Approaching Jesus

What can we learn from the following verses where people are approaching Jesus asking Him to heal them?

Mark 5:6 When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him.

Mark 1:40  A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.”

Mark 5:32 Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth.

Luke 17:1-17   Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!” When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed. One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him….

Approaching Jesus on Our Knees

Why do each of these verses show the people on their knees? What caused each person to kneel? What is it about the posture of kneeling?

• Doesn’t kneeling show the position of a person over us?
• Doesn’t kneeling show a person that we believe he is in a position to help us?
• Doesn’t kneeling show a person that we recognize our shortcomings, our weaknesses and inability to help ourselves?
• Doesn’t kneeling show a person that we believe he can help in a given situation?
• Doesn’t kneeling show a person that we are subject to him?

Does it not show us as we are kneeling that we recognize:

• Our shortcomings
• Our weaknesses
• Our inability to help ourselves
• Our subjection to the other

How Do We View Jesus?

Who is this Jesus and how do we generally approach him? Do we consciously recognize Jesus as our provision and are we willing to pay any cost to get to him?

• Or is it more like we are on the run out the door with food in our mouth and mumbling something about protect my drive, bless my day, help me land the deal, etc.?
• Or is it while we are weaving in and out of traffic trying not to be late asking him to split the Red Sea again?
• Or is it early morning sitting on the couch fighting like crazy not to fall asleep?

We have all been there and it is a daily battle to not be there for sure.

We…I many times have forgotten, or at least am not conscience of, or just really no longer recognize who Christ is or his majesty as the Holy One.  When was the last time we/I fell in awe of Christ at his feet and present him with the awe he deserves and the fear and trembling that perhaps should accompany us as we approach him.  This is not to say he is not compassionate or friendly, etc., but we still need to remember his position over us.

A Mindset Change

How are we approaching Jesus? I don’t know how many of you make a habit in your prayer closet to be actually on your knees when you pray. I want to encourage you to try it.  Literally get on your knees (no fanfare or big show) and seek the Lord for your needs and you will quickly sense a different attitude come over you. 

• An attitude of stillness
• An attitude of respect
• An attitude of maybe even a bit of dread or fear as you realize whom you are approaching (but not in a condemning way)
• An attitude of utter dependence that God would hear your request
• An attitude of wonderment that you can even kneel before the Holy One

It truly does change your perspective of God from “vending machine God,” I need this and this and this today to “Holy God”, if you are willing, hear my prayer, rescue me, thank you for my blessings. 

Go home tonight, get up in the morning, whatever works for you, get into your private prayer closest and literally get on your knees as the synagogue leader, as the woman did, as the leper did, and see if your perspective of Christ changes from vendor god to Creator God…..