Lesson 2609

(Lesson 2609)(02-12-19) Luke 22:31-34
    “ And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death. And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me.

   Today’s lesson contains an enigma that arose when Jesus, speaking to Peter, said, “I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not”. I know, without any doubt, that if Jesus had indeed prayed that Peter’s faith be immediately strengthened, that prayer would have been answered without fail and Peter would have never denied that he knew Jesus; Yet, in the same conversation, Jesus said, “I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me.”, clearly acknowledging that Peter’s faith would indeed fail.
    The enigma can easily be unraveled by determining what Jesus intended by making that full statement, which included this line: “AND WHEN THOU ART CONVERTED, strengthen thy brethren.” The addition of that line, to me, clearly indicates that Peter’s faith was to be strengthened AFTER he was “converted”.
    We must remember that the new law of grace through faith, would not be established until Jesus had fully completed His divine mission which was to be crucified, buried, resurrected and had ascended back to the Father.~