SWORD OF THE SPIRIT                                                                                               1270

“The Look”

And then 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.” – Luke 22:61

My mother had the look. My wife has the look. If you have ever done anything that met with your mother’s or wife’s disapproval, you have seen the look. No words are spoken – the look says it all.

Put yourself in Peter’s shoes when the rooster crowed three times and Jesus looked at him. What did you see in Jesus’ eyes? Hurt? Anger? Compassion? Judgement? Love?

Can you hold His gaze, or do you look away?

Jesus knew that Peter would betray Him. He told him as much, so Peter’s betrayal did not surprise Him. I believe that Peter saw in Jesus’ eyes a look of love, compassion and hurt. This gave Peter a deep sense of conviction, repentance, and sorrow for his betrayal.

And he (Peter) went out and wept bitterly. – Luke 22:62

God’s Word reveals to us the looks we can expect from Jesus.

COMPASSION

Looking at him, Jesus showed love to him and said to him, “One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” – Mark 10:21

Even when we fall short, as was the case with the rich, young man, Jesus looks at us with love and compassion. He knows our weaknesses and He still loves us.

For He Himself knows our form; He is mindful that we are nothing but dust. – Psalm 103:14

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. – John 3:16

ANGER

And he looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, and said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was restored. – Mark 3:5

The religious leaders of the day saw His look of anger. This is not the look I ever want to see. It is a look reserved for those who know the Truth and yet reject the Truth of God. Beware of religious teachings that compromise the Word of God with the ‘new world order’ creating their own ‘truth’ in place of God’s unchanging Living Word of Truth.

For the time will come when they will not tolerate sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance with their own desires, and they will turn their ears away from the truth and will turn aside to myths. – 2 Timothy 4:3-4

JUDGEMENT

In the days of Noah and Abraham God looked upon humanity with fiery eyes of judgement.

And God looked on the earth, and behold, it was corrupt; for humanity had corrupted its way upon the earth. – Genesis 6:12

Then the men rose up from there and looked down toward Sodom; and Abraham was walking with them to send them off. The Lord said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do, … The outcry of Sodom and Gomorrah is indeed great, and their sin is exceedingly grave. …” – Genesis 18:16-21

There will come a day, and I believe it is coming soon, when the look people see will be His eyes of fire.

His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. – Revelation 19:12

The Lord is exercising great restraint because of His love and desire that none should perish apart from Jesus.

The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not willing for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance. – 2 Peter 3:9

However, our world society is exceedingly corrupt and sinful. The outcry of the millions of children murdered in the womb is indeed great and I believe that His final cry of command and the sound of the trumpet of God is imminent.

For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. – 1 Thessalonians 4:16

When Jesus looks at you what do you see in His eyes?

Do you see what Peter saw? Love, compassion, and hurt because of unrepented sin?

Are you able to hold His gaze?

Are you ready for His imminent return?

But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner’s fire, and like launderer’s soap. – Malachi 3:2

May the Holy Spirit fire refine, wash, and sanctify you in preparation for His coming such that the look you see is a look of love and joy that communicates ‘Well done’.

His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. … enter the joy of your master.’ – Matthew 25:23