Craig Clouston

The Look

Immediately a rooster crowed.
Matthew 26:74

This wasn’t the first time Jeff had played the part of Peter in the passion play. He’d even felt a small portion of Peter’s anguish in past performances. But tonight something shocking had happened. As he turned from the fire barrel, having denied Christ a third time, he was looking into the eyes of Jesus. Not the actor playing the part, but Christ himself! He folded to the floor and wept uncontrollably, great sobs racking his body. To the audience, it appeared to be a tremendous performance. To Jeff, it was as if he were Peter! He had received a large measure of the agony the apostle must have felt that night. He couldn’t stem the flow of tears as he pried himself from the floor.
Jeff didn’t share his experience immediately. When he finally did, the tears came again, unabated. Yet this time there wasn’t shame and conviction. In their place were love and restoration. Jeff understood that Jesus had done for him what He had done for Peter.

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Romans 5:10 says, “That while we were still God’s enemies … Christ died for us.” The look Jeff saw in Jesus’ eyes wasn’t one of condemnation but of sorrow—a sorrow born of the knowledge that there is within each of us a weakness that places flesh ahead of spirit.
Jeff received a gift, a revelation. Jesus showed him the depths of His love. Christ freely came knowing we would kill Him. First as an infant—in an infant there is no fault. This baby was pure enough to meet the demands of Justice. He grew into a warrior with the strength to lead us through the murkiest waters and lift us from the pits of hell; so fierce is His love that He left His throne to live in our world! Finally, as a Savior willing to stand in our place and be defiled because He could not stand that we would spend eternity without Him! The look says, “I love you!”

Prayer

“Jesus, we come humbly in response to that look into our soul. Though we have denied You in the past, forgive us today as we ask to understand and surrender to You. Lead us into reconciliation. Amen.”