Good morning. Jesus had just come down from the mountain where He had been transfigured. Peter, James, and John had gone up the mountain with Him, and when things were becoming really interesting, they had fallen asleep. Peter awoke and made an inappropriate comment, to which the voice of God boomed down from heaven, “This is My beloved Son, listen to Him!” Luke 9:7
Once down from the mountain Jesus was confronted by the failure of His remaining disciples in their attempt to heal a boy who had been struck mute by an evil spirit. They had been empowered by Jesus. They should have been able to command the evil spirit and solve the problem, but they faltered, and they failed. Jesus healed the boy, but first, seemingly wearied by their failures. Jesus asked them, “O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you?”
How long? Until the rooster would crow at the first light of dawn. How long? Until the sweat would sting and the mallet would ring. How long? Until every faithless sin would soak His sinless soul, until a shocked heaven would turn away in horror at what was happening to the Son they loved. How long? Until through His swollen lips and with His cracking voice He would find the strength to shout, “IT IS FINISHED!” And with that, He would breathe His last.
How long? As long as it takes, because He loves us that much. No matter our sin or our failure, He will endure and will love us. No matter how long.
Vern