The greatest Advocate is on our case!!

By Helen Jesze, 24^th September 2021

“Simon, Simon (Peter), listen! Satan has asked excessively that [all of] you be given up to him [out of the power and keeping of God], that he might sift [all of] you like grain, But I have prayed especially for you [Peter], that your [own] faith may not fail; and when you yourself have turned again, strengthen and establish your brethren.”

Luke 22, 31+32 The Amplified Bible

“Simon, stay on your toes. Satan has tried his best to separate all of you from me, like chaff from wheat. Simon, I’ve prayed for you in particular that you not give in…”

The Message

It was the last meal Jesus and his disciples were to have together – the Last Supper. Jesus had told them of his forecoming sufferings, and had said for the first time that the Passover Bread and the Passover Wine were now symbols of his body which was to be broken, and his blood which was to be shed for them – a New Covenant, which transcended all of the earlier covenants which God had given. After Jesus had said that there was a traitor among them who would deliver him up to his enemies, they discussed among themselves who this could possibly be.

How much they had taken in of Jesus’ words I don’t know, for an “eager contention” – argument – broke out among them, as to which was considered to be the greatest! But Jesus told them that his Father’s rules were different, that they should not seek great positions for themselves, and that he had been among them as “One who served”. However, because they had remained and persevered with him throughout his trials, he decreed that they would sit on thrones judging the 12 tribes of Israel, in the Kingdom of his Father.

Then suddenly, Jesus gives them a glimpse of what is happening in the unseen world, the world of the spirit. He speaks to them all, but especially to Simon Peter, that Satan has been desperately trying to weaken and destroy their faith, sifting and shaking them around like the wheat being shaken at harvest time. Many times they had seen grain being sifted and held up for the wind to drive the lighter husks away, leaving the pure grain in the basket. Their “faith” was the true grain which Jesus wanted to protect.

Immediately Peter answered he was ready to go with Jesus to prison or to death, but Jesus cut in by saying, that before the cock would crow, Peter would three times utterly deny he ever knew Jesus! A few hours later, when this actually happened, the captive Jesus turned and looked upon him, sorrowfully yet lovingly. And Peter went out, running through the narrow alleyways of Jerusalem, seeking a place to weep and it says “he wept bitterly”!

It was Peter who had declared that Jesus was “the Messiah”, and Jesus said he was blessed to have received this revelation from his Father. Yet shortly after, Peter disagreed with and reproved Jesus, when he spoke of his impending sufferings. Jesus sharply rebuked him, saying, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are in My way [an offense and a hindrance and a snare to Me] …” Matthew 16: 23 AMP

This shows us that it is possible to have mighty revelations from God – the true wheat – but we still need the dead ‘husks’ of disobedience, doubt, fear, everything unprofitable, to be blown away, for we have this glory ‘in earthen vessels’. As Peter wept he was indeed, being ‘sifted’. God wanted him to know the fear and pride in his heart, and how it would lead him astray and destroy him. He needed to know the depths of his heart and that his tongue needed taming. There was a great mandate on Peter’s life and God was shaping his vessel.

But there was HOPE, light in Peter’s darkness, for Jesus had said he was praying for him! That was the secret! Satan’s accusations meant nothing for Jesus had taken over Peter’s case! After this repentance, self-realisation and the infilling of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost, Peter became a mighty warrior for God!

So, let’s be encouraged today that when Satan tempts and tests us, sifting and shaking us around, this same Jesus is also praying for us! Jesus speaks to the Father on our behalf. In 1 John 2:1 we read that Jesus is our “advocate with the Father,” and Hebrews 7:25 tells us that Jesus “always lives to intercede” for us. He is our Great High Priest, touched with the feelings of our infirmities and weaknesses. Perhaps you feel you have denied Jesus even today, you have not acted as a Christian should, you are disappointed with yourself, tripping up at that same place so often.

Don’t turn from Jesus but turn to him – he is praying for you! There is always forgiveness and a new beginning, because he is the GREATEST ADVOCATE!