Lent 2025 Day 28: Sat 5 Apr
Luke 22:31-34
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.’
34 Jesus answered, ‘I tell you, Peter, before the cock crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.’
You may have thought that Jesus’ only encounter with Satan was at the start of his ministry, after which Satan left him. However, we read that Satan has come to Jesus to request permission to work on Simon Peter. What is going on here?!
We recall the story of Job, in which Satan makes a request to test Job (admittedly after God has pointed him out to Satan as an outstanding example of righteous living). Now Satan has come to Jesus with a request of his own. Jesus announces this directly to Simon during the Last Supper.
It may seem odd that the father of lies, the deceiver, the prince of this dark world has to seek permission to do what we might think is in his power to do.. But he has to ask, and from the tone of Jesus’ words, it seems that Jesus has given permission for Peter to be sifted as wheat. Why would Jesus let Peter be tested this way?
Sifting is a process of separating. Peter had been named “Rock” and was destined for leadership in the Church. Perhaps Satan was wanting to sift Peter out, but Jesus was praying that he would be saved. Jesus has made himself vulnerable here. He has not put automatic protection around Peter, but relies on Peter’s faith to sustain him.
Peter’s response reveals his usual gung-ho nature. “I’ll stick with you through thick and thin.” But Jesus knows that these are words spoken in hope rather than in truth, and Peter will have betrayed his trust in Jesus ere morning.
Does Satan stalk the earth today?
What would you not want to have laid bare before Satan?
Father God, would you sift me before the enemy does it? Your desire is that I am pure and holy, and that I place my complete trust in your provision, yet I am drawn to impurity and unholiness, and I put my trust in transitory things of this world. Create in me a clean heart and a renewed spirit, and exercise my faith to enable it to grow. Amen.
1:50:52 Lass ihn kreuzigen (Chor)
50b. Chorus I & II Let him be crucified!
50c. Evangelist When Pilate saw, however, that he achieved nothing, rather that a much greater riot occurred, he took water and washed his hands before the people and said:
Pilate I am innocent of the blood of this righteous man, see to it yourselves!
Evangelist Then all the people answered and said:
50d. Chorus I & II Let his blood be on us and on our children.
50e. Evangelist Then he released Barabbas to them; but he had Jesus scourged and handed him over to be crucified.
51. Recitative A (Chorus II)
Forgive this, God!
Here stands the Saviour bound.
O scourging, O blows, O wounds!
You hangmen, stop!
Doesn't the soul's anguish,
the sight of such horror soften you?
Alas indeed! You have such hearts
that are like the whipping posts themselves
and even much harder.
Have mercy, stop!
Ends at 1:53:23
Paul