June 21
The last few sessions of translation checking had gone incredibly well. Pastor Ben, Brother Yali, and I had worked through three or four chapters each time, with very little discussion or meaningful corrections needed. I had hopes of finishing Luke yesterday.
However, the end times teaching of Luke 21 is not as straightforward as simple narrative. Considering my still-growing abilities in a language like Pidgin that has a limited vocabulary, sentences like “there shall be…upon the earth the distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and waves roaring” require a little more thought to sift through.
My brothers work very hard in multiple ministries, and sometimes they end up translating late at night. Laughing, they both said they had labored through Luke 21 when they were tired (not the most conducive for clarity in language work), so we all had plenty of questions for each other. It quickly became apparent that we would not finish Luke that day.
We did finish chapter 21, though, and moved back to narrative in 22.
Judas makes his plans to betray Jesus. Jesus sends Peter and John to prepare the Passover. They sit and eat together. Jesus breaks the bread and pours the wine, speaking of a new covenant and stirring hope for the coming kingdom. The disciples question who will betray the Master, and (oddly enough) who is the greatest among them. Jesus patiently instructs them (and us) in the path of the servant, again promising them the coming kingdom.
Then Jesus turns to Peter and says the words that would echo in his mind that night, and probably many nights following:
“Simon, Simon, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat; But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen the brethren.”
Luke 22:31-32
I read the Pidgin text, and two words leaped off the page. Brother John had made them bold in his translation so they wouldn’t be missed. “Saimon, Saimon, Harim, Seten i bin strong long kisim yupela, bai em i ken sakim yupela…”
Yupela. Yupela? Really? That’s plural?
In Pidgin, second person pronouns (you – the person being spoken to) show the distinction between number, singular (yu) and plural (yupela). Back in the day, English did too, but no longer. Now we just say “you,” whether we are addressing one person, two people, or seventy-eight people.
So every time I have read Luke 22:31, for my entire life, I just assumed Jesus told Peter that Satan desired to have Peter, that he might sift Peter. I know the difference between the older usage of thou vs. ye and thee vs. you. But honestly? I have to make a confession: I don’t automatically read you as exclusively plural in Scripture, probably because I don’t anywhere else. However, when I read that text in Pidgin, the distinction of the plural yupela was obvious.
Greek distinguishes number for all pronouns too. I read the verse in Greek, and sure enough, there was the plural pronoun ὑμᾶς. What do you know? Wow…
The significance is striking. Jesus looks at Peter and says, “Simon, Simon, Satan has desired to have all of you. You yourself, and all your brothers gathered here. These men you have walked beside for three years — Satan desires to sift every single one of you. He has designs on your lives: all of them.”
Do you feel the gravity of His words? Jesus repeats his name: “Simon, Simon.” You get the impression He is looking deeply into Peter’s eyes, piercing to the depths of his soul. This is weighty. This is frightening. The enemy of all good desires to devour those you love, Peter. And Jesus leans in to speak to you of them.
So what can you do, Peter?
Jesus continues,
“But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen the brethren.”
Here in verse 32, Jesus addresses Peter singularly. “I am praying for you, Peter, in particular. Your faith will not fail. You will falter, but you will turn again to Me. And then you will strengthen your brothers to face the enemy’s attacks.”
What reassurance this would be for Peter! Within hours, he will plunge to depths of despair, doubt, and then regret. But Jesus tells him, before the chaos of that night begins, that he will turn again. Jesus doesn’t command that Peter should return, He just says that Peter will return. That part is a fact, not an imperative depending on Peter’s volition for fulfillment.
Because Jesus has prayed for Peter, he will not be lost. Even his foray into faithlessness will be redeemed; and Peter will then establish the faith of his brothers, whom Satan has desired to destroy.
It’s a fabulous story of patient providence. So how are those plural pronouns helpful?
Well, they remind us of the importance of the church. The attacks coming to the disciples were both individual and collective, but they were not to face the onslaught alone. Jesus gave them each other, and he particularly marked Peter as a leader who would help them all be strong. Our faith needs community, and our faith needs the spiritual leadership of pastors and elders (Hebrews 10:23-25; 13:7).
Those pronouns also show us a picture bigger than the testing of one individual. Peter would fall, but God was sovereign even over that sin. God did not tempt Peter to unbelief, for He doesn’t do that (James 1:13-16). Yet, Peter’s testing, departure, and subsequent return were all components of a greater work God was doing: strengthening His men for the battle and work ahead. Even in our temptations, there is always a greater story unfolding than what we can presently see.
Decades after that conversation in the upper room, an old man picks up a pen and writes a letter to beloved believers under duress. And that letter, 1 Peter, was inspired by God to serve generations of suffering Christians. In the Scriptures, Peter is still strengthening the brethren.
He closes out that letter with these words:
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary, the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. But the God of all grace, Who hath called us unto His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.”
1 Peter 5:8-10
Yupela have an adversary who is seeking to devour. He still desires to have yupela, to destroy yupela. Remember that you are not alone, remain stedfast in the faith, and resist the lion.
Your afflictions “are accomplished.” They are being completed, fulfilled. There is purpose behind them. Just as Peter’s testing that night in Jerusalem was part of God’s greater purpose in strengthening His people, so is yours.
Be encouraged, follower of Jesus. Whatever we are suffering, including the enemy’s attacks, is not outside the realm of God’s care. We may falter, but our faith will not fail; for God Himself, the God of all grace, is the One Who purchases, provides, and preserves our faith (1 Peter 1:3-5; 2 Peter 1:1,3; 2 Peter 2:9).
“To Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.”
1 Peter 5:11