#136 Luke 22:31-34 The Last Supper – I Have Prayed for You
On August 13, 2023 by Amy BurginJoy:
Episode #136 Luke 22:31-34
Welcome
Amy:
Welcome to The Christgazing Podcast. We are so glad you are here! I’m Amy Burgin.
Joy:
I’m Joy Burgin.
Amy:
Christgazing, kind of like stargazing, is the act of looking steadily and intently at Jesus. This podcast makes room for that. Amid a world of many words, we make space here for the God-breathed Words, the best words, the ones that rightly comfort, correct, and lead us. Each week, we read a portion of scripture several times and create stillness after each reading so we might also be still and know God more.
In his book, The Awe of God, John Bevere wrote,
In the stillness of our souls, in union with the Holy Spirit, we can behold Jesus as we ponder His Word. Gazing into His face illuminates God’s glory in our hearts and subsequently causes our holy awe to level up. We become like Isaiah and the other greats … who encountered Him, walked with Him, pleased Him, received covenant promises, and finished well. Best of all, in beholding Him we are promised to be made “more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image” (2 Corinthians 3:18).
I am so excited to behold Jesus with you today.
We’re in a series that takes us through the book of Luke. In today’s episode, we continue with a six-week sub-series titled The Last Supper. We get to see, know, and ponder the way Jesus prepared, thought, and spoke at the last supper, only hours before his arrest.
Pour Out Your Heart to God
Amy:
But before we read, take time to share your heart with God. We do this each week; we draw intimately close to God, pouring out our hearts to him to make room for him to pour out his heart to us. So bring God your thanksgiving, grief, fear, joy, anger, excitement, questions, and concerns in this next minute.
What Does This Passage Say About God?
Joy:
As I read today’s passage, consider the question, what does this say about God?
Luke 22:31-34 “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”
33 But he replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.”
34 Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.”
Again?
Luke 22:31-34 “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”
33 But he replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.”
34 Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.”
Take the next few moments to consider what this says about God.
[Pause and know]What Does This Passage Say About People?
Joy:
As I reread today’s passage, consider the question, what does this say about people?
Luke 22:31-34 “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”
33 But he replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.”
34 Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.”
Take a minute to consider what this says about people.
[Pause and know]Lord, What Would You Have Me Know Or Do Today?
Joy:
As I read for the last time, ask God, “Lord, what would you have me know or do today in response to this passage?” If it helps, put yourself in the narrative.
Luke 22:31-34 “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”
33 But he replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.”
34 Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.”
Take a minute to ask God, “Lord, what would you have me know or do in response to this passage?”
[Pause and listen]Blessing
Joy: Christgazer, the Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace. And may you keep your face turned toward Jesus today and know him more.
One Response
Amy:
You may know the story. Peter did deny Jesus three times as recorded later in this chapter right after Jesus was arrested. I will read it to you.
Luke 22:54-60 Then seizing Jesus, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance. 55 And when some there had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. 56 A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, “This man was with him.”
57 But he denied it. “Woman, I don’t know him,” he said.
58 A little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.”
“Man, I am not!” Peter replied.
59 About an hour later another asserted, “Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean.”
60 Peter replied, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. 61 The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.” 62 And he went outside and wept bitterly.
Peter wept bitterly when he realized what he had done. I would have to, so much so it would have been hard to get up from the weeping and recover from my behavior. How kind it was of Jesus to prepare Peter, to
tell Peter in advance that he would deny him three times! Because in that same breath, Jesus also told Peter that Jesus had prayed for him and that Peter would turn back, that his faith would not fail, and that he would strengthen his brothers. I believe this knowledge encouraged Peter to recover from his denial—I know it would have empowered me.
Jesus is not disappointed or disgusted with our weaknesses and failures. None of them take him by surprise. His heart is for us to simply turn back and follow him again.
Closing
Amy:
You can find a transcript of this episode and all our episodes at amyburgin.com. Joy and I will be back again next week to go Christgazing together. Until then, don’t forget, when you put your trust in Christ, you are one in whom he dwells and delights, a dearly loved child of God. You are royalty in his strong and unshakeable kingdom. Though trouble abounds, Christ prevails, and so do you.
It blesses me to hear from you! Please leave a reply here.