In one of the more familiar chapters of the Bible, Hebrews 11, the writer has just spoken of the faith of many individuals in the Old Testament. The ones mentioned are the example that we should be following – we are surrounded by their examples of faithfulness and this is what will lead us on to victory. They moved with godly fear – believed in and trusted God – and were obedient to His will. Then, we move into Hebrews 12 and we read these words that I want to offer to help us as we study from God’s word this afternoon.
Hebrews 12:1-3 reads, “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.”
Let’s break it down:
1. Lay aside every weight and sin which so easily ensnares us. We must not be distracted by things in this life from God and His love for us. In the context, he says that we need to look to those who did not get distracted by things in life, but kept their focus on God. They were not moved to unbelief, but remained faithful.
2. Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us. We are to looking to Jesus. This is an interesting phrase because of the wording that is used. Let us run is a present tense verb, which speaks to continuous action. We must keep on running! This life is not a sprint, our faithfulness to God is not a sprint, but we must keep on running. And, looking unto Jesus – is also present tense – it is continuous – we must keep looking unto Jesus.
3. Jesus – the author and finisher of the faith Jesus is the source of the faith. He has the words of eternal life. Remember it was Peter who said to Jesus, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life,” (John 6:68). We must remember there is nowhere else for us to go, we must stay with the Jesus who is the author and finisher of the faith.
4. Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame. In our worship, we are thinking back to the cross and what was accomplished for us there. What Jesus went through on my behalf. The writer says that Jesus was looking at the joy set before Him. The thought here seems to be that Jesus was so focused on the joy of providing salvation for mankind that He was looking through the cross – He was looking beyond the cross. Can we really fathom the love that Jesus has for us? He looked right through the horrors of the death on the cross to the joy of providing salvation for me and you!
With an unspeakable courage, Jesus endured the pain and suffering of the cross to provide us with salvation. Jesus despised the shame – a holy God involved with the sin of mankind! You and I might have difficulty fully appreciating the weight of the matter, but we must express our great gratitude for what was accomplished for us on the cross. He is now sitting at the right hand of God. We must not be discouraged, but we must be filled with hope and thanksgiving and be led to praise for the hope of one day going to be with Him!
-Adam Orr
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