"THE LOOK"

"And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:
But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.
And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death.
And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me." (Luke 22:31-34)

"And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were set down together, Peter sat down among them.
But a certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire, and earnestly looked upon him, and said, this man was also with him.
And he denied him, saying, Woman I know him not.
And after a little while another saw him, and said, Thou art also of them. And Peter said, Man, I am not.
And about the space of one hour after another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this fellow also was with him: for he is a Galilaean.
And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew.
And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.
And Peter went out, and wept bitterly." (Luke 22:55-62)


What must it have been like for Peter to look into those eyes?

Not so long ago he had looked into these eyes and confidently confessed, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." (Mat.16:16)

Now, as a cursing denier, he looks into these same eyes from a distance!

In that brief time when their eyes met did the past three and a half years flash before his mind?
Did he recall the miracles, the words, the zeal for the glory of the Father, or the patient teaching of the disciples as they walked in the way?

What of "the look" itself, was it a look of rage and rejection?.....No, it was not now the look of the righteous Judge.....but the look of a Savior!

Though it was a piercing, convicting look (Heb.4:13), it was a look that would bring healing and life not condemnation and death.
It was a look of restoration and conversion, a look that broke this confident boaster!

For Peter, like every child of God, must be emptied of self-confidence before he can be filled with Christ-confidence!

This former proud boaster who trusted in his own ability to keep himself would later write.... "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. (1Pet.1:3-5)

Thanks be unto God for "the Look" that wounds us that we might be eternally healed and be brought to see and believe that we too are "kept by the power of God."