Articles
Jesus Turned and Looked at Peter
Another man began to insist, saying, “Certainly this man also was with Him, for he is a Galilean too.” But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” Immediately, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed. 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 22:59-62)
It was night. Jesus was standing in the courtyard of Annas the high priest’s house. Peter had followed Jesus and—with John’s help—had been allowed to enter through the gate to warm himself by the fire with the soldiers and officers. He was anxiously waiting to see what would become of his Master. For three years Peter had followed Jesus, witnessed firsthand His miracles, and heard teaching from His own mouth. At least once he had found himself on his knees at the Lord’s feet; a couple of times he had been commended for his trusting faith, but on occasion he also felt the sting of Jesus’ rebuke on occasion. Earlier this same night Peter had boldly professed his undaunted loyalty to Jesus: “Even though all may fall away, yet I will not…Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!” (Mark 14:29, 31)
Now the time of testing had come. Peter failed. He denied that he knew Jesus, not just once but thrice. Perhaps Jesus was close enough to hear Peter’s denials. Even if He wasn’t within earshot, it seems that both Jesus and Peter heard the rooster crow. Jesus knew exactly what happened and when it happened because He turned and looked at Peter. Can you imagine what that look felt like? Neither Jesus nor Peter said a word; they both knew what it meant.
Sometimes when the Lord looked at people He felt compassion (Luke 7:13). Other times He looked at crowds with anger and grief (Mark 3:5). Often He was troubled and deeply moved in spirit, even to the point of weeping (John 11:33-35). Though Luke does not tell us precisely how Jesus felt when He looked at Peter, I think we can safely assume He was again deeply moved. Jesus likely felt grieved, not just for the wound He personally had suffered, but also for Peter’s own weakness of faith. In a moment of self-preservation, fear, and shame Peter had denied even knowing who Jesus was.
Luke clearly tell us how Peter felt. He left—probably very quickly to hide the tears already streaming down his face—and wept bitterly. “Weeping” is an uncontrolled, convulsive crying; and Peter did so “bitterly.”
When thinking about Peter’s denials it is commonly pointed out that we probably would have done the same. This is true; we are often weak like Peter. But there is another striking similarity between Peter’s situation and ours—the Lord knows every time we deny Him.
Every sin we commit is, in some way, a denial of the Lord. Our sin is a denial of His goodness and holiness. It is a rejection of His law, which is given for our good and by His gracious mercy. Hosea the prophet learned firsthand how deeply our sin hurts God, just as a husband feels betrayed and rejected when his wife commits adultery against him. Sin is a breaking of our covenant with God; not only does it hurt Him, it provokes His righteous jealousy. I wonder: do we feel sin as deeply as God does?
We cannot see the Lord actually turn and look at us when we sin today, but let us not doubt that He sees and feels it every time. Do we weep bitterly for our sin, knowing what it does to our relationship with Him? We are commanded to: James 4:9.
What is most amazing, though, is how Jesus responds to our sin when we repent and confess. The same Lord we deny is our Advocate and Lawyer who pleads on our behalf (1 John 2:1-2) to the Father who remembers those sins no more (Hebrews 8:12). Let us remember three things as we face the world of temptation today: Jesus’ look, Peter’s repentant grief, and Jesus’ forgiving mercy.
