relationships (Matthew 26:57-59) Who is Leading Whom?

(Matthew 26:57-59)

57 Those who had arrested Jesus led Him away to Caiaphas, the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were gathered together. 58 But Peter was following Him at a distance, as far as the courtyard of the high priest, and he came inside and sat down with the officers to see the outcome.

TODAY'S TAKEAWAY:

I was about to gloss over these two verses, but a few things struck me.  Notice that the guards and officials were leading Jesus towards their corrupt leaders.  If anyone of them KNEW the Lord Jesus Christ personally, they would have been sickened by their actions.  They were actually, literally arresting the Holy One Who is Truth and Love - the Righteous Judge - the all-powerful, all-knowing, everywhere-present, Almighty God!!!  I keep imagining someone leading a hungry lion along by a leash made of a single strand of hair, thinking that they have complete control of the entire situation.  Unbelievers have no idea ! ! !

Okay, but now, we also see Peter, who DOES know the Lord Jesus.  While all the other disciples have fled, yes, he was brave to follow after.  But was it really the right thing to do?  In all the times that Jesus had told the disciples that this was going to happen, WHY did they not ask Him, "So when this does occur, what do You want us to do?"  Maybe at the mention of death, and especially a gruesome one at that, the disciples went into denial, or did that thing when one plugs their ears and sings out, "La-la-la-la-la..."  

Ignorance is bliss, until reality hits!  And then what?  Typically, in these cases, we are very unprepared, and then we start grasping at straws.  "Let's first try this."  "Oh, maybe this will work."  Seriously, why do we, as believers, so often think that it is up to us to figure out every detail?  Or - any detail at all - actually.  So instead of trying to think up something that God might be pleased with, and then asking Him to help me carry that out, I'm trying to remember to ask God, "What do YOU want me to do now?" and then ask Him to help me carry THAT out.

Here is the visual difference.  As believers, are we trying to lead God along with us, thinking that we have some control over the situations?  Or, since our faith is supposed to be all about putting the Lord first in our lives, are we allowing Him to take the lead?!