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The night Jesus was betrayed, He said some startling words to His friend Simon Peter. “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers” (Luke 22:31-32).

What was Jesus praying for Peter? Was He praying for the Father to protect Peter from the sin itself? Was Jesus asking the Father to keep Peter from denying Him? No, since Jesus made it clear that Peter’s denial was part of God’s plan (Luke 22:34).

Jesus wasn’t praying for Peter to be protecting from the sin itself, but from the effects of his sin. Jesus was praying that Peter wouldn’t give into the crushing weight of shame. He was praying that Satan, the accuser, wouldn’t sift Peter like wheat. He was praying that Peter’s faith wouldn’t fizzle out once he realized what he had done.

Think about the very first Good Friday. Two of Jesus’ disciples wept bitterly that day. Judas, after betraying Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. And Peter, after hearing a rooster crow. But one of these men would turn again and strengthen his brothers. The other would not. Why? Because Peter had an advocate.

About 50 years after Jesus died, the Apostle is writing a letter to believers who were not eyewitnesses to the death and resurrection of Jesus. He writes his letter so that we who believe in Jesus will know that we have eternal life (1 John 5:13). He doesn’t want us wondering, “will I end up like Peter, or will I end up like Judas?” And one of the precious doctrines that helps us to know we have eternal life is the truth that Jesus is our advocate. As an advocate, Jesus protected Satan from sifting Peter like wheat on Good Friday. And as an advocate, Jesus is protecting every Christian reading this post right now.  

1 John 2:1—My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.  

 

But what is an advocate? Picture a defense attorney, standing beside the defendant in a courtroom. He doesn’t stand between the judge and the accused. He stands beside the accused. He identifies with him. He doesn’t wait until the accused is out of the woods before he speaks up. He speaks up when the accused cannot speak for himself. He speaks up when the accused is at his worst. He is not just anyone speaking up for the accused. He’s not a witness on the stand who happens to know the accused. He’s not an old buddy from high school who, of course, would speak up in his friend’s defense. He’s an expert in the law. He is skilled in arguing those he defends. That’s an advocate.

And that’s who Jesus is, right now, for all who truly believe. 1 John 2:1—My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.