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.” And
he went outside and wept bitterly. Luke
22:61 (NIV)
What sort
of look did Jesus give Peter when he heard Peter’s third denial? The answer we
instinctively give to that question tells us a lot about our view of Jesus. Was
Jesus’ brow knit above hard eyes? Was his intention punishment?
Was his
mouth turned down? Was he shaking his head? Did Jesus mean to let Peter know
just how disappointed he was in him?
I doubt
he was either angry or sad. I think his eyes were soft, his face relaxed. Jesus
had previously told Peter the truth about himself: “You will deny me.” Now, I think Jesus was
both calling Peter to account and pouring forth his compassion.
Peter
didn’t know his own weakness. Jesus knew. Peter’s denials were no surprise to Jesus.
But it looks like they were a surprise to Peter, himself. The text gives the
impression that Peter hadn’t quite realized what he’d done until Jesus looked
at him.
And isn’t
that how it is with us? Only when we get face to face with Jesus do we see our
sin clearly. We can go blithely through our day, reacting to the people around
us, not thinking much about eternal realities. And then God breaks in and we suddenly
see what Jesus sees. We see the tired Walgreen’s clerk through Jesus’
compassionate eyes. We see our toddler’s frustration as a cry for attention
rather than an intentional interruption to our reading. We see in our own
hearts all the subtle ways we deny Jesus’ reality—in our small faith, our weak
hope, our cold love.
Oh, Lord Jesus, may we once again, come face to
face with you—your clear-sightedness and your compassion.