Satan, Judas and Peter

In Luke 22:1-34, we read of Satan’s activity with two of Jesus’ disciples

- Satan entered Judas. Note that Satan did not have to ask permission to enter Judas… he just did. Presumably because Judas’ heart was not right to begin with. Judas immediately began scheming with the Chief Priests on how to hand over Jesus.

- Satan asked permission to tempt Peter… he could not just enter Peter the way he had Judas. Why? Presumably because Peter’s heart was right and he belonged to Jesus.

- Jesus warned Peter about Satan but did not warn Judas. Why? Because Judas had sold himself to Satan. Jesus warned Peter to prepare him. Peter would become stronger because of this experience and would use it to strengthen his fellow Christians.

- Jesus prayed to God the Father that Peter’s faith would not fail. Make no mistake… it failed at the early going but it rebounded and became even stronger. Just because you fail once doesn’t mean the game is over.

- Jesus did not pray that Judas’ faith would become stronger because Judas had no faith. He rejected Jesus and sold him.

- Why did Jesus allow Satan to test Peter? I don’t know for sure but I suspect it may be due to the arguing the disciples were having about who was the greatest. I have a feeling that Peter thought he was the greatest, after all Jesus had given him the keys to open the door to the Kingdom and he had taken him up on the mountain for the Transfiguration, etc. I suspect that Peter needed to be tempted and fail to make him more humble so that he could have more compassion for spiritually weaker Christians and be dedicated to never failing again.

- Jesus called out Peter before the other 10 disciples but he didn’t name Judas as the one who betrayed him. Why? Perhaps because Jesus didn’t want the other disciples to try to stop Judas. He named Peter because Peter was the boldest and if it could happen to Peter it could happen to any of them. All Satan had to do was ask.

- Why did Satan specify Peter? Perhaps because he thought if he could spiritually cripple Peter (who was arguably their leader) the others would scatter.

What lessons can we get out of this? Satan’s powers over us are limited. He has to ask permission to test Christ’s faithful people. If Jesus allows the test he also offers his strong encouragement to us and prays that our faith not fail.

Don’t entertain sin in your hearts. It may take root and grow like a cancer until you don’t have a heart left and you do things you never thought you would and Jesus quits praying for you.