When the Righteous One Prays

32but I have prayed for you, that your faith will not fail; and you, when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” 33But he said to Him, “Lord, I am ready to go with You both to prison and to death!”

– Luke 22:32-33
(NASB® © 2020)

Although the Son of God had expressly warned Peter, he contradicted Him. Only a little while later he denied his Master three times. How did the Lord react to His disciple’s failure? How would we have reacted? Perhaps like this: “I’ve already told you once, but you wouldn’t listen. Now see how you get on!” But that wasn’t Jesus’ mind. If He has started a work with us, then He will—despite our failure—also finish it (see Phil. 1:6)! The Lord did not say here, “I will pray for you,” but, “I have prayed for you.” His intercession precedes the dangers, storms, and trials that we encounter on the way ‘home’. James writes, “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much” (Jas. 5:16). How much more does that apply to the prayer of the righteous One! He didn’t pray for Peter to be saved from temptation, but that his faith would not fail after his fall. Even if we don’t let ourselves be helped and fall because of our failure, He doesn’t abandon us; He, the righteous One, steps in as our Advocate or Intercessor (see 1 John 2:1).

     

When sin enters our lives, we lose our joy in the Lord and practical fellowship with the Father and the Son. Often, the Lord then uses His Word to bring us to self-judgment and to confess our sins (see John 13). God’s promise is rock-solid: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). His goal is for us to be happy Christians who enjoy eternal life to the fullest! Do you?

  

But Jesus’ ministry as an Advocate is not only to convict of sin, but also to reveal its root. He wants to show us how we could fall in the first place.

Peter’s restoration happened in three steps:

  • When Peter had fallen, the Lord looked at him immediately—not reproachfully, but full of gentleness. This look struck Peter to the heart—for he wept bitterly afterward (see Luke 22:62). The awareness that the Lord loves us despite our wrongdoing should also break us inwardly and lead us to repentance.
  • The Overseer of our souls (see 1 Pet. 2:25) didn’t leave Peter alone; Peter was the first of the disciples whom the Lord sought out after His resurrection to speak with him privately (see Luke 24:34; 1 Cor. 15:5).
  • But this wasn’t the end of Peter’s restoration. In John 21, the Lord Jesus asked him three questions to make clear the root of his failure: his pride and self-confidence. The wonderful thing is that in this conversation the Son of God even enlarged His disciple’s sphere of ministry! He was not only to be a fisher of men (see Luke 5:10), but also a shepherd, caring for Jesus’ sheep.

The Lord didn’t give up on Peter, although He knew that His disciple would fall. Nor will He leave us lying on the ground when we have fallen! “For the righteous falls seven times and rises again” (Prov. 24:16). His love for us is so great that He not only died for us, but now He is also tirelessly working for us from heaven and carrying us on His heart!

Why is it so important for you to think about what the Lord Jesus is doing for you now, in heaven, every day? When was the last time you consciously thanked Him for this service? Today, hold your dirty feet out before Him so that He can wash them! David prayed, “Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins” (Ps. 19:13)! Make that your prayer request too!

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