DGCC Global Partner Matthew contributed this week’s blog post as a followup to his sermon this past Sunday.
Before the crucifixion, Jesus is abandoned by all of his disciples. Mark says, “They all left him and fled” (Mark 14:50). Then during Jesus’ trial, the narrative narrows to focus on Peter. He follows at a distance and sits with the guards at a fire (Mark 14:54). The chief priests and the council are trying to find a way to put Jesus to death. Meanwhile, Peter is in the courtyard, and he gets his own interrogation. “You were with the Nazarene! Aren’t you one of them? You must be. You’re a Galilean.” Peter vehemently denies it, eventually invoking a curse on himself and swearing, “I do not know this man of whom you speak” (Mark 14:71).
Peter’s denial is jarring, because only a few paragraphs earlier, when Jesus predicted the betrayal of his disciples, Peter insisted, “Even though they all fall away, I will not…If I must die with you, I will not deny you” (Mark 14:29–31).
How could this man, Jesus’ most enthusiastic follower from the beginning, the one who had stayed with Jesus when thousands had turned their back on him (see John 6:61–70), how could he deny any association with his closest friend and Lord at the time of greatest need?
Satan’s Demands
There’s another passage in Peter’s denial narrative that we sometimes miss because it’s only recorded in one gospel. Luke tells us that during the Last Supper, Jesus turned to Peter and said, “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat” (Luke 22:31).
Satan demanded to have Peter. Satan wanted to destroy Peter. Satan hated Peter’s faith and Peter’s confession. Satan wanted to get Peter out of the picture.
It reminds me of the first chapter of Job, when Satan comes before God with the desire to destroy Job and dismantle his faith and faithfulness to God.
And it looks like God gave Satan some sort of assent. God allowed Satan to put Peter to the test.
Jesus’ Intercession
But like in Job, Satan was also given limits. In Luke Jesus goes on to say this, “But I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail” (Luke 22:32).
Jesus interceded for Peter. Jesus knew about Satan’s demands. He knew Satan wanted to destroy Peter. He knew the attack was going to come. And how does he pray? He didn’t ask for the test to be taken away. He didn’t ask for Peter to be spared the struggle. He didn’t tell Satan to take his hands off Peter. Instead, he prayed that Peter’s faith would remain in the face of temptation and failure. He prayed that Peter would come out on the other side, still trusting his Lord.
And so, like with Job, it’s as if God said to Satan something like, “You can test him. You can tempt him. You can even bring him to such a breaking point that he will deny even knowing his Lord. But you can’t have his faith. At bottom, you will not destroy his trust in me.”
Jesus’ Charge
Jesus continues, “And when you [Peter] have turned again, strengthen your brothers” (Luke 22:32).
Peter is going to make it to the other side of the test with his faith in tact. And on the other side, Jesus has work for him to do. Peter’s experience of weakness, failure, denial, and restoration will make him uniquely able to offer comfort and encouragement to Christian brothers and sisters through the centuries as we experience our own satanic trials and tests.
When We Are Tested
So what about you? Has your faith ever been tested and stretched to its limits? Have you ever been tempted to distance yourself from Jesus in order to preserve your own skin in some way? Are you there now?
Your test may be satanic. The Devil hates your faith and wants to destroy it. Maybe Satan, as in the case of Job and Peter, has made demands to have you. Maybe God has given him a level of license to push you to your limit.
If so, would it make a difference to you if you knew that Jesus intercedes for his people? What if you could hear Jesus tell you what he told Peter, “I have prayed for you. I have come before my Father and asked him to keep your faith from crumbling in the midst of this trial.”
Peter was tested, in part, so that right now he could strengthen you. Satan demanded to have Peter. Jesus prayed for him. He was brought to his breaking point and came out on the other side and was given the job of strengthening you and me when we are tested, so that we could see the way Jesus prays for his people who are under trial, and how Jesus’ prayers are answered.
