Luke 22:33

New International Version

But he replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.”

For Meditation

Can you imagine how weak and vulnerable we are without the intercessory prayer of our Lord Jesus? 

Listen to Peter, confidently promising Jesus to either go to prison or die with Him (Luke 22:33). A promise he could not keep without divine intervention—but he did not know.

Jesus had just finished eating His final Passover diner with the twelve apostles. It meant so much to Him to share the meaning of His death, which the Passover had always signified. Can you believe what those men did right after that? They haggled for positions. Who among them was the greatest, they argued (Luke 22:24)? 

Jesus gave them a lesson on servant leadership (25-27). To assure them of the benefit of their calling, the Lord revealed their positions with Him in His eternal kingdom (28-30). Then He said something they all needed to know.

Though He had reserved privileged seats for them in heaven, none of them would make it without His protection. None of His disciples would survive the fury of the enemy—Satan—without His unmatched protection. Ask Judas Iscariot (John 18-30). 

To make this point, Jesus turned to Peter and said:

“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of 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” (31-32).

We are pathetic human beings—all of us. When we wake up, strong and well-positioned in life, we think we are somebody. We carry this chip on our shoulders as if we can do anything we choose to do in our power. What deception that is!

Instead of thanking the Lord, Peter blurted out:

“Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death” (33)

Now, before you jump on Peter, look at yourself. Think about the number of times you have promised God in similar ways. I will not ask if you fulfilled those promises, but did you mean what you said?  

Peter loved the Lord, just as you do. He meant every word he said. It would have been his pride to go to prison with his Master or to die with Him. But he was weak as all of us. So Jesus told him, frankly. 

 “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me” (34).

You and I can do nothing without our Lord (Philippians 4:13). Peter slept through the night in Gethsemane when he had to pray with the Lord (Mark 14:32-42). He denied Christ three times (54-61). He went back to fishing even after the resurrection. Jesus had to intervene and restore him to His divine calling (John 21:1-23). 

If you are reading this message of the day, lift your hands and praise the Lord for your life in Christ Jesus. For He has prayed for you. And because He did (John 17:20-26) and is interceding for you at the right hand of God (Romans 8:34), you will prevail.

Praise His glorious name, amen!