Day 15 of 21
How can we face temptation with confidence?
Shortly after a dispute among the disciples as to which one should be considered the greatest (Luke 22.24), Jesus specifically addresses Peter as "Simon, Simon" (v. 31). The repetition of the name (see 10.41; Acts 9.4) implied an earnest and somber tone of warning. Christ Himself had given Simon the name Peter (6.14), but here He reverted to his old name, perhaps to intensify His rebuke about Peter's fleshly overconfidence. The context also suggests that Peter may have been one of the more vocal participants in the dispute of v. 24.
"Satan," Jesus told him, "has asked for you." Though addressed specifically to Peter, this warning embraced the other disciples as well. The pronoun "you" is plural in the Greek text. "That he may sift you as wheat." The imagery is apt. It suggests that such trials, though unsettling and undesirable, have a necessary refining effect.
Nevertheless, Jesus said, "I have prayed for you" (v. 32). The pronoun "you" is singular. Although it is clear that He prayed for all of them (John 17.6-19), He personally assured Peter of His prayers and of Peter's ultimate victory, even encouraging Peter to be an encourager to the others. "That your faith should not fail." Peter himself failed miserably, but his faith was never overthrown (see John 21.18, 19).
John 17:6-19 NKJV
6 “I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word. 7 Now they have known that all things which You have given Me are from You. 8 For I have given to them the words which You have given Me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came forth from You; and they have believed that You sent Me.
9 “I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours. 10 And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them. 11 Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are. 12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. 13 But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves. 14 I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one.
Luke 22:24 NKJV
24 Now there was also a dispute among them, as to which of them should be considered the greatest.
Luke 6:14 NKJV
14 Simon, whom He also named Peter, and Andrew his brother; James and John; Philip and Bartholomew;
John 21:18-19 NKJV
18 Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.” 19 This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me.”
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