A Year in Luke/ActsSample

Jesus knew his followers were going to face persecution and be confused in the years after he ascended to the Father. It doesn’t seem like an accident that just after the apocalyptic imagery of the last chapter Jesus tells a parable about a humble person who stays consistent, even when justice is not being done. Remember this is “a parable about their need to pray always and not lose heart” (v1). After the events described at the end of chapter 17, this makes sense!

The takeaway is that sometimes having “faith” means to keep on praying, to hold onto hope, even when the world looks a lot like the end of chapter 17. It is beautiful that Jesus uses the image of a persistent widow to make this point, someone who has lost so much but will not stop until things are put right. Rather than comparing God to the unjust judge, Jesus is making the point that the God we pray to is so much more willing to grant our requests. We can come to God persistently and in confidence.