Probably one of the most heartbreaking moments in the entire Bible comes at the end of this big event that all gospel writers choose to focus in on. This event is where Peter makes the biggest failure in his life, and it is likely a failure he would never forget moving forward from that point.
However, only in the gospel of Luke do we see a key phrase that clearly elevates this event into being one of the top moments. Immediately following the third denial and right as a rooster crowed for the first time, “The Lord turned and looked at Peter.” (v. 61a)
Whether the courtyard was visible to where the trial was being taken place, or whether this was while Jesus was being taken between rooms and maybe along the edge of the courtyard, at that key moment, Peter and Jesus made eye contact. That eye contact would have been enough to have broken Peter’s heart more than simply having faced the realization that Jesus’ prediction had come true.
Peter did about the only thing we could expect Him to do in such a situation: This event finishes by saying, “And he went out and wept bitterly.” (v. 62)
In this moment, Peter’s heart has broken. Up to this point, he had been the star disciple, and in many ways, the leader of Jesus’ followers, but we see a level of arrogance and pride in Peter’s life prior to this point, while after this point, Peter’s attitude is completely transformed. After all, how can you be arrogant or prideful if you failed in a huge way, after Jesus warned you about it and immediately before Jesus turned and looked at you directly?
There was no returning to the old Peter. The eye contact may have been only a second long, but it was forever burned into Peter’s mind at the instant he realized he had failed Jesus.
This stands out to me because whether we realize it or not, Jesus sees all of our big successes and our big failures. Nothing is hidden from Him. This also means that nothing we have done in our past can make Him love us less, and nothing we choose to do in the future will change His feelings for us. Peter failed, and it broke his heart. But Jesus still loved and cared for Peter.
When we fail, Jesus will still love and care for us, but like Peter’s rejection of Jesus, every time we reject Jesus, it hurts His heart. If we love Jesus like we say we do as His followers, we should intentionally choose to live in a way that is right and in a way that won’t break His heart.
This thought was inspired by studying the Walking With Jesus “Reflective Bible Study” package. To discover insights like this in your own study time, click here and give Reflective Bible Study a try today!
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