The Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had told him, “Before a rooster crows today, you will deny Me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly. (Luke 22:61–62 NAS95)
What a moment for Peter! Only a few hours earlier he had declared allegiance to Jesus, even to the death. His love for Jesus kept him in proximity to his Savior during this hour of trial, but his fear placed great distance between them. Jesus is undergoing an unjust trial, while Peter attempts, as best he can, to disassociate himself from the captive. Then the gaze of Jesus meets Peter’s eyes - not a look of condemnation, but of love, understanding, knowing, and insight. A rush of memories floods Peter’s heart - he’d seen that look before, when Jesus named him Cephas (which means rock). Peter melts to the core and flees. The stark reality hit. He realized he’d just lived the words Jesus had told him earlier that evening.
Broken, Peter becomes now open for the Spirit to work. Jesus’ gaze provided a pathway of knowing self for Peter and for him to see more clearly the unfathomable goodness of God. Yes, Peter fled. The gaze of Jesus communicated embracing love to Peter, unbearable at that moment when he was actively distancing his Lord. The One captured, on the way to unjust crucifixion, in total trust of His Father, gazes with loving embrace the traitor and melts him into repentance. Peter, in that moment, grasped his weakness, and now opens up to learn to live in God’s strength. Jesus’ glance saw Peter’s potential — Peter’s future role and place in the birth of the church. Like Peter, let the gaze of Jesus meet the eyes of our heart so our weakness can be transformed by His strength, Spirit, and love. Enjoy celebrating the resurrection to Jesus this weekend.
For Reflection:
“God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7 NAS95)
- What happens when you allow your Lord to take a loving gaze into your heart?
- At what level rests your trust in the goodness of God? What are the issues that may hinder you trusting the goodness of God?
