The Lord's Look
Scripture Reading — Luke 22:54-62
Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remem-bered …
—Luke 22:60-61
Following Peter into the courtyard, it’s more important to focus on Jesus’ love than on Peter’s failure. Failure feels so final, and a fall like Peter’s can seem fatal. But falling down doesn’t mean staying down.
At the high priest’s house, Peter drew close to the fire in the courtyard and sat among the people there. Accusations and denials followed. Wanting to be close to Jesus, Peter had placed himself in a vulnerable position. After the third denial, as Jesus had foretold, a rooster crowed. Peter had fallen hard!
But let’s focus on the Lord’s look. It’s deliberate: “the Lord turned and looked straight at Peter.” But did his eyes condemn Peter? I don’t think so. Jesus knew Peter’s daring and impetuous nature, just as he knows us. We want to do right, but we mess up. We often deny Jesus also by making promises and then breaking them without thinking. Jesus’ eyes on Peter would have shown hurt, but also love and compassion.
The Lord’s look was the look of God’s redeeming, restoring love. Peter had fallen, but Jesus also looked and found him. He’s still doing the same with us.
At another fireside later, Jesus met with Peter again and asked three times, “Do you love me?” (John 21:4-17). Then he restored Peter to a life of service. He still does that with us too!
Lord Jesus, thank you for your look of love for Peter and for restoring him later. Help us to know the extent of your love today. In your name, Amen.
About the author — George Vink
Pastor George Vink has served as a pastor in the Christian Reformed Church for more than 30 years in British Columbia, Montana, Michigan, and California. He and his wife, Shirley, have four married sons and nine grandchildren.
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