Luke 22:32 (ESV) “… but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”
When we arrive at Luke 22:32, we discover Judas is already gone to betray Jesus, and there is an air of uneasiness with the disciples of the Lord. In verse 31 the attention has now turned upon Peter. Jesus spoke to him: “Simon, Simon!” The double use of a name was intended to arrest attention. Also, Jesus uses the duplication of Peter’s old name not only to capture him but also to impress upon him his danger.
Peter must have been startled when the Lord called him by his old name, the name of his unregenerate days. Peter was not only vulnerable but also was being stalked by the Evil One. “Behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat” (Luke 22:31). Evidently, Satan had been sizing up Simon. He must have sensed something of Peter’s greatness. On the Day of Pentecost alone, Peter would bring three thousand souls to Christ. Before that happened, however, Satan would like to do to Peter what he was about to do to Judas—turn him to suicide. Satan had already been given permission to try Peter. Little did Peter know how great he was about to be tempted.
However, before Peter’s test Jesus tells him, “but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers” (Luke 22:32). That is part of the wonder of the Christian life; we have the Lord Jesus to be our Great High Priest and to pray for us as our Advocate with the Father (1 John 2:1). We can be sure that His prayers are always effectual.
Like Peter and the disciples, we will face times of testing and temptation. Just as with Peter, the Lord has promised to be in prayer for us. Jesus is our Great High Priest who is always making intercession for our needs. Furthermore, Jesus often seeks our attention before we enter into temptation. Jesus always knows what is around life’s corner for us, so when Jesus gets our attention, we must listen! We cannot be dismissive of the Lord’s warnings to us. We must draw even close unto the Lord and trust in the powers of his prayers for us. Let us trust in the promise of his word, “Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.” (Hebrews 7:25).
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