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"The Lord Turned and Looked upon Peter" Luke 22:61
The look of Jesus said more than many words; it gathered up all possible words and tones of solemn expostulation, of sad disappointment, of deep sorrow. There is something striking in the silence of Jesus as He turns and looks at Peter. He did not speak to him, was it lest He should shame him, expose him? He gave him just one reproachful look, which none but Peter would understand its meaning; and everything in it was for him.
The more we meditate on this silent glance , the more we can sense the anguish of this short episode - the anguish of Peter and the anguish of Jesus.
It hurt Him inexpressibly that Peter should deny Him. Peter could never forget it, and would never forgive himself. There is that in the glance of Jesus, in its sad silent reproach, as well as in its penetration, from which the guilty shrink as they realise that they have brought pain to Him. And to have hurt our Lord is infinitely worse than to have hurt and shamed ourselves. It has grieved Him sorely that you and I have denied Him.
Have we who have professed so much, failed just as badly as those whom we once judged? Oh how quick we were to criticise them!
Have we failed to keep promises made to Him in an hour of self surrender? Have we failed to pay vows that we made to Him in some time of discipline?
Have we fallen seriously short in reverence to Him, in obedience to Him, in loyalty to His cause and His church, in giving, in submission, in service?
Let us, who profess to follow Him, ask ourselves what we would see in His countenance if we stood face to face with Him......today.
If we have failed, it will be the look of sorrowful reproach that Peter knew.
The look of Jesus said more than many words; it gathered up all possible words and tones of solemn expostulation, of sad disappointment, of deep sorrow. There is something striking in the silence of Jesus as He turns and looks at Peter. He did not speak to him, was it lest He should shame him, expose him? He gave him just one reproachful look, which none but Peter would understand its meaning; and everything in it was for him.
The more we meditate on this silent glance , the more we can sense the anguish of this short episode - the anguish of Peter and the anguish of Jesus.
It hurt Him inexpressibly that Peter should deny Him. Peter could never forget it, and would never forgive himself. There is that in the glance of Jesus, in its sad silent reproach, as well as in its penetration, from which the guilty shrink as they realise that they have brought pain to Him. And to have hurt our Lord is infinitely worse than to have hurt and shamed ourselves. It has grieved Him sorely that you and I have denied Him.
Have we who have professed so much, failed just as badly as those whom we once judged? Oh how quick we were to criticise them!
Have we failed to keep promises made to Him in an hour of self surrender? Have we failed to pay vows that we made to Him in some time of discipline?
Have we fallen seriously short in reverence to Him, in obedience to Him, in loyalty to His cause and His church, in giving, in submission, in service?
Let us, who profess to follow Him, ask ourselves what we would see in His countenance if we stood face to face with Him......today.
If we have failed, it will be the look of sorrowful reproach that Peter knew.
