31 Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith will not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”

33 “Lord,” said Peter, “I am ready to go with You even to prison and to death.”

34 But Jesus replied, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow today until you have denied three times that you know Me.”

REFLECTIONS

Written by Ness Wong

Have you ever said confidently, “Lord, I’m going to follow you and do great things,” but ended up failing miserably? Have you experienced that massive blow to your pride, that awful sense of guilt and shame instead of success?

Here in Luke 22:31-34, Jesus warns his disciples that Satan has asked to “sift each of you like wheat”. He singles out Simon Peter and tells him that he has prayed for him, that he may remain faithful. Peter boldly asserts that he is ready to go not just into prison but is ready to die with him! Soberingly, Jesus tells Peter that he will indeed fail him by denying him not once, not twice, but three times that same day.

Jesus is preparing Peter for the road ahead. At this point, Peter is self-confident, vocal, and perhaps even sees himself better than the other disciples. Jesus’ warning to him is not the pep talk we’d expect from a would-be church leader. But it shows that leading in God’s kingdom doesn’t come from relying on our own strengths or how confident we feel in ourselves. Rather it is entirely through depending on God’s Holy Spirit and grace (Phil. 4:13; 2 Cor. 12:9).

Jesus doesn’t just tell Peter of his future failings to humble him. It is also a moment of grace and encouragement. Jesus says in verse 32, “And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” How merciful! It’s like Jesus is saying to Peter, ‘You don’t believe me now, but I know you will fail me three times. Yet I won’t count that against you. In fact, when you do come back to me, go and encourage your brothers so that they may remain faithful to me.” Jesus was looking forward to the time after his resurrection and ascension, when he would send the gift of the Holy Spirit on his disciples. The Spirit would give them both the humility and the boldness they needed to remain faithful by his strength.

We may, like Peter, feel self-assured that we will remain faithful during times of testing. However, our faithfulness to God is not about us. It is only through depending on the Holy Spirit that we can stand. And it is such great comfort that even when we fail, we can repent, be restored to remain in Christ and help others remain in him too.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ness is a member of our Fairfield Morning congregation.