Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus. Because this disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the high priest’s courtyard, but Peter had to wait outside at the door. The other disciple, who was known to the high priest, came back, spoke to the servant girl on duty there and brought Peter in. John 18:15-16

John and Peter decided to follow the detachment of soldiers to where Jesus was being taken. John, the writer of this Gospel, obviously knew someone inside the courtyard, and used that influence to help Peter get inside. It happens in all cultures and societies. People use their influence to get things done, sometimes over things like John did. After all, it wasn’t as if John and Peter would be trying to break Jesus out of custody. They would witness what the guards would do to Jesus but would be helpless to do anything about it. I suspect their intention was to be there for “moral support” but as we’ll see a little later, that support ended in the fulfillment of Jesus’ prediction – that Peter would deny him three times.

We often encounter “moral support” situation, times when we need to do something rather than want to do it. For John and Peter it was certainly a mixed bag. On the one hand they would lend moral support to their friend and Savior. On the other hand, it would have been very painful watching someone they love get beaten and punished.

Our moral support is going to the kids’ baseball games, theater production, or band concerts. It’s visiting the nursing home long before the Christmas holiday. It’s visiting a friend in the hospital. The list can go on and on.

For any of those you could be doing something else but you’ve made the effort to be there. Fortunately for your loved ones, you’re the person that will always be there for the other person; it’s who you are and it’s who God has blessed you.