Not Peter, But Jesus

“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” Peter said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death.” Jesus said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day, until you deny three times that you know me.”

Luke 22:31-34 

Even those who do not follow Christ probably know the story of Peter's betrayal.  As Jesus is being lead away, chained and guarded, to be tried in a middle-of-the-night court, Peter, lingering in the yard outside, is asked by three different people if he associates with the man from Nazareth.  All three times Peter denied his relation.  When the rooster cried, "the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how He had said to him, 'Before the rooster crows today, you will deny Me three times.' And he went out and wept bitterly."  Later we learn that Peter became a special focus of Jesus' post-resurrection attention ("Tell the disciples and Peter"), and on the shores of the Galilee Jesus commissioned him again to ministry.  We are familiar with this, and often relate to Peter's humanity under pressure

Many of us are familiar with the "Satan sifting Peter like wheat" phrase as well, usually using it as a text in the discussion of Satan's role, or for support of Jesus as intercessor.  Rarely, though, is this concept ever linked to Peter's temptation.  It seems the focus of this passage often rests upon Peter's brashness to proclaim that he would do anything for Christ, and Christ's sober prophecy of what will happen.  Too often this passage is segmented: the challenge of the believer being handed over to Satan/Peter's forthcoming denial.

Is that how we should be reading this text?  If we are to understand it holistically, we see something else emerge: Jesus's omnipotence and sovereignty.  When read as one comprehensive moment Jesus becomes bigger.

Jesus is essentially saying, "I know what happens.  I know the end from the beginning.  I know your story, and I know what's going to happen to you, and I know you're going to be tried, but I know you're going to pull through it."  Echoing Satan's challenge to the Lord to try Job's faith, Jesus is once again standing before the adversary saying yes, allowing the temptation to come to Peter knowing that his disciple will endure the ordeal by the grace of God, and come out stronger through the brokenness he will receive.

The focus of this passage should not be Peter, but Jesus.  Jesus is the one to whom Satan went to ask to tempt Peter, and Jesus is the one who founded Peter's faith in the beginning, calling him from his life to follow and love and believe.  Jesus prayed for Peter, that his faith may not fail during the trial, showing that it was Jesus's prayer to the Father, not Peter's, that pulled him through (we don't see Peter praying for increased faith and endurance in the midst of the denials, do we?).  Finally, Jesus knew that Peter would repent - he will turn again - and would strengthen his brethren in Christ, as we read in Peter's letter to the church.  Jesus knows the end from the beginning.

Jesus also chose to tell Peter what was to happen.  Did Peter remember the promise when he recalled the words of denial, too?  Did Peter remember not that Jesus said he would deny Him, but that He had also said that Peter would endure, and come through it, and repent, and be clean and strengthened?  It seems he did not.  He didn't remember.  He forgot.  Like the Israelites captive in Babylon, they had forgotten the promise their God had made to them, until the prophet Jeremiah reminded them: "'I know the plans I have for you,' says the Lord, 'Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you a future and a hope.'"  He has revealed to us the end from the beginning so that we may have hope, and be able to look forward in order to endure.  Likewise, He also promised the church of Smyrna in the Book of Revelation, "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."

Perhaps Peter did remember that Jesus said he would endure, and it later encouraged him.  Certainly it did, as his repentance was full.  But he would not have made it if it wasn't for Jesus and His almighty grip on Peter.  When things seemed dark and bitter to Peter, Jesus knew that faith would not fail, light would not be extinguished, and that what the saint could not see was plain to the Savior all along.