31 ‘Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, Simon, that YOUR FAITH MAY NOT FAIL. And when you have turned back, STRENGTHEN YOUR BROTHERS.’
33 But he replied, ‘Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.’ (Peter was sincere but he couldn’t endure the trial that was to come.)
34 Jesus answered, ‘I tell you, Peter, before the cock crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.’ Luke 22
The English word ‘Strengthen’ occurs twice in Luke 22:32 and 22:43 (but they are two different words in the original).
It’s worth noting that the enemy had to ‘Ask permission to test the disciples’ in this crucial hour. They were all going to be tested, ‘sifted/threshed as wheat’, but Jesus realised that Peter’s Faith was going to Fail under severe testing. Peter wasn’t permitted to stand with Jesus in His time of greatest trial, we could say he didn’t have the Grace for it. So Jesus prayed a specific prayer for Peter, ‘AND WHEN YOU HAVE TURNED BACK’, Strengthen your brothers.
Peter wanted to stay with Jesus in His trials, but no matter how much he wanted it, he couldn’t. We need to know what the Lord has called us to do, because that’s where we have the Grace to stand.
Peter was the one called to lead the disciples after Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection. He was also the one who addressed the crowd on the day of Pentecost. The one who had fallen the furthest or most publicly, became the leader of the new Church. God knows our hearts and also our weaknesses, He wants to restore those who have fallen and use them even more than before.
The word the Lord used for ‘Strengthen’ for Peter means ‘to set fast’ or ‘to turn resolutely in a CERTAIN DIRECTION’ or ‘to Confirm’. Peter ‘set the direction’ for the early Church under the leading of the Holy Spirit. Jesus realised however that Peter needed His prayers to come through the time ahead. We too should pray for our leaders, spiritual and secular, because the enemy attacks them more. (An Old Book, Prayer Shield, by Peter Wagner identified the need for intercessors standing with Christian leaders.)
’ 43 An angel from heaven appeared to him and STRENGTHENED HIM (Divine Help). 44 And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. LUKE 22
The Lord Himself prayed for extra help to go through the coming crucifixion, the Passover Lamb, for the sin of all mankind. How much we owe our Lord.
This word Strengthen means to invigorate, maybe revitalise and refresh. Unlike Peter Jesus knew fully what lay ahead and His human side balked at the enormity of it. Jesus was praying fervently about the situation. Thank God He went through it for us all.
We can and should ask for God’s help to endure trials and that we’ll be able to Strengthen others by what we ourselves have come through.
God bless and keep you today.