I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and…once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers. (Luke 22:32 NAS95)
Jesus never ceases to amaze me. Betrayal and the cross await Him in just a few hours. Just when you’d think He’d be consumed with self, He’s not. He remains concerned for others, and in this case, Peter in particular. Jesus carries concern for the other disciples as well, but Peter has a unique role. He knows the oncoming train of events will derail His disciples’ hearts, careening them toward confusion. The disciples’ allegiance rests in Jesus as victorious Messiah. Friday will present a deceptive, but different picture: death and defeat. Jesus prays and has prayed already. He asks His Father to sustain Peter through events that will indelibly mark him and yet prove transformative for him. Peter will strengthen the others.
Jesus prays because His assurance flows from His communion with His Father. His confidence to face the future came from His relationship with God. He knew from His prayers that His Father would sustain Peter, and in turn God would use Peter to strengthen the others. Jesus’ selfless heart in prayer simply reflected His Father’s love. As I said, Jesus amazes me. At a time I would be focused on self, Jesus selflessly engages in prayer on behalf of others. His confidence was in His Father’s love for His disciples and Peter. Prayer was the avenue through which that assurance came.
God desires that we’d experience similar confidence in His love flowing from our communion with Him.
For Reflection:
“Therefore He [Jesus] is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.” (Hebrews 7:25 NAS95)
- How has prayer provided you or your friends with the assurance of God’s presence and love in the past? What specific memories do you have of those times?
- What ways of praying provide a deeper or greater confidence in God’s love and presence?
