Run to Jesus

Meditations for Ragamuffins

September 4, 2023

Run to Jesus

“He will carry the lambs in his arms, holding them close to his heart.”

Isaiah 40:11b

The Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu is on the eastern slope of Mount Zion in Jerusalem. The church takes its name from the Latin word "Gallicantu", meaning cock's-crow. In the courtyard of the church, overlooking the Kidron Valley, the Mount of Olives, and the Garden of Gethsemane, is a cluster of statues depicting Peter standing in front of a charcoal fire denying to a servant girl that he knew Jesus. The church is believed to have been built on the site of the home of the High Priest where Jesus was taken the night he was arrested, and where Peter three times denied Jesus. It makes sense that the cluster of statues would be there, but if I could build a statue commemorating Saint Peter, I would choose another scene.

I would want a statue depicting Peter jumping off his boat, half-naked, as he swam one hundred yards to Jesus on the beach. Or perhaps I could make a statue of Peter and John in a foot race to the empty tomb. I would also want to capture the scene where Mary Magdalene clung to Jesus after he called her name in front of the empty tomb, or of grief-stricken Mary and Martha rushing out of their home in Bethany to meet Jesus.

I believe the Apostle John is absolutely right, “perfect love expels all fear” (1 John 4:18). Mary and Martha experienced this. Not only were they grief-stricken, but they were also perplexed by Jesus’ delay in returning to Bethany on the news of their brother’s illness. Nevertheless, they ran to Jesus. So also, Peter. He was acutely aware of failing Jesus in the Garden, and later by denying Jesus. Even so, once aware Jesus was on the shore, he swam to Jesus as fast as he could.

My Takeaway: If there is any hesitancy holding you from running to Jesus, embrace Isaiah’s image of Jesus, and remember who is waiting for you: “He will carry the lambs in his arms, holding them close to his heart.”

Sē’lah

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2023 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.