Preparing For Easter: Simon Peter-Sifted Now To Strengthen Later

Full disclosure: Sermon Central has a message of mine based on this text called “When Thou Art Converted”. This message is different, not just an edit or a rewrite.

Also, this message was based on a sermon preached at First Baptist Church, Chamois, MO on March 12, 2023. This is not an exact transcription.

Introduction: Jesus and the disciples were in the Upper Room, just hours before He would go to Calvary. They were taking part of the Passover Meal when an argument started about who was going to be the greatest. Jesus gave them some food for thought, and also some words directly aimed at Simon Peter.

Our text comes to day from Luke chapter 22, beginning at verse 24 through verse 31.

Text: Luke 22:24-32, New American Standard Version (NASV): 24 And a dispute also developed among them as to which one of them was regarded as being the greatest. 25 And He said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles domineer over them; and those who have authority over them are called ‘Benefactors.’ 26 But it is not this way for you; rather, the one who is the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like the servant. 27 For who is greater, the one who reclines at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at the table? But I am among you as the one who serves. 28 “You are the ones who have stood by Me in My trials; 29 and just as My Father has granted Me a kingdom, I grant you 30 that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 31 “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded to sift you men like wheat; 32 but I have prayed for you, that your faith will not fail; and you, when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”

<Opening prayer>

We’re in the time of preparing for Easter, when our Lord died and rose from the dead for us! Now, I’ve used this text before but after all, it’s in keeping with the Easter theme. I mean, this event took place just hours before our Lord Jesus went to Calvary for us.

In the context, the Lord and the disciples had already entered Jerusalem in the Triumphal Entry, where people cut down tree branches, threw their clothes on the ground, and shouted “Hosanna!”—all of this because they believed Jesus was going to come and once for all restore the Kingdom to Israel. It’s clear this didn’t happen, and to me it’s anybody’s guess how many people lost faith or hope or even everything, all because Jesus didn’t give these people what they wanted or expected.

Now in the immediate context, these men, Jesus and the disciples, had gathered together in the “Upper Room” to eat the Passover meal. It was during this time when the events of John 13 took place, where Jesus took a towel and washed the feet of each disciple.

By the way, we sometimes forget that this Lord’s Supper is really nothing like da Vinci’s painting. He made it look like the men were six on one side of Jesus and the other six on the other side—if you’ve seen it, you know what I’m talking about. The reality, though, is that this arrangement, so to speak, isn’t what happened. The men would lie down on their left sides in groups of around four, making a square or horseshoe formation. Food would be placed in the middle so that the men could take what they wanted whenever they wanted (this is based on what I’ve heard from several Bible teachers).

It’s a great painting but da Vinci got it wrong.

Well, we shouldn’t be surprised, as the disciples got it wrong, too. It was during this time, when they should have been celebrating the deliverance from Egyptian bondage, they were engaged in a battle of “who’s the greatest?” How long this went on, we’re not told, but we can imagine some of the verbal “I’m the best because . . .” from at least some of them. Peter could have started it by saying something like, “don’t look at me, my mother didn’t ask Jesus to make me the top dog in Heaven”; James and John saying “We left our entire fishing business with Dad! Top that!” I wouldn’t be surprised if even Andrew joined in, “Hey, fellows? Who found the boy with the loaves and fish? If not for me, you’d still be looking for grocery stores!” And even Judas Iscariot, maybe, could have been tempted to say, “Who’s the man holding the money? Doesn’t that count for something?”

Oh, this could have gone on for a long time, and anybody who’s been to a conference knows about one or two to a small group who can’t wait to hear their own voice! Now, if I read the Gospels correctly, this might have been the time when Jesus decided to put a stop to it. He took a towel, poured water in a basing, and washed the feet of each disciple—even Judas. John 13 has the story, and it’s a powerful story, how that the Lord of glory washed 12 pairs of dirty feet.