09/22/2022
How does Jesus pray for us? Does He pray for us in the same way that He did for Simon Peter; that although he would be sifted, that his faith would not fail? I dare say that this is exactly how he prays for us. But, if given our druthers, how would we prefer that He would pray for us? Would we want to be sifted and have our faith strengthened, or for Jesus to pray that we not be sifted at all?
““Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.””
Luke 22:31-32 ESV
Peter was cocksure that he could resist Satan’s sifting. Are we equally certain of our faith, and that we could resist the sifting of Satan? Would we be ready to face whatever would be thrown at us? Listen to Peter’s boast because these are bold words…
“Peter said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death.””
Luke 22:33 ESV
When you have read these verses before, did you think that Jesus was praying that Peter would not be sifted? Did you see his three fold denial of Jesus as the product of his frail humanity, or did you see it as kthe spiritual warfare it actually was… the sifting of Satan.
Jesus already knew what would come of Peter’s testing, but His prayer strengthened Peter’s faith and after Peter’s failure it turned it once again towards God, and Himself. Jesus told Peter two things; He told him that his faith would return again, and he told him to use his renewed faith to strengthen the faith of his brothers. Then almost immediately Peter denied knowing Jesus three times…. He had been sifted and failed…
“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.””
Luke 22:59-61 ESV
Then when Jesus’s prophesy had become reality, Peter was overcome by what he had done, and his faith returned…
“And he went out and wept bitterly.”
Luke 22:62 ESV
And having been sifted, failed, and overcome his lack of faith, the teaching began, and he strengthened many…
“And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.””
Matthew 16:17-19 ESV
The sifting had done its job, Satan had won three battles against Peter, but lost the war to Jesus Christ for possession of Peter’s soul. Peter became the rock on which Jesus founded His Church, and Peter’s faith strengthened the faith of his brothers, and brought many to faith via the gospel of Jesus.
Prayer:
Father, thank you for the lessons we learn as we fight on the spiritual battlefield; struggling there against the forces of darkness. Thank you for Jesus Christ who prays that our faith be protected against sin and evil as we travel through our earthly lives seeking righteousness. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who forgives our transgressions, and gives our faith the strength that only your mighty right arm can provide us. Praised be your name for every time that we are able to resist sin through the intercessory prayers of Jesus our redeemer, and our great high priest. Merciful are you in every answered prayer, and in those you remain silent in as well. Hear our remorseful prayers, and taste the tears of our hearts as they break in contrition, and seek forgiveness in your eyes. Wash us in the blood of your Son Jesus, and transform us into His image. Then, in looking upon us, and seeing Him, we ask that you find us worthy of your pleasure, and a seat at your table forevermore. Breathe your Spirit over us Lord, and never find that we have stopped worshipping and praising you… not now, not ever, and not as we spend eternity in your loving presence.
Rich Forbes