Jesus' Prayer

“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.” Peter said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death.” Jesus said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day, until you deny three times that you know me.” (Luke 22:31-34 ESV). There are many references in the Gospels of the prayers of Jesus. Some of them actually recall the words he used; others simply mention that he prayed. I find the most encouragement from our reading today. The context is immediately prior to Jesus’ arrest. He is celebrating the Seder with the disciples and begins to speak in a direct way to his death and their resulting faltering faith. Finally he tells them that one of them will betray him to his death. Judas’ plot is revealed and he departs the group. It is in this charged atmosphere that Peter boasts of his allegiance and Jesus foretells his failure. It is at this moment that Luke tells us of Jesus’ prayer. There is an important grammatical feature we should note. Jesus said that Satan has asked to sift “you” (plural in Greek), but he told Peter, "But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail." This time the Greek takes the singular “you'”. Jesus told Peter that he did not just pray for all the disciples, but he prayed for Peter by name. I find that incredibly comforting in my life. When Jesus prays for us, it is not merely a general intercession, but a specific supplication for strength and comfort in our troubles. Peter was indeed severely sifted by Satan. He denied our Lord three times. Jesus knew that Peter would fall. But that would not be the end. Peter, like everyone besides John fled in the face of the danger of association with Jesus. Peter couldn’t imagine how this could be even a remote possibility; however, Jesus saw it clearly. That night as Jesus was questioned by Caiphas, he gathered in the firelight on the fringe of Jesus’ line of sight. He was asked three times about his association with Jesus; and, three times he denied even knowing who Jesus was! When the rooster crowed, their eyes met and surely Peter remembered his boast and Jesus’ words earlier in the evening. To say he felt like a failure is surely an understatement! Winnowed like the wheat; Satan had tested him and he had failed! Haven’t you felt that kind of failure before? I certainly have. Well, I have good news for you. Jesus has prayed for you! While we don’t know the words of this prayer for Peter, we do know the words of his prayer for us. John recalls: I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. (John 17:20-21 ESV). Being one with the Father is the singular position of eternal life. There is much to be said for our position in the face of the trials of this life. Perhaps most important of them all is that it is a declaration our ultimate victory, regardless of our past!