Journaling through John 18:15-18 | Being a known disciple of Christ

“Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he entered with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest, 16 but Peter stood outside at the door. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the servant girl who kept watch at the door, and brought Peter in. 17 The servant girl at the door said to Peter, “You also are not one of this man's disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.” 18 Now the servants and officers had made a charcoal fire, because it was cold, and they were standing and warming themselves. Peter also was with them, standing and warming himself.” John 18:15-18

There are certain times in our lives when it’s easy to be known as a disciple of Jesus. And there are other times when we conveniently shove that part of our identity to the side, away from others' eyes… and even our own, so we can do what we know He wouldn’t approve of.

But that’s not what Christ called us to.

We know that when he said, “Follow me” and we said, “I will,” that it meant 24/7.

If we choose that our identity is in Christ, it’s permanent, not a something we can change like choosing a new outfit.

This is where John and Peter found themselves.

For John, it says twice just in this passage that he was known to the high priest, something that allowed him to get into the courtyard of the high priest.

He didn’t leave Peter, who couldn’t get in, outside, so he spoke with the servant girl.

And although we don’t have their conversation recorded, as she let Peter in she asked, “You also are not one of this man’s disciples, are you?”

It could go either way. Did she verify with Peter that he isn’t one of Jesus’s disciples, just like it was verified that John wasn’t? Or since John was known there, was it obvious and did he acknowledge that we was a disciple of Christ?

For Peter, he denied it. Vehemently. Three times.

Just like Jesus said he would.

In the craziest of times and even in the best of times, it can be challenging to not skip a beat and declare that we are a disciple of Christ.

But if we look at it with an eternal perspective.

What do we gain in the short-term by denying Jesus? And what is the weight of what we lose in the not only long-term, but eternal, by denying Jesus?

“Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 10:31-33

It needs to be consistent with what we hope Jesus will do when we come before God at the end of time – do we claim to be His or not?

This life if temporary. After death is forever.

In word or deed, are we a known disciple of Christ?

Do people see it in our everyday life? And if they ask, do we affirm without hesitation that we are His?

We know that even if it’s not easy being a known disciple of Christ in this fallen world (“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.“ John 15:18), there is nothing better – in this life and in the eternal one, where we look forward to hearing Christ acknowledge us as his before our God in heaven.

This is from the John (part II) journal, a study of a gospel that gives us a glimpse of eternity and life behind the good news of Jesus! Find

Shop: https://www.evergreencypress.com/shop/p/john-part-ii-journal or start with the John (part I) journal at https://www.evergreencypress.com/shop/p/john-part-i-journal