Good Monday morning (12-13-10),

At what we know as the Last Supper, Jesus was teaching His disciples when He turned to Peter and said, “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat.”

The King James and other versions state that satan “desires” to sift Peter, but many experts in the original language maintain that the better translation of this verse is as written in the NASV, that is satan “demanded” from God permission to sift Peter.

Sifting wheat in those days was done by first roughing it up by beating the husk and stems off, then the wheat was thrown into the wind to separate the plant materials away from the grain, and finally, the grain was violently shaken back and forth in a sieve in order to separate away impurities such as dirt and rocks.

The father of lies stood before the Creator and demanded permission to rock the life of one of Jesus’ disciples. This was no random event, and it wasn’t permitted just because God was in some mood to see what Peter was made of.

At this Passover meal, Jesus explained to His disciples in great detail who He was, what His mission was, and that He was soon to be betrayed by one of their very own. “Behold, the hand of him that betrays me is with me on the table.” Of course that hand belonged to Judas.

Then, in Luke’s account of this meal, Jesus went from revealing that one of them would betray Him to addressing the ongoing issue of strife among those twelve. The disciples were often preoccupied with their concerns of who would be accounted the greatest in the coming Kingdom of God, a Kingdom they fully anticipated would be soon revealed with great power and glory, a Kingdom they fully expected would humiliate every enemy of Israel. They, as carnal men, expected Jesus would therefore appoint each of them to some important head of state. And so the political positioning went on, instigated by the demonic spirits of strife and pride.

“The greatest among you shall be as the younger, and he that is chief shall be as he that does serve.” With these words Jesus once again laid down the law of love to those who would represent the Kingdom after His crucifixion.

But, unfortunately, this infighting had been going on for some time, and Jesus had repeatedly reinforced the truth that the, “Greatest shall be the least and servant of all.” They, Peter included, just didn’t get it and were fighting among themselves up to the end of Jesus’ life.

They paid a dear price for this selfishness.

We know that Judas betrayed Jesus, the result of pride, greed, and strife in his life. But we also have to remember that in that hour of testing the rest of the disciples denied Christ. This too was the result of their pride, greed, and strife.

Back to what Jesus told Peter; “Simon, Simon, behold, satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat.” Peter was told this immediately after Jesus addressed the group about the strife they were all involved with. But Peter was especially hated by satan, and special permission to pummel this man of God was demanded and granted.

The devil knows the Word of God. He had listened to Jesus preach for over three years. Doctrine such as, “Whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment,” was no doubt rehearsed before God as satan accused Peter of his sins of pride, strife, and anger.

God abides by His Law. His mercy had been extended and extended. But at the last, those disciples, Peter included, were demanded by legal right to be handed over to the sifter.

This passage reminds me that when I knowingly and repeatedly walk in strife, as happened with Peter, that wicked accuser stands before God reminding Him of His commandments and demanding special permission to sift me like wheat. Believe me, I have been sifted before, and the result has rarely been pretty.

I can pray all I want, fast all I can, give all I have, but when I break God’s law of love, I know that the devil stands before God accusing and demanding that I be handed over to him to experience his own special concoctions of disaster and pain. God forbid!

But as the Apostle Paul wrote, “…beloved, we are convinced of better things concerning you, and things that accompany salvation, though we are speaking in this way. For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown toward His name, in having ministered and in still ministering to the saints.”

The “better things” are all of God’s promises for those who are steadfast in faith and obedience.

Reject the pressure to walk in strife. Our disobedience eventually provides the devil the legal authority to effectively present his case before God as he accuses night and day, demanding special permission to sift us as wheat.

Wayne Witcher

Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing. James 3:13-16