Luke 9:41 Jesus said, “What a generation! No sense of God! No focus to your lives! How many times do I have to go over these things? How much longer do I have to put up with this? Bring your son here.” (The Message Bible)
Ever get frustrated with other people- your kids, your parents, the neighbors- or even yourself? If so, it may comfort you to know that even Jesus got frustrated at times, as the verse above indicates. He had just been up on the Mount of Transfiguration and met with Moses and Elijah and then he comes down to a scene where his disciples could not heal a man’s son. I’m not sure if Jesus is frustrated with the father or his disciples but I think it is likely that it’s the whole bunch and Peterson does well with his translation of “What a generation! No sense of God!” One of the difficulties with aging is that you become aware of how many times you have made the same mistakes, succumbed to the same temptations, or failed to make the changes to your life you know you should and believe God would want. It is frustrating! But Jesus heals the man’s son. Jesus continues to teach his followers. Jesus keeps going along the road to Jerusalem, suffering and death. Faithfulness trumps frustration. As we begin Lent this week, how will you embrace the faithfulness of God even in the midst of your failures?
Logan Memorial Presbyterian Church 