PrintToday's "Moment with Mark" (96)
25 February, 2013
"Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to have all of you, to sift you like wheat. But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail.
You have probably noticed that I am hanging around these verses from Luke's gospel over these few days. There is more here than I had first realised. We will get back to Mark soon but let's not miss anything that Luke offers exclusively.
As I read these verses, especially those that speak of Satan seeking permission, my mind almost seizes up with the whole idea of communication between heaven and hell. Between God and Satan.
Some who are reading this reflection will recall the opening verses of the Old Testament book of Job. In that setting Satan sought permission to have access to Job and "to sift him like wheat" - to test Job's loyalty by removing all those people and possessions from his life to see if Job would abandon his faith in God because of this challenge.
"Satan has asked to have all of you..." If the request is disturbing, then the response is stunning. Permission was granted (presumably) just as it was with Job. To be honest, I don't know where to fit this concept into my theological framework. In retrospect the activity of Satan in all of these tests and trials has worked together for good.
Now comes another verse that stirs questions for me; . But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. Question: When did Jesus plead in prayer for Simon? I can't prove this but my guess is that Jesus had just finishing praying for Simon right before He came and found them asleep. Until recently I have thought of Jesus prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane being solely about Himself. His prayer (understandably) was one of those "I, me and mine" type prayers.
What I am suggesting is that even in the darkest hour when one would expect Jesus to be single-minded and focused on His own, immediate need, He still prays for others - Simon in particular. There is another lesson or example
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