READING: 2 Samuel 6-8, Luke 22:47-71*
Every time I read Luke 22, I can’t help but rivet my attention on Luke 22:61—“Then the Lord turned and looked at Peter. So Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to him, ‘Before the rooster crows today, you will deny Me three times.’” No matter how many times I read the chapter, I’m always caught in the vision of Jesus looking at Peter.
Just hours before, Peter had said that he would go to prison and death for Jesus. Peter had indeed attempted to defend Jesus when Judas betrayed Him, but still he denied knowing Him when the heat was on. Three times, in fact. He said he wasn’t one of His. He said he didn’t follow Him. Didn’t even know Him.
And then the rooster crowed.
And Jesus, on His way to the cross for what Simon Peter was doing, turned and looked at Peter. Their eyes locked. Face-to-face. Eyeball-to-eyeball. Dying Redeemer and denying disciple.
Love met rebellion in the face, and the rugged fisherman melted. All he could do was weep.
If I fail today, I want to weep over my sin. I want mercy and the eyes of the Lord to break me.
PRAYER: “Lord Jesus, don’t let me escape Your eyes when I sin against You.”
TOMORROW’S READING: 2 Samuel 9-11, Luke 23:1-25
*portions of this devotion first published in 2015
