In Luke 22, Jesus spoke to Simon Peter with a heavenly perspective. He told him about a spiritual danger that had been averted. He said, “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers” (Luke 22:31-32).

We might ask why Jesus said this to him. After all, the danger was no longer there for Simon. Satans’ desire for his soul had been thwarted, since Jesus knew that His prayer was granted by the Father and He foretold that Peter’s faith would not fail. Crisis averted. So, why tell Simon about it? As is so often the case in interpreting Jesus’ words, the answer appears when we focus on saving faith.

Satan did not take God’s “no” answer regarding Peter lying down, and many temptations would come during Peter’s life. In fact, before this chapter of Luke was finished, before that night was over, Peter would find himself tempted to despair when confronted with the frustrating weakness of his own faith. When his Lord needed him the most, Peter swore up and down that he’d never so much as met this man Jesus. “Woman, I don’t know Him!” Peter cried indignantly. Then Jesus looked at him, and Peter realized the danger that Jesus had spoken to him about. Self-doubt would have closed in as Peter thought bitterly about how shallow his faith really was and how misplaced his earlier overconfidence had been.

And here is where we understand the point of Jesus’ speaking to him earlier. This is why Jesus had told Peter about the devil’s desire and His own prayer on Peter’s behalf. At his moment of darkest self-doubt, Peter could forget about his own weakness and look to Christ’s promise instead. Peter could think to himself, “Hey! Jesus prayed for me! He gave me instructions for what I am supposed to do when I turn back!”

This moment describes the reality that every believer can cling to in times of crisis, and where we too can find confidence. When we realize that our efforts have failed, we can turn from ourselves and look to Christ’s prayer for us. “He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty.” Those words from the Apostles’ Creed are not just for reciting on Sundays. They describe the reason that Satan’s desire for our own souls is also thwarted. For the Bible says about Christ, “Therefore He is able to save completely those who come to God through Him, because He always lives to intercede for them” (Hebrews 7:25).

Jesus told Peter that He had prayed for him because He knew that His own intercession would strengthen and preserve Peter’s faith in every time of crisis. We also can tell others that Jesus prays for them, just as He does for all the saints—those who have been made holy by His blood and righteousness.

Do you know anyone who would benefit from Christ’s prayer for sinners? Christ prayed for unbelievers, that is, “for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You” (John 17:20-21). Christ wants His followers to say a special prayer for unbelievers, “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest” (Luke 10:2).

Jesus’ concern extends to those lost sheep who fall into sin or deny their Savior, as Peter did. Just as Jesus’ prayer helped a repentant Peter to realize that he should not despair but cling to Jesus’ salvation, so others who despair over sin, weakness or doubt may find confidence in Jesus’ prayer to realize the truth that “while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

Whether people need restoring their faith or greater strength of faith, we can direct them to the gospel message “whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:15) and show them Christ’s concern for sinners through His prayers. May we also receive these words with thankful hearts so that we realize how much Jesus cares for our salvation.

Daniel Finn is pastor of Pilgrim Lutheran Church in Waterloo, Iowa.