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WHEN THE LORD LOOKED ON PETER

"And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter ... and Peter went out, and wept bitterly. "
-Luke 22:61-62

MANY sermons have been preached on Peter's denial of Christ, but I want to pass by all of
that and consider the disciple's recovery after his denial. It was a hard road by which he had to
come back, a road of sorrow and bitter repentance. But this was the only road by which he
could return.

Two things brought Peter back after his strange frenzy of fear and falsehood. One was the
external sign which impressed itself on his conscience and also upon the minds of all who had
witnessed the scene. "Immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew" (Luke 22:60). Here was
the signal that brought Peter back to his vows and promises, and to his Master's warning of
love: "Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice" (vs. 61). Peter remembered when the
cock crowed.

The second instrument of restoration of Peter must be remembered with tenderness. "The
Lord turned, and looked upon Peter." That look searched him through and through, as it has
searched many another failing Christian since. When his eyes met those of Christ, he
"remembered the word of the Lord" (Luke 22:61). He went outside and burst into tears. What
was in the eyes of the Lord as He gazed upon Peter? Let us learn some lessons from
this memorable event.

I. THE SEARCHING PENETRATION
It was a look of penetration with staggering force, and Peter realized that Jesus knew. With
that realization in his heart came bitter shame and remorse. The Lord knew the whole sad story. Peter had just said that he did not know Christ, and he was prepared to maintain his denial vehemently. Jesus turned and looked on His disciple, as much as to say, "Do you not know Me? Look Me in the face, and tell Me so."

Peter could not repeat the miserable falsehood. Christ also looks upon
us with penetrating, searching eyes, and we cannot hide our sin and failures from Him as we
do from others. He pierces the outer cover of our lives. He sees the shallow profession. He
knows every thought of the mind, every desire of the heart, and the innermost secret of the
soul. He knows us altogether, and the fact that He does should keep us from miserable
falsehood and failure.

II. THE SAD REPROACH
There was keen sorrow in that glance of Christ, and Peter could see it in His face. That look
said more than words could ever express. It was more eloquent than all the possible words of
disappointment and deep sorrow. The Lord didn't cry out to Peter in words, lest He should
shame and expose him. Jesus only gave him one look, and none but His disciple could
understand the meaning. Everything that was in that look was for Peter.
There is a sense of anguish in this brief sentence, "The Lord turned, and looked upon Peter."
Yes, we see Peter's grief, but is there not anguish in the heart of Jesus? Was He not hurt by
the denial? Peter could never forget it; he had hurt the Savior and denied Him. There is
something in the glance of Christ from which the guilty conscience shrinks as it realizes it has
brought pain to the heart of the Lord. It grieves Him sorely when you and I deny Him.

III. THE SAINTLY COMPASSION
In this look expressed in the sorrowing face of Christ there was also tender compassion. Was it
not this that broke Peter's heart? No doubt he saw in that look the same love that had always
been there. It told him that though he had denied his Lord, his Lord refused to deny him. He
was the same disciple whom Jesus would always love. Christ had no intention of abandoning
Peter or casting him off, even though He had been wounded by him.
Peter was overwhelmed by the fact that, as far as Christ was concerned, he was still the Lord's
friend. The disciple's heart was broken, and he was melted to tears. It was at this point that he
realized the bitterness of shame that was in his wretched denial of Christ. Had the Lord chided
him harshly, it could have hurt Peter immeasurably, and he might have hardened his heart. But
that look on the face of Christ broke up the fountains of deep in his soul. The mercy and
compassion of Jesus in that blackest moment carried a restoring message to Peter's heart.
There was unchanging love for him, with forgiveness and restoration added.
Peter didn't immediately return in loyalty to the Lord. The look of Christ was only the beginning.
Peter had a long road to travel back to full restoration. But the Lord knew that His look had put
Peter on the way back. Jesus knew that when Peter slipped out of the palace to be alone with
his shame and sorrow, he would come out a better and changed man.

IV. THE SALUTARY EFFECTIVENESS
That look was effective. It wrought repentance in Peter's heart as nothing else could.
Repentance was what he needed; that was the only way back. When we sin, repentance is
just what we need. Christ is waiting to see that in us, and we cannot avoid it.
It cost Peter a lot. The way back from sin is never easy. If you want to know the meaning of
true repentance, look at this man who faced it squarely and truly in his own soul. "Peter went
out, and wept bitterly." Penitence is a lonely thing. Peter withdrew himself from the crowd and
fought out his own battle with God. In this shallow religious age in which we live, we know very
little of personal heart dealings with God. We have sort of a crowd religion and a crowd
mentality. We must deal with God alone. Our sin, our failure is personal. It has hurt Him
personally. It is the personal look of Christ that convicts us, and our repentance must be
personal. If God is speaking to us about our sin, and we feel ashamed of our failure, we will not
rush into the limelight. We will go off to be alone with Him. Did the last sermon you heard make
you ashamed of yourself and your failures? Did you want to be alone and have dealings with
the Lord? Learn to settle matters with God, not in the public assembly, but in the secret place
where you may meet Him without interruption. In that place there may not be much talking; the
activity will be on the inside. "Peter remembered," and in that place we will remember that we
are settling matters with Him.

Sermon by Dr. Andrew Telford