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Run With The Right Message | Jentezen Franklin

Tuesday, November 10



People need the opportunity to know Jesus, and we have a responsibility to tell them about Him. This message is a call to share the truth of the Gospel with urgency. 

Key scriptures

II Samuel 18:9-33; Mark 16:15-20; Mark 8:31; Matthew 22:14; Romans 10:2; Isaiah 6:8 

 

Key points 

 

  • The greatest miracle is salvation. The main message of the Bible is not miracles; it is the story of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Even if God never did anything else for you, you have already received the greatest miracle of salvation.  
  • Tell the full message. Some people have zeal and want to run but have nothing to say. Even Jesus waited thirty years before preaching, as he grew in wisdom and favor. It doesn’t matter how fast you run if you don’t have the right message. You must learn the full message of the gospel.  
  • The real gospel brings you to your knees. The gospel should move you. When you understand your sin and realize that Jesus died for you, it should bring you to tears with repentance. When you hear the real gospel, it breaks you, and you realize Jesus’ death should have been yours. 

Introducción 

In 2 Samuel 18, we encounter two runners sent to deliver news to King David. One ran ahead quickly, carrying a message that sounded encouraging but lacked the full truth. The other took a different route but arrived with the important message about the king’s son, who had died hanging on a tree. This story reminds us that it is not how fast we run that matters, but the message we carry. As followers of Christ, we are called to run with the true message of the Gospel — the good news of Jesus Christ and His sacrifice for humanity. 

 

Opening Thoughts: 

  • How has your life changed since accepting Jesus?  
  • What have you learned to be the most effective way you share your faith?  

The King’s Son on a Tree 

One of the most striking pictures in Scripture is Absalom, the son of King David, hanging from a tree. As he rode beneath a great terebinth, his head caught in the thick branches. He was left suspended between heaven and earth—helpless, exposed, and unable to free himself—until he was pierced with three javelins (2 Samuel 18:9, 14).

Absalom hung there because of his own rebellion. He had risen against his father, and the tree became the place of his judgment and death.

There is a powerful contrast here with Jesus, the true Son of the King. Absalom was caught in a tree by his own sin and died under judgment. Jesus, who was completely sinless, willingly hung on a tree—the cross—because of our sin. The New Testament uses this exact language for His crucifixion: He “bore our sins in His own body on the tree” (1 Peter 2:24), and the apostles repeatedly described His death as “hanging on a tree” (Acts 5:30; 10:39).

Galatians 3:13 tells us that Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, “for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree.’” He took the punishment we deserved. Second Corinthians 5:21 puts the exchange even more clearly: “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

Absalom’s tree was the place of his destruction. Jesus’ tree—the cross—became the place of our redemption. He endured the separation, the shame, and the judgment so that we could be forgiven and brought near to the Father.

But the story did not end at the cross. As 1 Corinthians 15:3–4 declares, Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again the third day according to the Scriptures. The King’s Son who hung on the tree conquered death and rose victorious.

We deserved the judgment, but Jesus took our place. We were trapped by sin, but He made a way for us to be free. The King’s Son hung on a tree so that we, who were lost and rebellious, could become sons and daughters of the King.

That is the power of the cross. That is the good news of the Gospel.

Reflective Questions 

  • When you consider that Jesus, the sinless Son of God, willingly took your place on the cross, how does this change the way you view His love, your salvation, and the price He paid for you? 
  • Absalom was caught in the tree and could not free himself. In what areas of your life do you need to stop trying to free yourself and fully surrender to the saving grace, forgiveness, and power of Jesus? 

Running With The Real News 

The gospel of Jesus Christ is a message that must be proclaimed with both passion and truth. As believers, we are called not only to be enthusiastic witnesses but also faithful stewards of God's Word.  

Romans 10:2 says: 

"For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge." 

The Apostle Paul understood this truth from personal experience. Before his conversion, Saul of Tarsus was zealous for his religion. He was committed, sincere, and passionate. He believed he was serving God by persecuting Christians. Yet his zeal was not based on the truth of Jesus Christ. 

On the road to Damascus, Saul encountered the risen Lord Jesus (Acts 9). At that moment, he realized that although he had zeal, he lacked accurate knowledge of God's plan of salvation. His passion was genuine, but it was directed by error. 

This teaches us an important lesson: sincerity alone does not make a message true. A person can be passionate, dedicated, and religious, yet still be mistaken. The gospel must be taught accurately, centered on Christ's death, burial, and resurrection. 

Paul cautioned Timothy that many would reject sound doctrine and seek messages that please their desires rather than God's truth. Therefore, preachers of the gospel must resist the temptation to dilute or alter the message. The gospel must be taught accurately, centered on Christ's death, burial, and resurrection.  

2 Timothy 4:3-4 

“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables."  

 

2 Corinthians 5:17 declares: 

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." 

The heart of the gospel is transformation through Jesus Christ. We must clearly communicate that salvation is found in Him alone and that those who trust in Him are made new by God's grace. 

When zeal is joined with biblical accuracy, the gospel is presented in a way that honors God and leads people to genuine faith. Let us therefore preach Christ with conviction, live as new creations, and faithfully fulfill the ministry God has entrusted to us.  

  • Have you ever changed your understanding of a biblical truth after studying Scripture more carefully?  
  • What does Paul's conversion teach us about God's grace and power to transform lives? 

 

Conclusión 

The greatest miracle is not simply physical healing or answered prayers; it is the miracle of salvation through Jesus Christ. The message we carry is about the King’s Son, Jesus, who died on the cross, was buried, and rose again on the third day so that we might receive forgiveness and eternal life. Like the faithful runner in 2 Samuel 18, we must be ready to share this life-changing truth with others. Let us not run with a partial message or merely tell people what they want to hear, but faithfully proclaim the complete Gospel of Jesus Christ. May our response be like Isaiah’s: “Here am I; send me.” Let us run with the right message! 

Final Thoughts:  

The full gospel message is not just about miracles; it’s about Jesus. The greatest miracle is salvation. God has entrusted you with the message, and it’s time to run to tell the world. 

 

Recursos  

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGjVqTj8aD0 

Spotify -  https://open.spotify.com/episode/7slXSjgIVM1cIU58MjSbOk

Download Group Guide - Run With The Right Message