Think On These Things: November 2009

Part 3

The Warning

And the Lord said, "Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren”,
Luke 22:31-32.

Immediately, after Jesus warned Simon Peter of Satan’s request and the impending ‘sifting’, Jesus shared the encouraging truth that He had prayed for Peter and His disciples. Think about this wonderful truth for a moment. The Lord Himself prayed for His disciples. All of Jesus’ prayers were heard and answered. One reads what Jesus said at the tomb of Lazarus in John 11:41-42, “. . . Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. And that You always hear Me. . . ..” The longest recorded prayer of the Savior is found in the Gospel of John. This seems to be the prayer Jesus prayed with and for His disciples prior to going to Gethsemane and the cross.

The contents of this prayer reveal what the Lord Jesus prayed and for who

m He prayed.
First, He prayed for the redeemed of God, His followers; “I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours”, John 17:9. The Lord’s desire is for all people to become His children and followers. But the honest truth is not everyone will, according to Matthew 7:13-14. However, Jesus prayed for those that will be His disciples. This is very encouraging to know that the Son of God prayed for His children.

Second, Jesus prayed for the security and protection of the disciples. Christ also asked for unity and togetherness among His followers as it was, and is, between He and the Heavenly Father. John 17:11b, “. . . keep them through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are.”

Third, Jesus asked for the disciples to be delivered from the evil one, Satan. “I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one”, John 17:15. This is not the first reference of this request. Read the example Jesus taught on how to pray, “. . . And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one”, Matthew 6:13. The Lord never promised to spare us from problems and temptations, but He did pray we would be delivered from Satan and kept by the Father!

Fourth, Jesus prayed not only for Peter and His disciples then, but for His followers throughout all generations. “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word”, John 17:20. This means us today!

Fifth, Jesus Christ prayed for the eternal security of all His followers. “Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world”, John 17:24. When resting upon the truths of God’s word, it is not difficult to believe that God the Son, Jesus, Who saves us, is also capable of keeping us saved! God is able! God is faithful! “Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them”, Hebrews 7:25. What a wonderful truth to know, Jesus prayed for Peter, the disciples, and is still praying for us today!

The Lord Jesus Christ