Running to Jesus
Proverbs 18:10 (KJV) The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.
When a sinner realizes that they are lost
and understand the meaning of Acts 4:12
Acts 4:12 (KJV) Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
They know that only Christ can save them.
They should not delay a moment and come immediately to Christ.
They need to pray!
"Prayer," says Tertullian, "is the wall of faith, our arms and weapons against man who is always watching us. Therefore let us never go unarmed, night or day. Under the arms of prayer let us guard the standard of our Leader; let us wait for the angel’s trumpet, praying."
They know they are lost
They know that they can only come to Jesus
Now they just need to talk to Him
They need to talk to Him fast!
They need to RUN to JESUS!
There are, in fact, several examples of men in the New Testament who actually ran to Jesus.
1. There was the man possessed with a whole legion of demons (Demoniac of Gadara).
Mark 5:2 (KJV) And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit,
Mark 5:6 (KJV) But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him,
He ran to Jesus, “Demons and all”, and Jesus set him free!
Demons was not going to stop him!
2. Then there was a young man (the rich young ruler) who wanted to know more of Christ.
Mark 10:17 (KJV) And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?
When he found that Jesus was going away, he came “running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” (Mark 10:17).
What a great question!
“what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?”
We all need to learn of Christ!
He went to right place to find eternal life with God the Father.
Unfortunately, his sincerity failed when he realized the cost.
Mark 10:21-22 (KJV) Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me. 22 And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.
Zeal without sacrifice is dead,
as is faith without works.
James 2:26 (KJV) For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
This man asked good questions
But these questions did not take heart
He simply did not Understand it
Matthew 13:23 (KJV) But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
In this parable, Jesus makes it clear that when a seed is in “good ground”
The hearer will “understandeth it”
Then the one who understands it will “beareth fruit”
Although this “young ruler” was sincere,
He ran to Jesus to get answers
But he failed when he realized the cost.
He wasn’t willing to pay the price!
Are you willing today?
3. There was another wealthy man, who was willing to pay the price.
His name was Zacchaeus.
He wanted to get to Jesus
He wanted to see Jesus
He was a short man, but that wasn’t going to stop him. So, he RAN and CLIMBED up a tree!
Luke 19:1-5 (KJV) And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. 2 And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich. 3 And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature.
4 And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way. 5 And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house.
“And [Zacchaeus] ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way” (Luke 19:4).
The conversion of Zacchaeus was genuine,
and he demonstrated it by a changed and sacrificial life.
He was “good seed”
He understood it!
Luke 19:8 (KJV) And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.
In other words, he repented!
And he was going to make things right the best he could.
He went above and beyond by restoring people he wronged “Fourfold”.
Now that’s conversion…
4. The unknown man at the cross
In Christ’s suffering on the cross,
He spoke of His awful thirst,
Mark 15:33-37 (KJV) And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. 34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
35 And some of them that stood by, when they heard it, said, Behold, he calleth Elias. 36 And one ran and filled a spunge full of vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink, saying, Let alone; let us see whether Elias will come to take him down. 37 And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost.
This unknown observer “ran and filled a sponge full of vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink” (Mark 15:36).
This was an act of mercy to help dull the pain
Jesus will not forget this expression of concern and sympathy.
Jesus will never forget what you do to others.
In the Kingdom of God, “Others” is what it is all about!
5. After His burial
Mary Magdalene came back to tell Peter and John that the tomb was open.
John 20:4-8 (KJV) So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre. 5 And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in. 6 Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie,
7 And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself. 8 Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed.
Vs. 4 “So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre. . . . Vs. 8 and he saw, and believed” (John 20:4-8).
There has never been a time more urgent that today to “Run to Jesus”.
All who hurry wholeheartedly to Christ,
sincerely seeking to know and serve Jesus,
will find salvation in His Name,
for “the name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.”
