Jesus intercedes for you
“But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.”Luke 22:32
Reflection
Jesus spoke these words to Peter on the last night, knowing exactly what was coming: that very dawn, Peter would deny Him three times. Notice that Jesus did not pretend the fall would not happen, nor merely warned Peter. He did something deeper: "I have PRAYED for thee". Before Peter fell, Jesus had already prayed for him. Before the failure happened, the intercession was already made. This reveals something beautiful about how Jesus cares for us: He prays for us BEFORE our falls, foreseeing our weaknesses and covering us in prayer beforehand.
And the content of Jesus’ prayer is surprising. He did not pray "that Peter would not fall" — He knew he would fall. He prayed "that thy FAITH fail not". That is, Jesus knew Peter would stumble, but prayed that the stumble would not be the end, that Peter’s faith would survive the fall. There is an enormous difference between falling and losing faith, between failing and giving up. Jesus did not pray for the absence of failure, but for the survival of faith in the midst of it. And that is exactly what happened: Peter fell hard, wept bitterly, but came back — while Judas, who also betrayed, did not return. The difference was not the fall; it was the faith that did not fail entirely.
Most comforting is that this intercession of Jesus did not stay in the past, restricted to Peter. The Bible says Jesus "ever liveth to make intercession" for us (Hebrews 7:25). At this very moment, He is interceding for you before the Father — praying for your faith, covering your weaknesses, pleading that you not fail. When your own prayer is weak, when you can barely pray, there is Someone praying for you who never fails. Your remaining in the faith depends not only on your strength to hold onto God, but on the prayer of Christ that upholds you.
Note also the final phrase, full of grace: "and WHEN thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren". Jesus already saw beyond Peter’s fall — He saw his restoration and his future ministry. He did not say "IF you are converted", but "WHEN", with the certainty that Peter would return. And more: Peter’s very fall would become the raw material for him to strengthen others. Whoever falls and is restored has a special compassion for those who fall. If you stumbled and fear your faith will not survive, hear this: Jesus is praying for you, that your faith may not fail. And, on the other side of restoration, your own story of falling and returning can confirm and strengthen many brothers. Jesus’ intercession does not let anyone who is His fall to the ground.
Prayer
Jesus, what comfort to know You pray for me — before my falls, foreseeing my weaknesses, pleading that my faith may not fail. When my own prayer is weak, thank You that Yours never fails. Hold my faith in my stumbles, restore me as You restored Peter, and use even my falls to strengthen others. Amen.
Put it into practice
If you have fallen and fear your faith will not survive, rest today in the intercession of Jesus: "He is praying that my faith may not fail". And, looking at a past fall from which you rose, use that experience to "strengthen a brother" — encourage someone who is fallen today.
To reflect on
How does it change to face your falls knowing that Jesus already prayed — and still prays — that your faith may not fail?
Bible text: King James Version (public domain).