Peter was afraid of being numbered with jesus and thus suffering the wrath of the Jews. The statement "You were also with Jesus, the Galilean!" instlled fear in him

On the other hand people today, see Christianity as backward, and only for losers. however, this is changing as the young and proffesionals are finding hope in Christ

The political set up in some places like communist and islamic countries has made swtanding and proffessing Christ very difficult

Jesus' penalty for "sin" needed to include physical and emotional pain so that we christians will not have to go through the same pain. The Bible says in 1 Peter 2:24 "He himself bore our sins w  in his body on the tree, x  so that we might die to sins y  and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed." and Isaiah  53:5 Even makes it better by saying,"But he was pierced for our transgressions, n he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed."

Therefore for every pain, emotionally, or physically it was for our own freedom. For Spiritual separation it was the main reason why He came. So there was no other reason why He should be spiritually separated.