Luke 22:31-34: The God of Second Chances
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Introduction:
Introduction:
In this passage we see one of the saddest interactions in the whole Bible.
It is the conversation between two close friends about what is about to happen.
In this conversation we see pain, disappointment, and pride.
But we also see love, mercy, grace, restoration, and hope.
This whole conversation revolves around the failure and betrayal of Peter.
How does Jesus deal with a person who fails?
How does Jesus deal with a person who is about to fail?
Is there hope for the person who has sinned greatly?
Is it possible for someone who has failed so terribly to make a comeback?
In this passage we see the merciful and loving heart of Jesus toward his prideful friend who is about to deny him.
1. Satan – My Great Enemy v. 31
1. Satan – My Great Enemy v. 31
31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:
In the four Gospels we see that Jesus announces to Peter that he will betray Him, but only in Luke do we see the activity of Satan.
The description we learn about Satan is that he is the enemy of God, His kingdom, and His children.
The name “Satan” is not just a way to describe evil, but he is a real person.
Here in the passage we see that Jesus tells Peter that Satan has “desired” to have the disciples.
This word can also mean:
To ask for
To demand
To request
This means that he is constantly attacking, and his activity is very strong in these final moments.
This is a consistent characteristic of Satan.
Satan is the accuser of the brethren – Revelation 12:10
10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
He is a liar and the father of lies – John 8:44
44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
Satan is looking for someone to devour – 1 Peter 5:8
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
He seeks to steal, kill and destroy – John 10:10
10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
Here in the passage Jesus is giving a very sober warning to Peter.
He warns him that he has a very real enemy.
He warns him that this enemy knows who they are.
He warns him that he has a purpose: to sift them.
This is the practice used to separate wheat from chaff.
It is a violent and strong shaking.
It is a test to see what Peter’s life is really made of.
Satan wants to attack and destroy every person who gets in his way.
He tempted Eve
He attacked Job
He tempted Jesus
He entered Judas
He attacked and hindered Paul
He influenced Peter
He filled the heart of Ananias and Sapphira to lie
Satan deceives by twisting the Word of God.
Satan attacks by bringing suffering and trials.
Satan tempts people to sin.
Satan influences people to betray God.
Satan uses believers to cause division.
Satan promotes hypocrisy in the church.
Satan hates you and wants to destroy you.
He hates your family, hates your church, hates your wellbeing, hates everything good in your life, hates your faith.
He is looking for a way to destroy Peter, the apostles, and you.
This is not a game for Satan.
He wants to keep the unbeliever blind – 2 Corinthians 4:4
4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
And he wants to devour the believer – 1 Peter 5:8
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
There is no stronger warning than this.
Jesus is looking Peter in the eyes and telling him what is about to come.
2. Jesus – My Great Friend v. 32
2. Jesus – My Great Friend v. 32
Jesus has warned Peter and the apostles of the coming attack from Satan.
But in this verse we see the great love of Jesus toward Peter and therefore toward us.
If Satan is a great enemy, Jesus is an even greater friend
Jesus prays for me
Jesus prays for me
It is so interesting that Jesus prays for Peter.
What a beautiful reality it is to know that God the Father and God the Son are having conversations about Peter.
In the middle of the storm Jesus is facing with His death, He thinks of Peter and the apostles.
In the midst of His suffering, He takes the time to pray for His disciples.
His prayer is that his faith would not fail.
While Peter fails, his faith does not fail.
His faith was weakened for a time, but it returned to Him.
The Father answers all of the Son’s prayers.
Sometimes we are quick to throw people away who have fallen, thinking they never had faith.
But if Jesus prayed for Peter, then his faith would not fail.
We may fail Jesus, but our faith will bring us back.
The proof of Peter’s faith was not that he didn’t fail, but that he came back
We may fail Jesus, but He will never fail us.
Jesus intercedes for us – Romans 8:34
34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
If we sin, we have Jesus as our advocate – 1 John 2:1
1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
This means we are never alone.
Even when we are about to fall, Jesus knows and does not abandon us.
Jesus prays, intercedes, and cares for us.
Jesus restores me
Jesus restores me
It is so interesting that Jesus never doubted Peter’s love for Him.
Others could look at this betrayal and think he never loved Him, that he was selfish, that when things got hard, he just ran away.
But Jesus never doubted.
Jesus knew Peter would return.
Jesus waits.
Jesus says: “Once you repent and return to Me…”
What great mercy!
Jesus sees beyond his failure.
Jesus sees beyond his worst moment.
Jesus does not judge Peter according to his darkest moment.
In the words of Jesus we find grace, hope, mercy, opportunity.
The fallen and failed disciple ALWAYS has the opportunity to come home.
Jesus has a plan for me
Jesus has a plan for me
Jesus gives instructions for his return.
Jesus knows his best moment is still ahead of him.
Jesus sees beyond his failure and sees Peter’s great success.
The fall will not make him useless, but it will break him and prepare him for the next step.
Who would imagine that God could use such a great failure like Peter?
But God always has the victory in our lives.
God restores and makes all things new.
Peter would be the one to take his bitter and painful experience to confirm and strengthen his brothers.
Peter would be the one God used to preach on the day of Pentecost and see 3,000 people saved and baptized.
Peter would be the one to restore John Mark after his failure.
Peter would be the one to write two books of the Bible that have changed lives for 2,000 years.
Don’t think God is finished with you.
Don’t think God cannot rescue something from the disaster you have created.
Don’t think God cannot bring something beautiful out of the ashes of your life.
3. Pride – My Great Fall v. 33-34
3. Pride – My Great Fall v. 33-34
Peter’s response is so heartbreaking.
He does not seem thankful or honored by Jesus’ prayer.
Simply, his pride keeps him from seeing.
It keeps him from seeing the seriousness of the situation.
It keeps him from seeing his need for Jesus.
It keeps him from seeing his own weakness.
Peter is completely sincere in his declaration.
Peter is willing, but his flesh is weak.
He thinks his decision is as firm as a rock (Peter – stone), but in truth, his faith will be as unstable as the sea.
His pride has lifted him up over his brothers to think this would never happen to him. Matthew 26:33
33 Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended.
You cannot trust your own heart – Proverbs 28:26
26 He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: But whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.
Pride is the trigger for your fall – Proverbs 16:18
18 Pride goeth before destruction, And an haughty spirit before a fall.
In his pride he thinks he stands firm, but in truth he does not – 1 Corinthians 10:12
12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
This is a final warning for each of us hearing this message today
It’s very easy to turn our heads and start looking around at who this message is for
It’s very easy to think of all the people that need this message except for us
God forbid that we would ever have such a great fall and plunder
But if in our heart we believe it would never happen to us, we are already at risk of falling
John Bradford was a reformed preacher from the 1500’s. It is said that as he watched a group of prisoners being led to their execution exclaimed “There, but for the grace of God, goes John Bradford.”
This phrase became popular and was later shortened to “There, but for the grace of God, go I.”
Conclusion:
Conclusion:
Salvation
Salvation
Maybe you fear giving your life to Christ because you know what you have done and lived, and you think there is no hope for someone like you.Christ makes all things new – 2 Corinthians 5:17
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Maybe you fear giving your life to Christ because you know you will fail Him and are not ready to live a perfect life.
He does not expect a perfect life. You cannot be faithful to Him, but He will be faithful to you.
He does not expect perfection, He only expects you to keep coming back to Him.
What would you do if you knew you could have a relationship with God, knowing that He will never fail you, never abandon you, and always have enough grace for every failure in your life?
Sinning believer
Sinning believer
Maybe you are in sin and just want to throw it all away.
You think there is no way God could restore or help in this situation.
You have done everything possible so that He would not love you or help you.
But His grace is greater.
His love for you is bigger than your sin.
Where sin abounded, grace abounded much more.
He only waits for repentance.
“Once you return” should be the sweetest words you can imagine.
Be like the prodigal son and come home.
Fallen believer
Fallen believer
Your best days are still ahead.
God can still use
Stop living in the guilt of the past.
Stop wishing you could go back and change the past.
Live in the reality that God can take your past and make something beautiful out of it.
Do not live in condemnation, because there is no condemnation for the believer – Romans 8:1
1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Serve Him without fear.
Serve Him knowing He has greater plans for you.
