Run To Jesus

PETER AND THE OTHER DISCIPLE STARTED FOR THE TOMB. BOTH WERE RUNNING. John 20.2,3.

I know of a young family in deep distress. Both the husband and wife are keen Christians. They were involved in some ministries in the church. But tragedy has struck them. Their first child, a son, is autistic and unmanageable. The wife had to leave her job to look after him along with two other children. The husband lost his well-paying job. He hasn’t been able to find suitable employment since. Then the wife too became seriously ill with a debilitating disease!

You and I may not be in such bewildering situations. But we do face difficulties of various degrees and often we are at our wits end! There are times we just do not know what to do! Let us look at Peter and the disciples for a moment. No one could have been in a more disappointing and distressing situation than the disciples at that time. Jesus, their master and leader whom they believed to be the Son of God for three and half years, had been persecuted and crucified. The one who was their support and help for the present and hope for the future was dead and his body was now lying in the tomb! When He was there they didn’t have to take care of themselves. He provided even for their taxes! He was the Messiah, the anointed deliverer. They were even planning to be his ‘ministers without portfolio’ when He restored the Kingdom and began His rule. Some were even trying to book their seats on Jesus right and left when He sat on His throne in heaven.

Now, all of a sudden, everything changed! Helpless, hopeless and fearful of their very lives they sat behind the locked doors of the ‘upper room’ in Jerusalem. Then came Mary Magdalene with the terrible news that even Jesus’ body was stolen from the tomb! What did these desperate men do? “Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first”. They ran to where they could find Jesus – dead or alive – the tomb! They didn’t know that Jesus was alive. They didn’t believe that He could rise up again. But they wanted to be where they left Jesus' body!

Their only desire was to reach Jesus! Dear believer, your only hope even in the midst of the most serious calamity is to run and get close to Jesus. You may not know whether He will deliver you or not. But you can be sure that He will take you through your problems. He is your Saviour who is alive. Death could not keep Him. The grave could not hold Him. There was nothing that could stop Him. He is the conqueror of all. Just to be near Jesus, to be with Him is your greatest comfort. Run!

He is your Good Shepherd. You shall not be in want. He makes you lie down in green pastures, he leads you beside quiet waters, he restores your soul. He guides you in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though you walk through the valley of the shadow of death, you will fear no evil, for He is with you; His rod and His staff, they comfort you. Believe it and keep running to Jesus! (Psa 23).

Pray and practise with me: Dear Lord, I will run and come to You in my distress. I want to be where You are. I thank You for never leaving or forsaking me. Amen.