How do you spot a genius? When someone says, “Chopin was a genius composer,” how do they know? Many claim, “Leonardo da Vinci was a true genius who graced this world with his presence.” Is this true? And why do historians say, “William Shakespeare was the world’s premier genius playwright and poet.” Really? Of all the writers in history? What makes a person a genius composer, artist, or playwright?
Of the definitions for genius in the AHD, two stand out. “A person of extraordinary intellect, inclination, and talent”. And “A person who has great influence over others”.
Therefore, the heroine of Jesus’ parable “The Persistent Widow” is a genius. She was inclined to daily insist on justice from an unjust judge who did not care for others and God nor care what they thought of him. Through persistent faith, she of little social power influenced one of the most influential social elites. That is genius.
Luke notes in verse one that Jesus told this parable to show his disciples that they should always pray and not give up. Jesus had just told them that he would soon leave and that when he did, life would become very hard for them (17:20-37). They would long to see the day of the Son of Man to come day after day after day. So now Jesus gives them a genius’ response to seemingly endless hardship and unanswered prayers for relief. The answer is persistent prayer.
Persistent prayer is the art of a genius. It possesses unchanging faith. It moves God’s heart and propels action of compassion and justice from the most powerful loving judge. Anyone can be a prayer genius, though it may be one of the hardest to continue to the end.
