MERCIFUL LOVE
TEXT: Then they seized Him [Jesus] and led Him away, bringing Him into the high priest’s house, and Peter was following at a distance. … Then a servant girl, seeing him as he sat in the tight … said, “This man also was with Him.” But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know Him.” And a little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not.” And … still another insisted, saying, “Certainly this man also was with Him, for he too is a Galilean.” But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how He had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny Me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly. (Luke 22.54, 56-59b-62)
It amazes me how much Jesus could get into a single look. Because that’s what happened when Peter denied Jesus-the rooster crowed, and Jesus turned around and looked straight at Peter. And he broke down and wept.
What was in that look? Grief, I’m sure. It must have hurt to hear Peter deny Him. But there was also love-because Jesus knows our weakness, and when we fall into sin, His heart aches for us. Jesus was about to pay with His life for Peter’s sin and for ours-willingly, because He loves us.
WE PRAY: Lord, when I sin, look at me–and forgive me. Amen.
——————— Reflection Questions
• When Jesus rose from the dead, one of the first people He came to was Peter, privately (see Luke 24:34).
What do you think happened in that interview?
• Why does the Bible not tell us what happened, do you think?
• What does that tell you about how Jesus cares for repentant sinners?
Responses