Sifted Like Wheat
"Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers." -- Luke 22:31-32I have just finished reading a book called "Jesus, The One & Only" by author Beth Moore. If you have not read her works, I advise you to go immediately and purchase every one of them and get started. She is truly a gifted teacher of the Word of God.
I finished this book 2 days ago and it has not left my mind. I finished it in tears, with an ache in my chest. You see -- while I loved reading of Jesus and learning about Him, I came to realize my favorite disciple is Peter.
Simon Peter's story shows us that despite our love for the Lord and the purity of our intentions, we are fallible humans at the core. We are destined to make mistakes. Peter made the worst of them -- he denied Christ. Not once, but three times. Yet, in the end, he was forgiven by the resurrected Lord and given commission to feed and defend His flock. How awesome is the power of redemption!
Luke 22:31-32 is a Scripture that really speaks to me. In order to understand it, you have to delve into the translation. You see, the word you in verse 31 is plural, while the you in verse 32 is singular. This implies that while Satan asked to sift the disciples as a collective, Christ specifies Peter's own encounter in verse 32. It implies that Christ allowed Satan to attack Peter with more force than the others. You may ask why -- well, rest assured that the Lord never allows Satan to have his way with a Believer unless there is something that needs to be sifted out of him!
I have been sifted and, like Peter, in the midst of it I, too, denied my Savior. Perhaps that is why Peter's story speaks to me on such an emotional level. I know the pain he felt.
Picture this scene: Jesus has been arrested and taken prisoner. Peter, in a fit of emotion, draws a sword and cuts off the ear of a man taking Jesus. Such is his love for the Lord! But then -- he went to sit and join the soldiers and officials by the courtyard fire, warming his hands. A relative of the man whose ear Peter cut off challenges him and Peter does the last thing he ever expected to do.
He denies Christ. He denies Jesus to save his own skin. Satan has most certainly sifted him like wheat.
Now I quote from the book:
"Peter's repetitive actions went beyond the realm of excuses. Rationalizing his choice to deny Christ and gaining sympathy from the others would have done nothing to help Peter become a man Christ could "crucify" then use. Peter had come face to face with the fact that in him no good thing dwelled. Only then would he be willing to deny himself and exist for the sole purpose of Jesus' renown.
"The scene ends in Luke 22-61-62 with an invisible sword piercing Peter's heart in a way no soldier's blade could have. The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. In Peter's attempt to shield himself from the piercing sword of a soldier, he fell to a far more piercing one -- the look of Jesus into his eyes. Oh, I don't think the stab resulted from a look of condemnation. Rather, I imagine Peter's heart hemorraghed from Christ's penetrating look of unveiled love.
"I do not doubt that Christ's face was painted with pain when their eyes met in the courtyard, but I think the conspicuous absence of condemnation tore through Peter's heart. I wonder if Christ's fixed gaze might have said something like this: "Remember, Peter, I am the Christ. You know that. I know that. I called you. I gave you a new name. I invited you to follow Me. Don't forget who I am. Don't forget what you are capable of doing. And whatever you do, do not let this destroy you. When you have turned back, strengthen your brothers."
"Surely nothing leads to repentance in those who are tender like the kindness of God (Romans 2:4). Peter was devastated. As we conclude the chapter, sit just a moment and listen to him cry. Is anything more painful to hear than the uncontrollable cries of a grown man? Peter went outside and wept bitterly. The original language suggests he took on every external form of grief. He wailed. He probably tore at his robes. He may have grabbed a handful of sand and thrown it over his head. The conflict of his soul surged in a tidal wave of grief, betraying his true identity.
"His belief had not been a sham. His denial had."
posted by Tamfish @ 10:00 AM
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