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Luke 22:31-32
‘Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.’
Jesus predicts that at the time of his death the Devil will try and press the advantage he supposes he has, and this will mean difficult times for the disciples (‘you’ in verse 31 is plural).
Simon Peter argues that this will not happen to him, he is ready now, there is no need to repent, there is no need to pray. Jesus warns him that he is not ready, and in doing so predicts what it is that will happen to Simon Peter. He will deny Jesus, he will repent, he will know the Risen Christ, he will find strength and then strengthen others.
All of us, at some time, will find that we need to ‘turn back’, we all need to repent. When we repent, we continue, and when we repent and continue the Devil is beaten.
