“Simon, Simon,
Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that
your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your
brothers.” Luke (22:31-32)
“Does Job fear God
for nothing?” Satan replied. “Have you not put a hedge around him and his
household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so
that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. But stretch out your
hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face.”
The LORD said to Satan, “Very well, then, everything he has is in your hands, but on the man, himself do not lay a finger.” Then Satan went out from the presence of the LORD. (Job 1:9-12)
The LORD said to Satan, “Very well, then, everything he has is in your hands, but on the man, himself do not lay a finger.” Then Satan went out from the presence of the LORD. (Job 1:9-12)
We
have to back up a little. I forgot a prayer from earlier in the night than the
High Priestly Prayer. It was sort of easy to forget because Jesus didn’t even
pray it where anyone can hear. He just reports having prayed it, but it may be
one of the most important prayers He prays, at least for our consideration. It
is a doozy.
Before we get to Jesus’ prayer, let’s take a look at Satan’s. From the sounds of it, Satan had prayed for Peter. I imagine the prayer was along the same lines as the one he prayed at the beginning of Job. What? Satan prays? So it would seem, but his prayers are full of accusation and hate.
And, it would seem that the Father’s answer to Satan was about the same as it had been about Job. OK, this far and no farther. Whenever I think about the passage at the beginning of Job, I’m amazed at both Satan and God. I’m amazed Satan has the audacity to walk into the throne room of Heaven – and does so unmolested – and makes the claims he does. I’m also amazed at God’s response. It seems to me that Satan should be terrified to go there, and that God should at least say “No” to any malevolent request, but he’s not and He doesn’t.
Instead, Jesus prays, too. We don’t know exactly what He prayed, but He doesn’t seem to have prayed that the sifting would not take place. He doesn’t seem to have prayed that it would be easy for Peter to withstand, or not hurt him too much. And the result of Satan’s prayer is Peter’s miserable failure. Some people believe all Satan had to do is get Peter scared. That may be. I suspect he made Peter arrogant. I think Peter convinced himself that if he lied to the enemy, he would be able to be nearby when, in the midst of Jesus’ trial, He did something magnificent. At the very least, if he lied to the enemy, he would be able to be near Jesus, and that was more important than anything.
So when someone asked him if he was one of Jesus’ disciples, it wasn’t denying Jesus to say, “Nope, sorry, wrong guy…” until the cock crowed and Peter realized that what he meant to be a lie told to his enemies was still a denial of Jesus and all He had stood for. Whether it was that, or simple, understandable fear (he was, after all, in the courtyard of the enemy) I can’t imagine how devastated Peter was when he realized what he had done.
And this seems to be the point about which Jesus prayed. When the failure was complete, that Peter would reconnect with the very people who would have every reason to reject him, and that he – even with his brokenness – would minister to them.
This is how we should view our failures, as well.
Before we get to Jesus’ prayer, let’s take a look at Satan’s. From the sounds of it, Satan had prayed for Peter. I imagine the prayer was along the same lines as the one he prayed at the beginning of Job. What? Satan prays? So it would seem, but his prayers are full of accusation and hate.
And, it would seem that the Father’s answer to Satan was about the same as it had been about Job. OK, this far and no farther. Whenever I think about the passage at the beginning of Job, I’m amazed at both Satan and God. I’m amazed Satan has the audacity to walk into the throne room of Heaven – and does so unmolested – and makes the claims he does. I’m also amazed at God’s response. It seems to me that Satan should be terrified to go there, and that God should at least say “No” to any malevolent request, but he’s not and He doesn’t.
Instead, Jesus prays, too. We don’t know exactly what He prayed, but He doesn’t seem to have prayed that the sifting would not take place. He doesn’t seem to have prayed that it would be easy for Peter to withstand, or not hurt him too much. And the result of Satan’s prayer is Peter’s miserable failure. Some people believe all Satan had to do is get Peter scared. That may be. I suspect he made Peter arrogant. I think Peter convinced himself that if he lied to the enemy, he would be able to be nearby when, in the midst of Jesus’ trial, He did something magnificent. At the very least, if he lied to the enemy, he would be able to be near Jesus, and that was more important than anything.
So when someone asked him if he was one of Jesus’ disciples, it wasn’t denying Jesus to say, “Nope, sorry, wrong guy…” until the cock crowed and Peter realized that what he meant to be a lie told to his enemies was still a denial of Jesus and all He had stood for. Whether it was that, or simple, understandable fear (he was, after all, in the courtyard of the enemy) I can’t imagine how devastated Peter was when he realized what he had done.
And this seems to be the point about which Jesus prayed. When the failure was complete, that Peter would reconnect with the very people who would have every reason to reject him, and that he – even with his brokenness – would minister to them.
This is how we should view our failures, as well.
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