HOST: Ron House
SPONSOR: Start2Finish
Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest’s house, and Peter was following at a distance. And when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them. Then a servant girl, seeing him as he sat in the light and looking closely at him, 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 after an interval of about an hour 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 reveals a detail of this event that adds a powerful and emotional element to the story. As the rooster crows following Peter’s third denial of Jesus, Luke tells us that Jesus turns and looks at Peter. From this statement we can infer that, at least during this part of the proceedings, Jesus was in view of Peter. As he denied his Lord, he could see the questioning and abuse Jesus was enduring. Can you imagine what Peter must have felt as he heard the rooster crow and looked toward Jesus only to see His Lord, teacher, and friend looking back at him? As their eyes met, Peter remembered the words Jesus had spoken to him just a few hours before and the bold confidence he had displayed in response. What must he have seen in Jesus’ eyes—sadness and disappointment? Possibly, but if so, he certainly also saw love and forgiveness. Peter had failed on this night, but it certainly would not be the end of his relationship with Jesus.
How does this detail affect your view of this story?
Don’t forget to pray and have a great day!
