But I Have Prayed for You

Luke 22:31-38

Key verse 32

“But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”

Introduction

In this passage, Jesus promised to pray for Peter that his faith might not fail while Satan was attacking him. After predicting Peter’s denial and also his own suffering, Jesus told his disciples to prepare themselves for the time of enemies’ attack. He also foretold His approaching suffering. From this passage, we can see how Jesus took care of His disciples. In love, He prepared them to face and overcome the enemies’ attacks. He also prepared them to overcome the sufferings that would come with following Jesus.

1. Read verses 31-32. What did Jesus say to Peter in regard to Satan’s work? (31) How did Jesus pray for him? (32a) What can we learn from Jesus who helped Peter through prayer? What did Jesus then tell Peter to do? (32b)

1-1. Read verses 31-32.

“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.”

1-2. What did Jesus say to Peter in regard to Satan’s work? (31)

Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat.

· Satan desired to have Peter and other disciples in his hands that he may sift him as wheat.

· Probably Satan had accused the disciples before God as he had accused Job.

· His desire was to show the disciples to be chaff, rather than wheat. Satan wanted to sift them by his temptations, by drawing them into sin.

· But Satan could not sift them unless God gave him permission. He desired to have them, as he begged God for the permission to tempt Job. (Job 1:6-8)

· Satan is looking for a chance to devour God’s people - Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.(1Pt 5:8)

· Peter and his disciple were in a very serious situation where their weaknesses could be exposed very easily. Satan wanted to sift them in such critical moments so that the disciples would fail in following Jesus.

· Satan takes all opportunities to sift us. We have to be alert to recognize Satan’s attack.

1-3. How did Jesus pray for him? (32a)

But I have prayed for you, Simon that your faith may not fail.

· Jesus encouraged and ensured them by mentioning His prayer for them.

· He prayed for Peter that his faith may not fail. The disciples would be tempted and their faith could be shaken, but their faith would not be destroyed because of Jesus’ prayer for them.

· Though there may be many failings in the faith of believers, yet there shall not be a total and final failure of their faith.

· Faith is our seed, our root, remaining in us. If our faith is protected and still remains, we can overcome Satan’s attack eventually.

· The disciples owed their integrity to the mediation and intercession of Jesus Christ. The faith of his disciples, though sometimes shaken, was never completely destroyed. If they were left to themselves, they would fail; but they are kept by the power of God and the prayer of Christ.

· Prayer works to protect disciples’ faith, which is an encouragement for us to pray for ourselves and for others too.

· We have to pray for those who are under Satan’s attack that God may help them to keep their faith.

1-4. What can we learn from Jesus who helped Peter through prayer?

· Jesus’ intercessory prayer for his disciples – Jesus protected, supported and empowered his disciples through prayer.

· Jesus is still praying for his disciples. Because of his prayer his disciples will keep their faith and overcome Satan’s evil attack.

· We can protect, support and empower others through our prayer.

· Intercessory prayer is one of the shepherd’s main jobs. Moses, Samuel, the Prophets, and Paul showed how to support his people through their intercessory prayer.

1-5. What did Jesus then tell Peter to do? (32b)

“And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”

· Jesus gave a charge to Peter, to help the other disciples just as he would be helped by God

· He wanted him to restore and help others after being restored by the grace of God

· Those that have fallen into sin must be delivered from it; those that have turned aside must return; those that have left their first love must return to Jesus as their first love.

· Those who through grace are delivered from sin must do what they can to strengthen others so they can stand, and not fall away.

2. Read verses 33-34. What did Peter say and what does this show about him? (33) What did Jesus predict about Peter? (34) How was Jesus’ view of Peter different from his understanding of himself?

2-1. Read verses 33-34.

But he replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.”34 Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.”

2-2. What did Peter say and what does this show about him? (33)

But he replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death. Peter's declared resolution to cleave to Christ, whatever it cost him.

· All the true disciples of Christ sincerely desire to follow him, wherever he goes, and wherever he leads them.

· But Peter didn’t know his weakness and limitation. He didn’t know that he couldn’t do the things that he desired for Jesus by his own strength and willpower.

· It is right to have desire to follow Jesus wherever he leads even to prison or death. But we should remember that we need God’s help in order to do this.

2-3. What did Jesus predict about Peter? (34)

“I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.”

· Jesus predicted Peter’s denial.

· He said what Peter never wanted or expected. He said just the opposite of what Peter wanted to do.

2-4.How was Jesus’ view of Peter different from his understanding of himself?

· Jesus knows us better than we know ourselves, and knows the evil that is in us, which we ourselves do not suspect.

· It is good for us that Christ knows our weaknesses better than we do, and therefore he helps us with sufficient grace.

· Jesus helps us fully, knowing all our weakness and need.

· He is the good shepherd who knows his sheep so well and knows how to help them.

· Instead of having self –confidence, we’d better humbly rely on God’s help.

3. Read verses 35-36.What did Jesus tell his disciples to do? (35, 36) Why might Jesus have let them take these things now? (36)

3-1. Read verses 35-36.

Then Jesus asked them, “When I sent you without purse, bag or sandals, did you lack anything?”“Nothing,” they answered.36 He said to them, “But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one.

3-2. What did Jesus tell his disciples to do? (35, 36)

“But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one

· He reminded them that He had provided sufficiently when they followed Him: When I sent you without purse, lacked you anything?

· He had sent them out in a very poor and in bare conditions, barefoot, and with no money in their purses, because they were not to go far, nor be out long; and he would teach them to depend upon the providence of God.

· The disciples had lacked nothing; they then lived as plentifully and as comfortably as ever; and they readily acknowledged it: "Nothing, Lord; I have all, and abound."

· It is good for us often to look back at how God has provided for us and remember how we have gone through difficulties with God’s provision. We would say, “I lacked nothing”.

· Jesus is a good shepherd. We may sometimes be brought low, yet Jesus will help us and never leave us.

3-3. Why might Jesus have let them take these things now? (36)

· He gives them notice of a very great change of their circumstances now approaching.

· The disciples must expect that now their enemies would come at them even more forcefully. They had had no sword to defend himself but they would find a great want of it. This is intended only to show that the times would be very perilous, so that no man would think himself safe if he did not have a sword by his side.

· But the sword of the Spirit is the sword which the disciples of Christ must equip themselves with. We must arm ourselves with the same mind (1 Peter 4:1), arm ourselves with an expectation of trouble and be prepared.

4. Read versed 37-38. Why was Jesus numbered with the transgressors? (37a, Isa 53:12) What does Jesus mean by “What is written about me is reaching its fulfillment”? (37b) How did the disciples respond?

4-1. Read versed 37-38.

It is written: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors’; and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in me. Yes, what is written about me is reaching its fulfillment.”38 The disciples said, “See, Lord, here are two swords.”“That’s enough!” he replied.

4-2. Why was Jesus numbered with the transgressors? (37a, Isa 53:12)

· And he was numbered with the transgressors’; and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in me.

· Jesus was numbered with the transgressors to redeem us from our sin by being punished in our place. - Therefore I will give him a portion among the great and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. (Is 53:12)

4-3. What does Jesus mean by “What is written about me is reaching its fulfillment”?(37b)

Yes, what is written about me is reaching its fulfillment.

· Jesus was now entering upon his sufferings, which he had often foretold. The suffering was determined and foretold.

· What was written about his suffering will be fulfilled shortly.

· The disciples must therefore expect troubles. They must now in some degree suffer with their Master; Therefore they must get ready.

· We must expect to suffer like Jesus. The servant is not better than his Lord.

4-4. How did the disciples respond?

See, Lord, here are two swords.”

· They didn’t understand yet what Jesus meant.

· Jesus replied “That’s enough!” - Two swords are sufficient for them because God himself would be their shield and the sword to protect.

Conclusion

Jesus protected and empowered his disciples through his prayer. He has prayed for us and is still praying and will continue to pray for us. He knows us better than we know ourselves and helps us in the best way. We must ask for God’s help in following Jesus instead of relying on ourselves out of our self-confidence. Jesus was numbered as a transgressor and suffered on the cross in our place. We should be ready to fight and overcome Satan’s attacks. We should be ready to face all challenges by equiping ourselves with the spiritual weapons needed for the spiritual battle.

One word, ‘ But I have prayed for you’

---