JESUS' PRAYER FOR PETER
LUKE 22:31-34 NKJV
31 And the Lord said, "Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren."
33 But he said to Him, "Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison and to death."
34 Then He said, "I tell you, Peter, the rooster shall not crow this day before you will deny three times that you know Me."
Jesus predicted there were some difficult times coming for Peter. But Jesus prayed for Peter.
Satan was trying to gain access to Peter. His intent was to sift Peter like wheat.
When wheat was sifted, it was first tossed and beaten. It was a rather harsh process. Grain would be shaken in a sieve to separate impurities from it.
Satan asked, but a better translation is demanded, for Peter to beat, shake, and toss Peter's faith. But actually, the word you is plural. Satan had come for all of the disciples to shake their faith.
But Peter was going to get the worst of it. In just a few hours, he would deny Jesus three times. Peter knew what he had done, and so did Jesus. It was maybe the lowest time in his walk with the Lord. Particularly since it was Peter who had declared that he would go to prison and even die for the Lord.
But Jesus had prayed for Peter. That had to come as a source of comfort. And the next words from Jesus probably helped even more.
Jesus prayed that Peter's faith not fail. That Peter would not abandon the faith that he had in Jesus. His faith may have been shaken, but it was not a total collapse.
And Jesus also spoke prophetically to Peter, not only about his denial but about his return to the Lord.
Jesus was telling Peter that he was going to be shaken. But he was also going to return. And when Peter had turned back to his faith, he was to strengthen his brothers in the Lord.
APPLICATION:
This passage gives us a way to pray for people. When we know they are being shaken, we can pray for them that they don't abandon their faith.
We can pray that they will turn back to the Lord when their faith has slipped. And when their faith is back online, they can be a source of strength to others.
I am so glad Jesus did not leave Peter without hope. Instead, Jesus' words paved the way for Peter to eventually be a source of strength to the early church. And an inspiration to us today.
PRAYER:
Dear Lord help me to stay strong and connected in my faith. And help me become a source of strength to others.