25. Looking Unto Jesus (1)
Hymns: Front Cover Inset – Pressing On!, RHC 435 The Banner of the Cross, RHC 125 Jesus Is the Joy of Living
Hebrews 12:1-2 (KJV)
KJV 1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2Looking 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 is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Heb. 12:1-2 KJV)
Looking Unto Jesus (1)
(The Author and Finisher of Our Faith)
OUTLINE
(1) Free Ourselves from Encumbering Sin
(2) Patiently Run the Race
(3) Look Forward to the Joy of the Prize
(4) Endure the Hardship
(5) Despise the Shame
INTRODUCTION
Our study of the life of men of faith finds its climax in Jesus Christ. He is the Author and the Finisher of our faith. By Him, we obtain faith and by Him these men finished the course of their lives in faith. He is our example par excellence. And this truth is spoken in Hebrew 12:12.
Carl McIntire observed well, “Hebrews, the eleventh chapter, is deprived of its glory and its meaning without the first two verses of the twelfth chaper…One may talk about faith, and present an abundance of illustrations, even a cloud of witnesses, but unless we have some knowledge as to where faith comes from we are in a blind alley. Is faith the product of man’s creation? Is it the result of some emotional state? Is it the consequence of logical conclusions? Who is to be praised for the glories of faith? These questions rise up and clamour for an answer. These is an answer! The Bible says Jesus Christ is the author and finisher of faith…The writer of Hebrws regards himself and his fellow sufferers as place in an arena, contending for a great prize. The image of the amphitheater with the rising rows of spectators seems to suggest the thought of an encircling cloud. The witnesses are those who have run the race in previous generations. Each has received a good report in victorious achievements or courageous suffering. Faith has been their stay. The apostle depicts the Christian as running a race, a course which has been laid out for him, not not by himself but by God…The central figure, however, in this amphitheater is not the one running. The writer would have us look ahead to the author and finisher of faith, Jesus Christ.”[1]
The Apostle Paul speaks of the reward for winning the race and urges us to press on!
24Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. (1 Cor. 9:24 KJV)
The late Adrain said well, “God has given you a race to run. In fact, God has given each one of us a race to run, and everyone must run his own race. We are not racing against each other to win the victor’s crown. We are in a pilgrimage together. I’m not trying to outrun you. And you are not trying to outrun me. That is good news!
God has a plan for your life with particular speed bumps, detours, and hurdles to cross. And you are to stay in the race until it is over. But, you are not alone. Though we are not in the same race, we are on the journey together so we encourage one another to win. And I want you to win the victor’s crown today! Run, my friend, run!
Ask God to shod your feet with the preparation that comes from the gospel of peace (Ephesians 6:14-15) so you can run the race in confidence. Ask God to cause your feet to take you places where you can declare God’s plan of salvation (Romans 10:15). Thank God that the victor’s crown awaits you at the end of the race because of His power in your life.”
Hebrews 12:1Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
We are bidden in our run to free ourselves from encumbering sin and we are to patiently with steadfast endurance, with perseverance, run the race (fight, struggle) and it will lead us to victory.
But most of all, we are to look to Jesus. He is the One Who will supply us the grace to finish the race and win the victor’s crown.
KJV 2 Timothy 4:7I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: (2 Tim. 4:7 KJV)
2Looking unto Jesus the author (leader) and finisher (perfecter) of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
We are bidden to endure the cross, despise (think little of, treating with neglect disregard, slight) the shame. In other words, be willing to pay the price and counting the cost but not calculating the cost!
Look to the prize and ensure hardness as a good soldier for the battle must be won. Jesus sets for us the example. He was fully obedient to accomplish the Father’s will and was exalted at the right hand of the Father in glory!
There is a purpose to pursue, There is a person to prepare, There is a price to pay, There’s a promise to plead, There’s a prize to possess. [Adrian Rogers]
He tells us how we can run like a champion!
William MacDonald observed well the background for our text, “We must bear in mind that Hebrews was written to people who were being persecuted. Because they had forsaken Judaism for Christ, they were facing bitter opposition. There was a danger that they might interpret their suffering as a sign of God’s displeasure. They might become discouraged and give up. Worst of all, they might be tempted to return to the temple and its ceremonies. They should not think that their sufferings were unique. Many of the witnesses described in chapter 11 suffered severely as a result of their loyalty to the Lord, yet they endured. If they maintained unflinching perseverance with their lesser privileges, how much more should we to whom the better things of Christianity have come.”
(1) Free Ourselves from Encumbering Sin
…let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us,
William MacDonald said well, “The Christian life is a race that requires disciplineand endurance. We must strip ourselves of everything that would impede us. Weights are things that may be harmless in themselves and yet hinder progress; they could include material possessions, family ties, the love of comfort, lack of mobility, etc.In the Olympic races, there is no rule against carrying a supply of food and beverage, but the runner would never win the race that way.
We must also lay aside … the sin which so easily ensnares us. This may mean sin in any form, but especially the sin of unbelief. We must have complete trust in the promises of God and complete confidence that the life of faith is sure to win.”
Romans 14:23 … for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.
And the Christian is bidden to be vigilant in the battle for holiness and to live in righteousness. Only through prayer and the Word of God by the help of the Holy Spirit, we can overcome sin and have victory.
Psalm 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
There is a heightened awareness against the motions of sin and arrest the evil, not allowing it to fester.
(2) Patiently Run the Race
… and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
We are bidden in our run to free ourselves from encumbering sin and we are to patiently with steadfast endurance, with perseverance, run the race (fight, struggle) and it will lead us to victory.
Learning to endure the hard grind, to patiently plod on is a discipline that we observe in the life of Christ. William MacDonald said well, “He is also the finisher of our faith. He not only began the race but finished it triumphantly. For Him the race course stretched from heaven to Bethlehem, then on to Gethsemane and Calvary, then out of the tomb and back to heaven. At no time did He falter or turn back. He kept His eyes fixed on the coming glory when all the redeemed would be gathered with Him eternally. This enabled Him to think nothing of shame and to endure suffering and death. Today He is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”
(3) Look Forward to the Joy of the Prize
2Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him…
The fellowship of the Godhead was one of perfect joy. When Christ entered human history, He has to temporary leave His abode in heaven to be on earth, putting on human flesh, we live in the flesh yet without sin. He has to suffer! And He did bear and endure great suffering for our redemption. When He completes the work, He resumes that blessed joyful fellowship of the Godhead, at the right hand of the Father.
22The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. 23I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was. 24When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water.25Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth: 26While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world. 27When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth: 28When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep: 29When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth: 30Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: andI was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him; 31Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men.(Prov. 8:22-31 KJV)
[1]Carl McIntire, A Cloud of Witnesses, Christian Beacon Press, 1980, 230-231.