Reflections on Temptation from Peter’s Sifting
You’re a failure.
You can’t possibly succeed in this.
You don’t know what you’re doing.
What’s the point?
Do any of those statements sound familiar? They do for me. And I hear them most often inside my own head.
As I’ve searched Scripture for help, I remember someone close to Jesus who must have experienced this type of inner turmoil—Peter.
Satan’s Request
In Luke 22, Jesus shares the Passover meal with the apostles just prior to his returning home to the Father. During their time together, Jesus tells Peter, “Satan has asked to sift you like wheat” (v. 31). These eight words are nestled among so many, yet they have such significant impact in Peter’s life—and also in our own. The phrase “has asked to sift you” is also translated as desired you, demanded to have you, and has demanded the right to test you. The Greek words indicate Satan sought permission from God to do what he wanted.
Picture Satan begging God to let him have a go at one of Jesus’ closest friends. If you’re of a certain age, you might imagine that scene from the Wizard of Oz where the lion says “Let me at ’em; let me at ’em.” This situation, however, is far less innocent.
Becoming Un-Siftable
What does the enemy want to do, specifically? The words reference sifting wheat, which is the process of separating rocks and other debris from wheat when it’s harvested. Essentially the wheat is tossed in the air so the chaff and debris are caught by the wind while the grain falls down to be collected. So if the enemy wants to sift us, what should we do?
The answer—it seems—is to become un-siftable.
Here’s how I imagine this. After a holiday meal, I put the turkey bones and a bunch of other vegetables and seasonings into a large pot to boil. When it’s cooked for a while, I pour the whole mixture through a strainer in order to preserve only the liquid. This delicious homemade broth results from the marrying of water with the essence of meat, veggies, and seasonings.
Once the two have been boiled together under extreme heat (do you see where I’m going with this?) it’s not possible to separate the flavors from the water. Likewise, God intends for us to be joined with Jesus so perfectly that we cannot be sifted out—or strained—regardless of how hard Satan shakes—or boils—us. Those negative statements we hear in our head? What if that’s Satan “sifting” us, trying to see if he can separate us from our Savior?
Protected by Our Savior
After warning Peter he is about to be tested, Jesus continues, “But, I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail” (v. 32).
Two things jump out at me from this section. First, I’m reminded that Jesus prays for us. “Actually,” you might be thinking, “Luke says Jesus prayed for Peter.” Yes, but other places, such as Hebrews 7:25, John 18:20–23, and Romans 8:34, indicate Jesus regularly intercedes on our behalf too. The knowledge of this, when kept fresh in our minds, is powerful. As theologian Robert Murray M’Cheyne said, “If I could hear Christ praying for me in the next room, I would not fear a million enemies. Yet the distance makes no difference; he is praying for me!”
Second, I’m reminded about my biggest temptation—failing faith. With the knowledge that Peter would be tested, Jesus didn’t pray for Peter’s thoughts to be more logical, his words to be more honest, or his path to be less painful. He prayed for Peter’s faith to be stronger. When I’m tempted by illogical thoughts, dishonest words, and painful paths, I need what Jesus prays for all of us—unfailing faith.
Impossible Faith
Impossible, right? We are human, after all. A faith path that includes some switchbacks is not only normal, it’s expected. Jesus understands this, because his very next words are, “when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”
At this Passover meal, Jesus knows Peter is about to be tested, so he prays for his faith to be strong and encourages him with guidance for the aftermath. As I imagine Peter hearing Satan’s lies in his head, I hear . . . You turned your back on your supposed friend. You failed, big time. Your selfishness is epic. You’re no good.
But I can also imagine Jesus’s counter-argument. You are so, so loved. Nothing you have done—or ever will do—changes that. Follow me. Strengthen the others.
Falling victim to temptation is unfortunately part of our human experience. It shouldn’t surprise us. As a believer, though, we are prepared for it and equipped to fight it. Through worship, Scripture, prayer, and fellowship, we are married together with Jesus in such a way that we might withstand even the toughest of sifting.
After being sifted, we always have a choice where we go next. Just because we’ve believed Satan’s lies and started to follow him down the path of destruction doesn’t mean we have to follow him any further.
No matter how many times Satan tries to make us believe otherwise, God always provides a way out (1 Cor. 10:13). We can admit our failure to God, accept his unfailing love and grace, and turn back to him. And when we do so, the true beauty is that God doesn’t waste our experiences, even when we are culpable for sin. Like Peter, he guides us to use what we’ve learned to encourage and strengthen one another along the way.
In the end, isn’t that why we’re here together—to walk each other home?
Wendy Willard has spent the past two decades deep in the trenches of child welfare, initially as a mom to two daughters, then also as a foster parent and adoption advocate across three US states and Nicaragua. Through writing, conversations, and service, she passionately pursues ways the Church can best care for the least of these. Follow her at gracefullyslathy.com.