““Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.””Luke 22:31-32 ESV
Reflection: what does free will mean to you, in relation to God’s will for us?
In the story of the prodigal son, familiar to most, I want to highlight a couple of key points. Jesus reminds us of two sons, one of which chooses to stay with the love and protection of his father, while the other demands his inheritance early, and chooses to leave. Not only does this son waste all his inheritance, but he ends up living among and eating with the pigs. Now, we all probably know what happens next. He again chooses to turn back to his father, even if his return is deeply humbling. And, since he has basically thrown away his inheritance, he does not expect his father to consider him son again. But when he returns, we see that his father has been waiting for him, and receives him with open arms, as son. Notice there are two choices he makes – both to leave and to come back. His father, because he loves him, lets him make those decisions. He doesn’t stop him from leaving, nor does he go searching for him. But he is waiting for him to return, and he receives him with open arms.
Hours before Jesus suffering, during the last supper with his disciples, he says to Peter “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat.” Luke 22:31 ESV. Now, the “you” here is actually plural, indicating that he was at least talking to all of the 12 disciples; but possibly to all followers of Christ. And the reference he is making to “the wheat” here, are to his followers, from another parable found in Matthew 13. He is here indicating that the sifting is done by Satan, that they will be tested. Let’s look at what Jesus says next, “but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”” Luke 22:32 ESV. The “you” here is singular, indicating Jesus was now talking directly to Simon Peter.
And we remember that Peter was tested by Satan, and failed. He did turn against Jesus, denying him three times, and therefore in a way betrayed him as Judas did. But, notice here what Jesus tells him, “but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail.” Luke 22:32a. Jesus here is acting as the intercessor for Peter, praying for him that he will not lose his faith. He knows Peter’s heart, and expects him to come back to him as he says “And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”” Luke 22:32b. And, we also know the rest of the story, that Peter did repent, he did come back, similar as the prodigal son. Jesus didn’t force him to, nor was it a given. But, what about the other disciple who walked away, Judas? We also see Jesus reaching out to him multiple times, but Judas chose not to come back. Not to repent. He knew he had betrayed an innocent man for money. And while he had guilt, in the end he was not able to humble himself.
And we are left with this puzzle, why Peter and not Judas? We see here a great example of free will. While God “desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” 1 Timothy 2:4b ESV, he does not force anyone to come to him. And come to the knowledge of truth. To follow him. He offers us salvation, and gave us this free will to choose whether to accept it so that we can have a relationship with him. To come home, so to speak, like Peter or the prodigal son. Or not, like Judas. We can choose to remain with him. Or not.
We have to understand that we too are being tested, sifted like wheat, as the disciples were. That we have both an adversary, and an intercessor in Jesus, praying for us that our faith will not fail. Let’s be vigilant, to know who we are listening to and who we are following. So that we know what truth is and are not being deceived.