fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God, (12:2).
After walking the Hebrew believers through the Hall of Faith and spotlighting the people of old who had gained approval from God, the writer encourages his readers to make it their life’s ambition to run after What Pleases God so as to Endure to the end.
Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, (12:1).
For these young Hebrew believers found themselves undergoing intense persecution, and much of it from the Judaizers with their vigorous attempts to stomp out the message that declared the Supremacy of Jesus above the Law, enticing them into willfully sinning by aiming at works rather than living by grace.
Faith would be God’s provision for the needed Endurance. And while much could be learned from the predecessors in the Faith, the greatest example was to be found in Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of Faith, Who lived by What Pleased His Father, Endured the cross and thereby accomplished the Joy of His Salvation for us.
fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God, (12:2).
Much of today’s chapter illustrates the behavior that will result from living by What Pleases Him. But if these desired behaviors are pursued apart from Faith, as if the responsibility lie with the believer, the goal of pleasing God would be impossible.
And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him, (Hebrews 11:6).
The exhortation is to consider Jesus, Who Is the Author and Perfecter of Faith, and to follow His example of Faith as the provision needed to Please God. If any of us are to Endure to the end in the midst of affliction and persecution, it will be as we follow the example of Him Who Endured.
Consider Him Who Endured
- Though He is the Author and Perfecter of Faith, He Endured the cross and its shame.
- fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God, (12:2).
- For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings, (Hebrews 2:10).
- Though He was Sinless, He Endured hostility from sinners.
- For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart, (12:3).
- who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth, (1 Peter 2:22).
- Though He is God, crowned with glory and honor, He Endured the shedding of His blood to strive against sin on our behalf.
- You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin; (12:34).
- But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone, (Hebrews 2:9).
How do we respond to Him Who Endured?
Throughout this the book of “the better things” in Christ, we are continually reminded of the Supremacy of Who Christ Is, the Supremacy of His Sacrifice, and the Supremacy of His Completed Work on our behalf.
But sometimes life just doesn’t seem to feel like it lines up with “the better things.”
Like the song, “Thy Will” by Hillary Scott and the Scott Family says:
I know You’re good
But this don’t feel good right now
And like the early Hebrew believers, we all need to be encouraged in the truth: relying on feelings will never produce Endurance. And the rest of this chapter is really an encouragement to Endure by considering Him Who Endured.
And because we are His children, He will discipline and strengthen our Faith through those times that “don’t feel good.”
Oh, let us fix our eyes on Him Who Endured so that through Faith we will Endure so as to yield the peaceful fruit of His righteousness.
All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness, (12:11).
And the truth is, we may never understand why “the better things” in Christ sometimes bring pain and brokenness.
I don’t wanna think
I may never understand
That my broken heart is a part of Your plan
When I try to pray
All I’ve got is hurt and these four words
Thy will be done…from: Thy Will” by Hillary Scott and the Scott Family
Oh, let us fix our eyes on Jesus, Who Endured brokenness and pain for us, that we would follow His example and Endure through surrender to the Father’s Will, even when it means suffering.
And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.” (Matthew 26:39).
And because He Endured, we can be assured that the day is coming when we will receive a kingdom that will never be shaken by feelings or pain. Oh, that we would fix our eyes on His promise for our eternity, that we would offer Him Who Endured all that we are in unending gratitude and praise.
Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe, (12:28).
Oh, may we not be overruled by our feelings, that we would Endure to the end as we surrender our will to His Will; for as we follow Him Who Endured we can be confident that He will certainly lead us to receive the great reward of what was promised.
Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. 36 For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised, (Hebrews 10:35-36).