Sifted Like Wheat

In Luke’s Gospel, there’s this one strange expression Jesus used that must have startled his disciples when addressing Peter: “Simon, Simon, listen! Satan has demanded to sift all of you like wheat” (Luke 22:31, NRSV).

Have you ever felt what it’s like to be sifted like wheat? It’s certainly not an expression we use much today. It means to pull apart, to fragment, and even to separate violently. You feel being sifted like wheat when life tears you apart. When some circumstance, uncertainty, illness, spiteful behavior, failure in the face of temptation just tears you up — leaving you empty, frustrated, exhausted, angry, depressed.

There’s no question that life is complex. There are just too many ways that we may be sifted, experiences that test our trust in Jesus, that attempt to separate us from Jesus.

Now, if Jesus had only said, “Satan has demanded to sift you like wheat,” we would all be left in a most difficult place and sad state, but Jesus goes on to say some of the most wonderful, promise-full, hope-full words you will ever hear in your life: “… but I have prayed for you that your own faith may not fail” (Luke 22:32a, emphasis added).

It’s for sure that when Jesus prays for something, God answers his prayer with a powerful YES. If Jesus prays that Peter’s faith won’t fail, then it won’t fail! When you are sifted, look to Jesus! The hope for us is simple yet immensely profound — if you are in a time of sifting, know through the prayers of Jesus, you will turn again to face him.

“He is able for all time to save those who approach God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them” (Hebrews 7:25). Just as Jesus prayed for Peter, he prays for you and for me!

However, what are you to do after our Lord carries you through a rough time? Take a vacation? Get on with life?

 While these may make sense, Jesus goes on to offer an overarching word to Simon Peter and so to us today as well — Jesus offers a word of hope about Simon’s faith and a word of command for Simon after his time of trouble: “and you, when once you have turned back, strengthen your brothers” (Luke 22:32b, emphasis added).

In other words, when you are “down,” the role of your brothers and sisters in Christ is to carry you — the way four people of faith in Jesus carried a paralyzed man to Jesus and whose faith Jesus responded to in healing the man (Mark 2). When you are “up,” when you turn back to Jesus, your role is to carry and strengthen those in your life.

As the apostle Paul writes: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all consolation, who consoles us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to console those who are in any affliction with the consolation with which we ourselves are consoled by God” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).

As you experience anew the rich blessings of the living Christ in your life this Lenten season, may you be willing to “strengthen” those around you who may need your prayer and support!

Yours in Christ,