Luke 22:54-71

Be Still: Lord, quiet the noise within me that I may hear Your voice. Amen

Read: Luke 22:54-71

Peter replied, 'Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. 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.' (vv:60-61)

Encounter: Looks are powerful, aren’t they? Some claim you can fall in love with a single look. If you know someone well enough, you can converse across crowded rooms with a look. I still feel a chill when I remember the look my mum would give me when I was misbehaving in public.

Today, we see Peter in his lowest moment. Not long before he was swearing allegiance to Jesus, promising never to forsake him, defending him with a sword! Yet here he is, denying he ever knew Jesus, three times in a single night – exactly as Jesus predicted. And what’s worse is that at this moment, Jesus is being brought through the high priest’s courtyard and turns to look at Peter.

The verb translated as 'looked' here is emblepó, meaning to gaze with intent. Jesus did not just happen to glance at Peter; he intentionally turned to face him. Given that Jesus had just been severely knocked about by the soldiers, this makes the look even more significant – he is already in extreme discomfort, yet he chooses to turn and engage with Peter at the moment of his betrayal.

The Gospels record only two other occasions where Jesus looked emblepó on people, both in Mark 10. First, Jesus looked at the rich young ruler and loved him (v 21). Then, the disciples asked, 'Who can be saved?' and Jesus looked at them and replied, 'All things are possible with God,' (v 27). 

Emblepó, then, is not a look of disgust or condemnation, but one of love and hope for salvation.

In Peter’s lowest moment, in his sin, Jesus turns his already battered body to give Peter a look full of love and the hope of salvation.

If you could lock eyes with him today, I’m sure you’d see that same look. Even in our worst moments, his eyes are upon us, and his loving affection woos us back to himself in repentance.

Apply: Take a moment to imagine the eyes of Jesus gazing upon you, Emblepó, full of love and hope for your salvation. 

Devote: Jesus, thank you for loving me, help me fix my eyes on you.