Luke 22:54-62 The Look
Format for Your Devotions
Instructions: Do not read my example devotion until you have completed your own devotional time in the scriptures. Reading my thoughts first may limit your own understanding. Let the Holy Spirit speak to you alone before looking to see what anyone else has to say, whether it is me, a Bible commentary, or a friend. Let God speak to you before you let another person speak to you. I have provided a format, but modify it to fit your needs. For example, I usually combine my application and prayer together talking to God about the application to my own life. You can go through this devotion process mentally, speaking out loud, or in writing as you wish. Don’t worry if you are not following this process exactly. Sometimes, I add extra information and sometimes I emphasize one part more than others. However, you should always think about what you learn about God from this passage.
Step 1: Pray–Ask for the Holy Spirit’s guidance first of all and that God may reveal the lessons that He wants you to have that day. Request that God protect you from Satan’s distractions (and the devil will try to distract you whether it is pinching the baby or putting you to sleep). Ask to see God more clearly as you read and think about the passage.
Step 2: Read the passage–Read to get an overview of the information first. Then start looking at specific parts after the first reading. You may read a larger or smaller section than I have here because you do not have to follow my organization at all.
Step 3: Understand the passage–You can summarize, ask and answer your own questions about the passage, visualize the story, analyze the characters, and relate this passage to other scriptures and personal experiences.
Step 4: What does this reveal about God?–What do you learn about the Father, Son, and/or Holy Spirit from this passage?
Step 5: Apply this to your own life.
Step 6: Prayer
My Example Devotion: December 10, 2018 Luke 22:54-623
Note: In the devotion examples, I leave my questions and thought processes in the text because I am trying to demonstrate that a devotional time is a dialogue with God about what you are reading from His word. As such, any questions or ideas that you have should be explored by talking it out with God. These example devotions are not my attempts to teach you what the meaning of a particular scripture is. They are an attempt to teach you the process of devotions, which is a combination of prayer and Bible study where you explore ideas with God as you read His word.
Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest’s house, and Peter was following at a distance. And when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them. Then a servant girl, seeing him as he sat in the light and looking closely at him, said, “This man also was with him.” But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know him.” And a little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not.” And after an interval of about an hour still another insisted, saying, “Certainly this man also was with him, for he too is a Galilean.” But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.
(Understanding the Text) This took place over several hours since they all had to arrive and get settled. I know from John that John entered first, and then he persuaded someone to let Peter in. The servants had started a fire and sat down to rest which they would only do after they had taken care of the higher ups’ needs. Then there had to be time between the first and second accusations. Then Luke says an hour passed before the cock crowed.
(Revelation of God) Why is it that I can focus on these verses of betrayal better than I can focus on Jesus being physically abused? I think maybe I don’t see this betrayal as being as bad as it really was, and the cross, whipping, etc. are too real and horrible to me. I don’t know, but I’m getting to the section of the gospel that I tend to want to avoid. Maybe, this section is easier for me because of the “Look”. When the cock crows, Jesus turns around and looks at Peter. Something in that look pierced through Peter and broke his heart. It must have been a Look of love and forgiveness, as well as sorrow and hurt. It may have also been meant as a reminder that Jesus had given Peter a job to do later: to strengthen his brothers.
(Understanding the Text) Peter did not just cry, he wept bitterly. He realized that his Master was going to die, and the last act that Jesus would see from Peter would be that Peter had let Jesus down. Peter had seen only love and sadness in Jesus’ eyes when He looked at him, and that reminded Peter why he was following Jesus in the first place. Peter realized his actions were disgraceful and brought dishonor on God, so Peter felt deeply ashamed. Satan did not make Peter betray Jesus; however, Satan set up the situation so that it was easy for Peter’s weakness to come out. Then, the devil’s accusations started. I am sure that both Judas and Peter were put through the wringer with the accusations that were being thrown at them. For Judas, there was no love and mercy in his heart to alleviate his knowledge of wrongdoing, but for Peter there was a difference. He loved Jesus with all of his heart. What’s more he knew that Jesus loved him wholly also. The look of sorrow from Jesus gave Peter hope even while it broke Peter into pieces. As the Satan’s accusations battered his psyche, Peter could hold onto Jesus’ words and the “Look” and most of all the love that Jesus had consistently shown Peter in all situations.
(Application / Prayer) My application for myself is that I need to know Jesus’ love in every nook and cranny of my being in order to be healed and able to stand up to the accuser. I need to let God reach every part of me with His healing love and not hold any part back. Denying my brokenness, will only result in failure, but listening to God’s warnings of my weak areas and opening them up for Jesus to touch is the only path to success. I pray to give You all the parts of me that I have been holding back, to trust you so that I can be like the tree planted by the river rather than a stunted shrub struggling to grow in the desert. I pray to know Your love in the deepest, most hidden parts of me, as well as the surface and broken places that are easily seen.