The "Stare” At The End Of Self

THE “STARE” AT THE END OF SELF

Luke 22:61—62

INTRO: 1 “Kodak Moments” were once advertised by the film giants as memorable moments worthy of capture on film.

In our memories there are little snapshots of detail which are indelibly etched into our minds. We can see the occurr-ences clearly and it is likely we will never forget them. With them we have feelings frozen into our existence ready to thaw when the memory is called forth. Some of these frozen memories are good. Some are bad. Here are some of mine; you think of your own;

a. Being hung

b. Seeing brother or sister hurt

c. Losing wrestling matches (hurt arm)

d. Winning matches & championships

e. Being threatened with a tire iron

f. Receiving college awards and Diploma

g. Getting married — having each child

— especially Kelli with the chord around her neck.

2 Peter had a frozen memory in this passage. It is the time when Christ stared at him.

PROP: The stare of Christ is a stair for climbing to usefulness for Christ.

TRANS. Q: How is the stare of Christ a tool for climbing to usefulness

for Him?

TRANS S. Here are three stages through which Peter progressed in the emptying of self and becoming useful.

I. THE PIERCING STARE

A. The Lord made a deliberate effort to establish eye contact with Peter (Luke 22:61 — Turned).

1. Peter had been following the ordeal “afar off” (v 54) indicating that he was not as close

to the Lord as he thought he was.

2. Peter had moved around the court (v55, 58, 59 “about an hour”). V54 — They took time to

build a fire.

3. The Greek word for “turned around~~ is at the earliest part of the sentence for emphasis

(

The point here is that Jesus made a deliberate effort to look at Peter.

4. When Jesus looked at Peter, He fixed his gaze on Peter.

a. This was not a casual look

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b. Jesus stared intently at Peter.

c. The eyes went right into his soul.

B. For this highly magnified moment in time no one else existed in the world but Jesus and Peter. As far as Peter was concerned, it was just he and the Lord. That is the way it always is when an individual comes to the end of self. He is alone with the Lord and is completely at His mercy. That is the way it was for the woman taken in adultry in John 8, that is the way it was with Paul on the road to Damascus, that is the way it was for Peter at this point and then once again with Christ’s resurrection; that is the way it has to be with you and me if we are to be used to our fullest potential in the Lord’s hands.

Two hunters came across a bear so big that they dropped their rifles and ran for cover. One man climbed a tree while the other hid in a nearby cave. The bear was in no hurry to eat, so he sat down between the tree and the cave to reflect upon his good fortune. Suddenly, and for no apparent reason, the hunter in the cave came rushing out, almost ran into the waiting bear, hesitated, and then dashed back in again. The same thing happened a second time. When he emerged for the third time, his companion in the tree frantically called out, “Woody, are you crazy? Stay in the cave till he leaves!” “Can’t,” panted Woody, “there’s another bear in there.

3 50.13

Peter had to come to the end of places to hide. He was hiding among the crowd with the things he said. When he was confronted by Jesus there was no more escaping the bear called Truth.

C. Jesus stares at each of us on occasion. There are many times when we are emptied of self and He catches us with no place to hide.

1. For some it’s when he thinks the preacher is talking to/re: them.

2. Perhaps it’s when a loved—one goes & you didn’t get to say a kind word.

3. Others find a change in circumstances to be the Lord’s stare.

II. THE UNCONTAINABLE MEMORY

A. Peter had little choice in remembering the Lord’s statement regarding his denial (Lk 22:61 — “Peter remembered”).

1. Peter was a self—sufficient, loyal, rock—hard individual.

2. Jesus had said Peter would deny Him though Peter asserted his self—confidence (Lk 22:33—34).

3. Peter felt the pressure of those who recognized him.

4. During the moments of pressure Peter forgot

Jesus’s challenge (time had also passed and

Satan’s efforts were increased — Lk. 22:31—32.

Did Peter’s faith fail here?

5. With the rooster s crow and the Lord’s stare, Peter was forced to remember the Lord’s words.