That Look

And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: 32But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. 33And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death. 34And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me.
And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were set down together, Peter sat down among them. 56But a certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire, and earnestly looked upon him, and said, This man was also with him. 57And he denied him, saying, Woman, I know him not. 58And after a little while another saw him, and said, Thou art also of them. And Peter said, Man, I am not. 59And about the space of one hour after another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this fellow also was with him: for he is a Galilaean. 60And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew. 61And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. 62And Peter went out, and wept bitterly. Luke 22:31-34;55-62

We can all remember “that look” our parent or guardian would give us when we were children doing something we should not. I knew of kids who would break down crying just from the look their parent gave them. Sometimes that look spoke more loudly than words. In these passages we find that “look” from the Lord directed at Peter. No words were spoken that caused Peter to weep bitterly. No, it was not a tear in his eye nor a lump in his throat or a whimper. He was flat out bawling his eyes out.
We cannot grasp what it must have been like for the piercing gaze of the Lord looking deep into Peters soul. We cannot clearly define when all of the disciples experienced that moment of conversion. Many scholars would say it was on the day of Pentecost in the upper room. That may or may not be so. One thing is for sure in my mind, Peter was changed after realizing he had betrayed the Lord.
There is one thing that can truly change the soul and that is what Peter experienced, a heapin’ helpin’ of humble pie. We all have experienced a moment or two when we have completely humiliated ourselves by something stupid we may have done. And you probably never did that stupid thing again.
That look of the Lord deep into our souls can truly be life changing. How long has it been since the Lord gazed into your soul? Lord, like the Psalmist may I cry; “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Amen