The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter… And he went outside and wept bitterly.
Luke 22:61-62
Jesus had warned Peter that before the rooster crowed he would deny Jesus three times (Luke 22:34; John 13:38). And that’s exactly what happened on the night Jesus was arrested.
Isn’t it often the case that, once we’ve fallen, we go from bad to worse? One sin piles on top of another. For Peter, one denial led to another, and another.
As soon as Peter had made his third denial, he heard the rooster crow. And soon afterward, probably while being taken from the high priest’s house after questioning, Jesus locked eyes with Peter. Then Peter remembered the Lord’s warning, and bitter tears filled his eyes.
Oftentimes our tears of remorse reveal a glimmer of hope. I picture a mother who looks into the eyes of a child who has done wrong. The child turns away, but the mother says, “Look at me!” The child sees the hurt and love in the mother’s eyes and begins to cry. The look of pained love softens the child’s heart.
Jesus’ look of love broke through to Peter’s heart. Failure need not be final.
Have you ever wept bitterly when you faced the consequences of your sin?
Maybe this devotional reading today is like the crowing of a rooster, reminding you that Jesus has his loving eyes fixed on you.
Lord, we know there are times when we need to weep bitter tears of repentance. Thank you for seeing our tears, hearing our prayers, and forgiving us in your name. Amen.
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