“The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him.” Luke 22:61

If a rooster crowed when we deny Jesus, would it lead us to repentance, or would we shrug it off and pretend it didn’t happen? Jesus forewarned Peter that he would deny him three times, and when the rooster crowed, Peter knew what he had done. Luke says Jesus turned and looked straight at Peter, and my gut tells me that Peter’s eyes met his too. It’s one thing to deny Jesus outside of his presence, but entirely another when we are face to face. Something tells me that Jesus’ stare at Peter was not one of anger, resentment, or even condemnation; rather the look of love, grace, and mercy. I think that’s why Peter went outside and wept bitterly. Jesus knows we’ll deny him too, but that doesn’t stop him from loving us, or extending his mercy and grace to us too. Like Peter, this should lead us to true repentance!

 

Devotion by Jeff Smith