×

Satan is Preying so the Savior is Praying [Passion Week Devotions]

Luke 22:31-32 “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.

As the Savior is looking down the barrel of the unmitigated wrath of God he speaks to his disciples rather cryptically about the ‘one’ (Judas) who would betray him and then quite specifically about the Apostle Peter’s impending defection.

In the midst of this dialog between Peter and Jesus we have these two verses nestled in full of encouragement for believers today.

We learn of Satan’s desires. It is to “have” believers. Satan is not concerned so much with the unbelievers, for he already has them, but rather those who are following the Messiah. Satan’s desire is to have Peter. Satan already ‘has’ Judas (Luk 22.3) and now he wants Peter too. He wants to undermine the work of Jesus by attacking his followers. So believer, know that just as sure as you have the Holy Spirit you have been ‘painted’ with a demonic laser sight…he wants to have you. For truly nothing would give the Devil more joy than to see the narrow road depopoulated, for there is plenty of room on the broad road for apostates.

But notice what the Lord says, “but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail…” What a blessed thought to chew upon. The Savior, who has Calvary on his mind and in his sights, is praying for Peter! Consider the blessing of having Jesus pray for you!? Perhaps this is some insight into why and how Peter did in fact return after his denials. Can you imagine how these words would have resounded in the Apostle’s ears in the decades that passed? Jesus Christ prayed for me. Jesus made intercession for me. This is incomprehensibly glorious.

Believer this is not a reality that is limited exclusively to the time of the Apostles. We know in Scripture that Jesus has prayed for all believers (Jn 17.20) and is now interceding for us as the successful advocate (Rom. 8.34; 1 Joh 2.1). Mark it down, Satan is still the accuser (Rev. 12.10) and Jesus is still the intercessor (Isa. 53.12; Heb. 7.25). He is able to intercede for us as he pleads the merits of his own righteousness; he pleads his obedience of life unto death.

Do you thank Jesus for his intercession? Do you thank him for his glorious righteousness? Do you thank him for his commitment to you? Oh, it is true indeed, he is a far better Savior than we think him to be. You and I would be a Judas in an instant, selling Jesus out for a handful of pocket change and some temporal props, if it was not for Jesus and his faithful intercession. As the Good Shepherd pivots to Calvary he has his beloved sheep on his mind, he was and is praying for his sheep. And so we thank him with humble joy, for he is glorious.

LOAD MORE
Loading