‘ “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of 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.” But he replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.” Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.” ‘ Luke 22:31-34
From Crosspoint Church in Niceville, Fl, Pastor Jeremy continued in the sermon series, Loudmouth, a character study of Peter. Here are the posts from the previous messages:
Jesus told everyone that someone at the table would betray Him to death. As He makes this proclamation, we find each of the disciples questioning among themselves who was it that was going to betray Jesus, and that quickly switched to who was going to be the greatest disciple.
Jesus described what the greatest looked like, which was not quite what the others were thinking. I’m also guessing that they didn’t believe Him when He explained that He would die.
Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves. You are those who have stood by me in my trials. And I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred one on me, so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. ‘ Luke 22:25-34
“But I am among you as one who serves.”
Jesus turns the idea of leadership upside down. The greatest is the one who serves the most. He did that for us on the cross.
Then Jesus turns to His chosen leader of the church and says:
‘ “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of 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
I find this portion of scripture fascinating, “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat.”
A couple of things to consider:
- When Jesus says your name twice, He is about to review something for your careful consideration. He did this a lot with Peter.
- Satan asked. Satan does nothing out of God’s sight. He asked permission to work on Job in the Book of Job.
- Jesus uses the word “sift” when things are sifted; it could have a refining process. God will use our challenges to refine and strengthen our faith, and Satan wanted to use these trials for Peter to separate him from his faith.
“But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith will not fail.”
The question to consider is, “Did Peter’s faith fail?” I mean, he did deny Jesus, not once but three times.
Jesus continued, “But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail.”
My thinking about a specific prayer for you by Jesus is that you can take it to the bank as done.
“And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”
Two things here:
- Jesus is telling Peter, “You will turn away from me.”
- He is telling Peter, “You will come back to me.” And when you do, “strengthen your brothers.”
This is the “loudmouth” part of the message:
‘But he replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.” ‘Luke 22:33
Peter was prideful. He was so prideful that he lifted himself over the rest of the disciples, saying in the other gospel accounts:
‘Peter declared, “Even if all fall away, I will not.” ‘ Mark 14:29
‘Peter replied, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.” ‘ Matthew 26:33
‘Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.” ‘Luke 22:34
I wonder what Peter thought when he heard these words from Jesus. Maybe something to the effect of “Yeah, right. I’ll show You.” or perhaps he felt that Jesus didn’t have faith in him, and he would prove to Him.
‘Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance. And when some there had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, “This man was with him.” But he denied it. “Woman, I don’t know him,” he said. A little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” “Man, I am not!” Peter replied. About an hour later another asserted, “Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean.” Peter replied, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly. ‘ Luke 22:54-62
In my study, I have heard it said that roosters were not allowed in Jerusalem during Passover because of the noise and mess. So when this rooster crowed, there was no doubt about its noise.
“And he went outside and wept bitterly.”
Two people in His group turned on Him in this twenty-four-hour period.
Judas, who sold Him out for silver, and Peter, who denied Him when asked if he was one of his followers.
But there are differences in how they responded to their failure.
Judas tried to make it right by going back to the same people he turned Jesus over to and giving them back the money. But he didn’t go back to Jesus. And in the end, he killed himself because of his shame, not his love for Jesus.
Peter, on the hand, felt shame, and he “wept bitterly.” Peter also felt shame and guilt, but as Jesus said he would do, he turned back to Jesus.
There is a debate that goes on endlessly about “once saved, always saved,” but the reality is if you turn away from Jesus and never turn back, there is a good possibility that you were never saved, to begin with.
This debate stems from whether your “works” can save you. And the quick answer to that is no. Do you have to decide to accept God’s grace? Yes, but it takes faith to do this, and that faith comes from God. God wants our willing hearts. It would have been easy for Him to have us in lockstep, but He gave us the “dignity of choice.”
After we come to know Jesus with a willing heart, it becomes all about what we do in the name of Jesus.
‘Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. ‘ 2 Timothy 2:15
‘ “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ ‘ Matthew 7:21-23
‘Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. ‘ John 15:4
We will fail. The good news…
The price is paid. Jesus went to the cross for the sins of the world.
The question is, “Where is Jesus when we fail?”
‘He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. ‘ 1 John 2:2
Here’s the reality, no one ends up in hell that doesn’t choose to be there. Jesus died for every sin on this earth; it is by God’s grace and our decision to accept or not accept Jesus that will determine where we will spend eternity.
Did Peter lose his faith?
Did Peter lose his love for Jesus?
Peter lost hope. We all lose hope on occasion but turning back to Jesus will determine where we spend eternity.
Peter chose to turn to Jesus. Judas did not.
Who will you choose to follow?
Heavenly Father, thank You for Your grace, mercy, and forgiveness. I pray that You help me in my walk with You. Please help me stay focused on You and You alone.
I thank You for the Pastors who faithfully preach the Word of God every week.
I pray, Lord, that as the world gets more challenging, You keep my heart, mind, and soul focused on You.
Please help me to keep You centered in my heart.
In the name of Jesus, I pray in Your Holy Name, Amen!! 🙏❤️
