Luke 22:31-34
31 “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you,[a] that he might sift you like wheat, 32 but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” 33 Peter said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death.” 34 Jesus said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day, until you deny three times that you know me.”
[a] Luke 22:31 The Greek word for you (twice in this verse) is plural; in verse 32, all four instances are singular.
This footnote explained that ‘you’ in v. 31 refers to disciples as a whole.
“Clearly in this case Satan had asked God’s permission to test Peter and the other disciples.” (taken from https://www.gotquestions.org/Satan-God-permission.html)
Jesus knew that Peter would deny him. Jesus warned him and prayed for him. How? “but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”
Jesus taught his disciples to pray “Lead us not into temptation” – this does not mean that Christians will not be tempted. It only teaches us that we have the power and privilege to pray that ‘our faith may not fail’ but if we do, we will ‘turn again to strengthen others’. This gives us encouragement and hope to get up from our failures, turn around and help others.
As Jesus admonished his disciples, let us also be reminded: Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you may not enter into temptation.
Lord, lead me not into temptation but deliver me from evil. I pray that my faith may not fail. But if I fail, help me to turn around, so I can strengthen my brothers. Amen.