Luke 22:52-62
52 Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple guard, and the elders, who had come for him, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come with swords and clubs? 53 Every day I was with you in the temple courts, and you did not lay a hand on me. But this is your hour—when darkness reigns.”
54 Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance. 55 And when some there had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. 56 A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, “This man was with him.”
57 But he denied it. “Woman, I don’t know him,” he said.
58 A little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.”
“Man, I am not!” Peter replied.
59 About an hour later another asserted, “Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean.”
60 Peter replied, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. 61 The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.” 62 And he went outside and wept bitterly. [1]
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Peter’s denial provides a very natural challenge to us. How have I denied my Lord? How have I failed to witness by word and deed when opportunities come up in my life? What am I afraid of that keeps me tongue tied and quiet. Peter was afraid of being arrested as Jesus was. What am I afraid of?
But what really strikes me today about this passage is in verse 61. “The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter.” What was the look on the Lord’s face? Was it an “I told you so” look? Remember that at the last supper, Jesus had told Peter that this was going to happen (Luke 22:34). Was it a condemning look? Was he shaking His head in judgment?
I don’t think so. Back at the Last Supper when Jesus warned Peter of the coming denial, he also said this: “ Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” Jesus had been praying for Simon. Praying for Simon’s faith not to fail, and that he would turn back and strengthen his brothers after the ordeal of the cross.
So I think the look from Jesus was not one of judgment. It might have been a look of sadness. Maybe even empathy and encouragement. But whatever was the look on Jesus’ face, behind it was love. He turned to Peter in love, and was most likely continuing to pray for him, as he mentioned at the last supper.
How does Jesus regard me when I deny Him? When I fail to witness as I should? When I follow denying fireside Peter in my words and deeds, instead of Pentecost Peter? If I were to see His face at those moments, what would His look be for me?
Here’s the key thing: Whatever the look, it would be communicating His love. He does not reject us in our failures, but prays for our recovery and growth, with a view to the blessing that we will continue to be when the dark day is passed.
So my prayer today is simply that I keep in mind that my Lord regards me in love. That He forgives my failures. That His view is beyond the sins and failures in my past and present, but the blessing He will work through me in the lives others in the days ahead.
[1] The New International Version. 2011 (Lk 22:52–62). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
