Luke 22:61 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.”
I want to encourage every parent of a toddler who is reading this right now to master “the look.” The look is that special facial expression and body language that is used to bring the toddler into conformity with your wishes. It is much better than a Jedi mind trick. It actually exists!
Toddlers need to be trained. Their behaviors need to be curbed. I think that is the problem with the twenty-somethings now. They never had their desires and impulses curbed by loving parents. Their parents thought they would do damage if they said “NO!”, so they didn’t. A lot of good that did!
Developing “the look” helps lower the volume around the house. When you don’t have to say anything to get your point across, you have won the battle. Toddlers don’t need choices. Choices invite conflict and stubbornness. It is OK to just tell them what they are going to wear, and what they are going to do. They are happiest in tight boxes of behavior.
Our text tells us about a different kind of look and the results. Jesus has told Peter that he would deny Jesus three times. And now it has happened. So from across the courtyard, Jesus catches Peter’s eye, Peter himself looking toward Jesus. And there is a look.
We don’t know what the look was that Jesus gave, or the look that Peter gave to Jesus. All we know is that there were looks exchanged. What were the looks? What did they mean?
I imagine Peter’s look was one of disappointment in himself. He had been so bold in his declaration, a declaration I am sure he believed. I bet he was shocked when Jesus told him about the weakness of his declaration, that the follow-through just wouldn’t be there for him.
I bet Peter struggled with that moment in his mind. It had only been a few hours. How could Jesus have been so certain when he had also been so certain? One of them had to be wrong. How did Peter come to the conclusion that it was he who was wrong and not Jesus?
In that moment, Peter is face to face with his betrayal. All his insistence is out the window. In a matter of minutes he has three times betrayed, just like Jesus had said. And now he peers across the courtyard and into the eyes of the One who loved him like no other.
On the other side of this ‘look’ are the eyes of Jesus. His eyes were always filled with compassion, even when rebuking the self-righteous. He was always about bringing reconciliation in every action He undertook. No action was non-redemptive. He sometimes used what seemed to be abrupt means to get the attention of those who were watching, but always with the intent of bringing them into the Kingdom fold.
So Jesus eyes projected compassion. But Peter’s eyes probably saw what he was feeling and not what Jesus was projecting. Even if Peter saw Jesus eyes projecting compassion, this would have only increased Peter’s feelings of failure and rejection. He didn’t even want to be his own friend in that moment.
Peter’s reaction is remorse and grief. He now regrets all of it, his insistence of his own fidelity and his own betrayals. I am sure the words spoken rolled over in his head like lottery balls before the Pick of the day. That was all he could think about.
Jesus’ reaction to loosing Peter was not a surprise. Jesus continued on the path chosen for him by the Father, and a path He Himself had chosen in obedience to the will of the Father. His course was not altered. He was faithful.
The Arnold Journey 