Peter and Judas

In Jesus’ darkest hour, all of His disciples abandoned Him. But two of the disciples committed much greater treacheries against Him. Judas, of course, betrayed Him to the Jewish authorities. And Peter denied Him three times. While neither act caught Jesus by surprise—in fact, He predicted both—His words to Judas and Peter teach us much about falls, the possession and profession of true faith, and a major reason for our eternal security.

At the Last Supper, Jesus told His disciples, “ ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me’ ” (John 13:21b). Identifying the betrayer as Judas by giving Him a piece of bread, He then said to him, “ ‘What you do, do quickly’ ” (John 13:27b). In essence, Jesus was saying to him, “Get it over with!” And Judas immediately left. Later at the same meal, Jesus turned to Peter and told him that Satan had personally asked to “ ‘sift’ ” him as wheat. Sifting wheat was an easy task for a farmer; it took little strength at all. Jesus was telling Peter to set aside his confidence in his strength and his firm avowals of faithfulness to Jesus. He was saying that Peter was no match for Satan. Peter was about to undergo a test of his faith at the hand of the devil himself.

But Jesus’ words to Peter did not end there. Whereas Jesus merely dismissed Judas, He kept talking to Peter, giving him words of incredible hope. “ ‘I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail,’ ” He said, “ ‘and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.’ ” Jesus did not say “if you return” or “I hope you return.” He was certain Peter was going to fall abysmally and equally certain that he would repent and turn back, and He passed that assurance along to Peter. He was saying that Peter’s fall would not be full and final. And one reason for that was that Jesus had prayed for him.

The Scriptures tell us Judas was “ ‘the son of perdition’ ” (John 17:12). He was not truly saved; hence Jesus did not pray for him. Peter, however, was truly saved; hence Jesus prayed for him, that his faith would not fail. Jesus performed an intercessory work to sustain His child and assure his eternal security. And as He sits at God’s right hand, governing the universe and His church, He does just the same for all His children. Therein lies one of our greatest sources of assurance about our eternal security.