  Peter was standing at the outer gate, John spoke to the girl attending the gate and she let Peter in.  At this point, Peter messes up.  He decides to stand out in the courtyard and warm himself by the fire, while John and Jesus are in a different part of the compound.  Peter is surrounded with a lot of people that are not supportive of Jesus and it sets him up for failure.

We see 3 types of people:

1.  Other Disciples:  Most of the disciples did not even circle back. They completely fled.

Matthew 26:56  …Then all the disciples left him and fled.

We are not sure where they were, but we are certain where they were not (w/ Jesus).

2. Peter: more interested and intent than ‘others’, yet still did not commit to following all the way.

Matthew 26:58 And Peter was following him at a distance, as far as the courtyard of the high priest, and going inside he sat with the guards to see the end.

He is away from Jesus, his master and savior.  He is away from John, his comrade and accountability partner.  There is no one there to give him direction.  There is no one there to hear him deny Jesus.  There is no one there to associate with.  This allows him to flounder. To waffle. To exist in a space separated from Jesus and alone.   It is admirable that Peter and John followed Jesus.  However, we do see a difference in John’s commitment and Peter’s faith.

3. John – was with Jesus throughout the process.  Even to the cross. (John 19)

When presented with the cross of Jesus Christ, we have the option of leaving and fleeing or staying and praying.   Today, we all are standing at a crossroad that is just as important as John and Peter and the other disciples.  Today, we are presented with the cross of Jesus Christ.

We love the benefits of the cross.  The fact that:

Romans 5: 6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. 11 More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

Tonight, we focus on what the cross means to each of us and as a body collectively.  But, we also understand the ramifications of faith in the cross. Jesus said in :

Matthew 10: 34 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.  35 For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.  36 And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household.  37 Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.  38 And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.  39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

Let us prepare our hearts for whatever God has for us.

1. Let’s repent as a body for our sins. And commit as a body to Jesus forever.
2. Let’s repent as individuals for our sins. And commit as an individual to Jesus forever. (to not leave and flee, to not sit by the fire on the outskirts) but to stay and pray and be a part of the active body of Christ.

Communion servers please take your spot and administer the elements to the congregation.  Please hold the elements of communion until everyone has them and then we will all take them together.

1 Corinthians 10: 14 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.15 I speak as to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say.16 The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ?17 Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread… 21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons.22 Shall we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he?

2 Corinthians 13: 5 Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!6 I hope you will find out that we have not failed the test.7 But we pray to God that you may not do wrong—not that we may appear to have met the test, but that you may do what is right, though we may seem to have failed.

1 Corinthians 11: 23 For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread,24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body which is fort you. Do this in remembrance of me.”t 25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.  27 Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord.28 Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup.29 For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself.30 That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died.31 But if we judgedt ourselves truly, we would not be judged.32 But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplinedt so that we may not be condemned along with the world.