⁷⁵And Peter remembered the word which Jesus had said, “Before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.

God can look beyond our failures to see what we will become. We would all be hopelessly disqualified from serving Him because of either past or future failures. Peter showcases for us how timelessly forgiving the Lord is. He who was the chief spokesperson on the Day of Pentecost, whose ministry is the central focus of the first twelve chapters of Acts, and who wrote two books of the Bible—this Peter blew it big time!

We saw early in Matthew 26 how Jesus predicted the monumental failure of this loyalty-professing disciple, that he would deny he even knew Jesus, much less admit he was a loyal follower of Him. Now we turn to the inglorious event playing out, recorded in all four gospel accounts. While Judas betrayed the Lord, Peter repeatedly disowned Him. One might argue that Peter’s thrice denial was just as bad as Judas’ single betrayal. However, Jesus knew how they would respond to their respective failures. Judas followed his turncoat actions by committing suicide; Peter followed his with despondency but did not take his life. The latter lived long enough to meet the resurrected Savior and hear His gracious words, but not so the former.

What is particularly riveting is that upon Peter’s third denial of the Lord, Jesus locked eyes with him:

Immediately, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed. The Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had told him, “Before a rooster crows today, you will deny Me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly. (Luke 22:60b–62)

The weight of eternity fell crushingly on Peter. What was in the eyes of Jesus: judgment, condemnation, disappointment? Hardly could that be the case, for Jesus had told Peter and the other disciples that He would meet them after His resurrection in Galilee (Matt. 26:32). No, Peter would have seen in the eyes of Jesus nothing but love. Jesus knew that Peter would come through this trial understanding the Master’s love for him at a more profound level, a level that would equip him to become a shepherd of future followers of Christ (see John 21:15-17).

Locking eyes was that knowing, nonverbal communication between two souls that would become the basis for a gracious ministry of loving others the way Christ loved him. His bitter weeping was the realization that his need for Christ’s love was greater than he realized. Peter needed to understand that the prophet Jeremiah’s words were true of his darkened, self-protecting soul: “The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; who can understand it?” (Jer. 17:9). And his denial of the Lord brought him face to face with the same truth that all godly people discover about themselves, as David when confronted with the guilt of his sin against Uriah and Bathsheba:

For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against You [Lord], You only, I have sinned and done what is evil in Your sight … Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being … (Ps. 51:3-4, 6)

Imagine Peter’s surprise when the report came back a few days later from the empty tomb: “But go, tell His disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see Him, just as He told you’” (Mark 16:7). To be called out by name, not for judgment or condemnation, must be seen as an invitation to share in the joy of the resurrected Savior. Biblical scholars tell us that Mark’s gospel account reflects Peter’s preaching during the early church period. This suggests why Mark’s gospel account, alone among the other accounts, preserves the instruction to announce the resurrection and further instructions specifically to Peter.

The Lord peers deeply into each of our souls and wants us to recognize the truth that our hearts are like Peter’s, desperately self-preserving and self-serving. Yet, the Lord wants us to share in the joy of His resurrection, which proves He is able to forgive us for our darkened hearts. The message has gone out to all who would listen, “Go and tell _________” (fill in your name). How shall we then respond?

Lord, I have confessed the sinfulness of my heart and the darkness of my soul. And I have heard You call me by name, announcing that You have risen from the grave. Thank You, I don’t deserve what You did for me, but I fall down in my heart to worship You!