Look of Love, The

Luke 22:54-62 [A sermon from the eyes of Jesus]

I’ve been the recipient of “the look,” but not “the look” of our text.

When my Mom would catch me getting into the “cookie jar” she would give me a look that would scare Jack Bauer. When I was in the fourth grade I got the same look from Mrs. Sias who caught me shooting spit-wads at my classmates.

But, there are other explanations for “the look”—A “look” that says, “I love you.” Jesus gave this “look” of love to a rich young ruler who came inquiring what else was needed on his spiritual résumé to acquire eternal life (Mk. 10:21— “Jesus beholding him loved him…”).

Today I want us to consider the look Jesus gave to Peter after Peter had just denied Him three times outside the courtyard of the high priest. I believe that “look” was etched in his memory the rest of his life.

I. The CONTEXT of “the Look.” The scene.

After Jesus was arrested in the garden, Peter followed “afar off” (v. 54) to the high priest’s house. He was not as close to the Lord as he thought he was. Peter mingled with others outside who had gathered around a fire to stay warm. There he denied knowing Christ (vs. 55-59).

A. The setting— Jesus was at the upper end of the hall of Caiaphas. Enough distance separated Jesus from Peter that neither the words of Peter could be heard, nor could a look of Christ from one end of it to the other could have been established. The look of Jesus to Peter came as Jesus was being down the hall out through the porch, past the fire, on His way to stand before the Sanhedrin. As Jesus passed by where Peter was standing at the fire, “the Lord turned and looked upon Peter.”

B. The turning—“Turned” involved a turning of Christ’s head toward Peter with his eyes fixed on Peter. It was no casual glance— It was an intentional look.

C. The eye contact was established for only a brief moment as Jesus passed by, but it must have seemed like an eternity to Peter. As far as Peter was concerned, in that intimate moment, it was just him and Jesus.