31 “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”
The apostles had just celebrated the last supper with Christ and had taken communion in representation of the new covenant. Jesus tells them that He will not drink again from the "fruit of the vine": until He drinks it new with them in the kingdom (Matthew 26:29, Mark 14:25) and they would also eat and drink at His table in His kingdom and sit on the throne judging the twelve tribes of Israel (Luke 22:30).
With this as the backdrop, Jesus tells Peter that Satan has asked to sift them like wheat. Satan knew that as Christ's kingdom was being established, the apostles were a threat to his realms.
What does "sifting like wheat" refer to in real life?
According to John Piper, the best clue comes in the next sentence where Jesus says, "But I prayed for you (now singular) that your faith will not fail." Satan aims to sift Simon and the others like wheat. Jesus aims to keep Simon's faith from failing. So probably "sifting like wheat" means doing something to make the disciples' faith fail.
Piper goes on to explain. We can imagine a picture like this: Satan has a big sieve with jagged-edged wires forming a mesh with holes shaped like faithless men and women. What he aims to do is throw people into this sieve and shake them around over these jagged edges until they are so torn and weak and desperate that they let go of their faith and fall through the sieve as faithless people, right into Satan's company. Faith cannot fall through the mesh. It's the wrong shape. And so as long as the disciples hold to their faith, trusting the power and goodness of God for their hope, then they will not fall through the mesh into Satan's hands. Therefore the sifting of Simon Peter and the others is Satan's effort to destroy their faith. And this remains Satan's main goal today. It is relatively unimportant to Satan whether we are healthy or sick, rich or poor; what he wants is to sift out our faith. If he can do it by suffering, he will try that; if he can do it by wealth, he will try that.
Jesus Intercedes for Us
Although Jesus warns Peter of Satan's schemes, He also encourages Peter by telling him that He has prayed for him. "But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail." This is true for all believers. Jesus intercedes for us!
Hebrews 7 23 Now there have been many of those priests, since death, prevented them from continuing in office (The Levitical priests were the intercessors for the people but they were limited in what they could do.) 24-25 but because Jesus lives forever, He has a permanent priesthood. Therefore, He is able to save completely those who come to God through Him because He ALWAYS lives to intercede for them. Romans 8:34-39 Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died - more than that, who was raised to life - is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or persecutions or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." No, in all these these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels, nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depths, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. |
Recently, in my small group, we were discussing what we would do if our life were threatened because of our faith. Would we deny Christ in that fearful moment? I'd like to think that I would stand firm in my faith but so did Peter. In response to Jesus' warning, Peter boldly said, " Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death."(vs 33) Really? Jesus' response? "I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me." (vs 34). Jesus knew this would happen when He said "And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers." (vs 32)
Jesus knows that we are but dust and has compassion on us (Psalm 103:13-14)...and prays and intercedes for us!
Peter was fearful during those days. Jesus had been taken away, accused of blasphemy and was to be crucified like a criminal. Not treated like a King. What about this kingdom He had just been speaking about? Weren't they all to rule with Him in His kingdom? Peter's head must have been swirling. Peter stayed close but kept safely at a distance. Luke describes the scene at the house of the high priest where Jesus had been seized and initially taken. There Peter sat down with others huddled around a fire in the courtyard. With the light of the fire shining on his face, those sitting with Peter recognized him and said allowed that Peter had been with Jesus and was one of them. Just as Peter denied Jesus for the third time saying, "Man, I don't know what you're talking about"; the rooster crowed. The rooster has always been a wake-up call. Luke 22:51-62 says just as this occurred, "The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter." I don't know if I could handle the piercing stare of knowing. How many times have I denied Jesus and been unaware of Him looking at me, heart broken. "Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken: 'Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times." How did Peter respond in that moment? "And he went outside and wept bitterly."
Peter’s faith would falter but it did not fail. Jesus did not see this temporary lapse that was to come as a failure of faith, because He knew that Peter would return to Him. No...Jesus demonstrated grace to Peter. Mark 16:7 tells us that after Jesus had risen and revealed Himself to the women visiting the tomb, He told them to "Go, tell His disciples AND Peter."
Jesus knew Peter and knew he was overcome by guilt at having denied Him and was confused over all the events that took place. Jesus knew and responded in grace, "Go and tell Peter specifically....Peter who walked with Me but denied Me....go and tell him that I've risen."
[Side note: The Gospel of Mark is Peter's account of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. The gospel accounts are the good news and I hold them in high esteem for the writers were eyewitnesses. Yet, I have to giggle just a bit as I see that Peter's account emphasized that Jesus said to "go and tell Peter". This wasn't out of ego but a recognition of the grace that was shown to him. John's gospel interestingly put it this way: "[Mary Magdalen].came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, "they have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don't know where they have put Him!" So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. Both were running, but the other disciple, outran Peter and reached the bomb first. He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus' head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen. Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.)" (John 20:2-9)
Yes, John, you - who loved Jesus and stayed with Him at the cross - got to the tomb first. But Peter, in response to the grace shown him, boldly entered the tomb! I can't imagine the recognition of grace that continued to fall over him in that moment. Jesus was indeed who He claimed to be. Their lives wouldn't be the same ever again! The following is a link from the Skit Guys who act this out. You will giggle but have a tissue handy - this is a MUST watch : Skit Guys on Grace ]
I have never denied Jesus for fear of death. No, I have denied Him for far lesser reasons...for fear of embarrassment and for not knowing how to defend my faith. Spending time with believers only, where I don't have to defend my faith weakens my ability if I don't challenge myself in knowing what I believe and why. As the Church, we are called to be "salt and light". Salt which stays in the shaker does not serve it's purpose. The Church is not brick and mortar. We are the ecclesia - the assembly of believers called to go out as salt and light and disciple others. To feed His sheep. And when we function as the Church, Satan will ask to "sift us like wheat". But Jesus intercedes for us! Grace calls our name too!
Peter's Transformation
When I read the letters of Peter, I forget that this is the same Peter that I came to know in the gospels. Peter was changed by grace and filled with the Holy Spirit and became the leader of the Jerusalem church. Some 30 years after his conversation with Jesus, he still remembered Christ's warning: "Peter, Satan has asked to sift all of you like wheat." Peter was well aware of Satan as an adversary and a opponent to the rise of the Church. Later, Peter would write as a warning to the ecclesia of believers:
"Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour [and sift like wheat]. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God all all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To Him be the power for ever and ever. Amen. With the help of Silas, whom I regard as a faithful brother, I have written to you briefly, encouraging you and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand fast in it." (1 Peter 5:8-12)
Additional Encouragement and Admonishment
Peter doesn't stand alone in experiencing the sifting and shaking.
Paul, in Ephesians 6:10-12, says, "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."
John, "the other disciple", says in 1 John 5:4-5, "For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God."
In John Piper's article (referenced below) concludes: "If we hold it fast to the end, Satan cannot destroy us. That's why John [the apostle] writes to the church of Smyrna in Revelation 2:10: Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death and I will give you the crown of life. It's clear from the whole NT that God intends to bring the bride of Christ to perfection through affliction and temptation (1 Peter 1:6; 3:17). We must suffer with Christ if we would be glorified with him (Romans 8:17). Through suffering and trial our faith is refined * We are drawn to rely ever more heavily on God, and we are moved to cherish his grace more strongly. Satan has his role to play in fanning the flames of our refining furnace, and so God awaits the appointed day of judgment. [*Refer to James 1:3 - testing of silver to reflect Him. Study Notes on Chapter]. So Satan has power, but it is all by permission, and it is never out of control. We must be sober in our prayers, fight the good fight, and anticipate the victory of God at the perfect time."
Lastly friends, we are called to die to self daily and one day we may be severely persecuted for our faith and may be asked to choose between life and death, deny Christ or die. This is a reality in many parts of the world today for many believers. ISIS has done this very thing and have caused many to have to abandon their homes and run for their lives. And if you have read the Book of Revelation, you know this WILL be a reality for tribulation saints who are martyred for their faith.
Revelation 12:10 - 11
10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: “Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God,
and the authority of his Messiah. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down.
11 They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony;
they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.
Bibleref.com commentary on verse 11: This verse focuses on believers on earth during the second half of the Tribulation. Although all believers are overcomers (Romans 8:37; 1 John 5:4–5), believers in the Tribulation are especially targeted by the Devil, but they conquer him "by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they loved not their lives even unto death" (Revelation 12:11).
All believers are redeemed by the blood of the Lamb (1 Peter 1:18–19). This transaction removes them from Satan's kingdom of darkness and places them in Christ's kingdom (Colossians 1:13). Believers' testimony also assists in conquering the Devil. He cannot defeat us if we resolutely confess our faith in Jesus—though the Bible does not guarantee that "victory" will come in the form of earthly success or prosperity. Even the martyrs of the Tribulation are conquerors. Death is the believer's ultimate victory. Paul explained that to be "away from the body" is to be "at home with the Lord" (2 Corinthians 5:8). When facing the possibility of martyrdom, he confessed, "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain" (Philippians 1:21).
Psalm 121 1
I lift up my eyes to the hills-- where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.
Psalm 62:5-7
Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. My salvation and my honor depend on God ; he is my mighty rock, my refuge.
https://www.desiringgod.org/messages/the-sifting-of-simon-peter