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This is the sixth lesson on Hebrews 11
This one is on chapter 11:23-3 and chapter 12:1,2
In the first thirty-two verses of Hebrews chapter eleven there are seventeen heroes of faith listed. “TIme would fail” us if we looked individually at each of the lives mentioned or referred to in the last nine verses. There we find judges and prophets and kings. Leaders and martyrs. Servants of God and people of faith.
We have a great cloud of witnesses around us. We are not alone in our walk.
I was encouraged to see how none of the people in the hall of faith had their sins or weaknesses highlighted. None of them were perfect. All their works of the flesh were burned up by fire and forgotten. Rewards were given for the works done in faith. (1 Cor. 3:12-15). A faithful person does not have to be a perfect person. I was also encouraged that God does not, will not forget any deed done by faith. God rewards them all.
I was also challenged by the fact that these all persevered in their faith in triumphs and in tragedies. The hope of the promise was enough for them to be faithful to the end.
Today, we will turn our attention to the first two verses of chapter twelve. Here is one last example of faith - the best and greatest example - the life of our Lord Jesus.
Do you remember why the author of this book is writing?
He wanted to encourage believers to endure and do good works in the face of suffering and hardship by fixing their eyes on Jesus.
“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.” 10:23
Before he began chapter eleven, the writer to the Hebrews urged his readers:
“Do not throw away your confidence which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.” 10:35,36
So it is not unsurprising that he comes back in chapter twelve to use Jesus as an example of endurance.
Endurance is a seasoned faith.
It is faith over the long haul.
It is walking by faith when the sun is shining and when we haven’t seen the sun in weeks. It is walking by faith when you get a good night’s sleep and when you haven’t slept well for a very long time. It is walking by faith when the decisions are easy to make and when it seems there is no good decision option. It is walking by faith when you can run a 5k and when your body starts to fail you.
It is walking by faith today and again tomorrow, and the next day and the next day after that.
A person who walks by faith continues faithful till the end.
Endurance is the natural, fibrous character of all people who walk by faith. True saving faith will endure.
When God begins His work in us, He begins to build up - in the core of our spiritual beings - a strong enduring expectation and hope in His person and in His Word. Over time - over years of looking to Jesus, over decades of experiencing his faithfulness - our endurance grows. The outer nature may be wasting away, “the inner nature is being renewed day by day.” (2 Cor. 4:16)
The writer to the Hebrews uses the image of a race to describe the process of the building up of our endurance - the sanctifying process in the life of a believer.
And he begins with one very long sentence. Verses 1 and 2 are one long sentence. Many of the Greek words used here are not used anywhere else in scripture. We are going to look closely at a lot of those Greek words so that we understand this passage well.
The Christian needs endurance to run the Race from Salvation to Glory
Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.
-There is a God-appointed race for each believer.
The race is not random nor a “one size fits all.”
The individual races “set before us” were scripted “zillions of years ago.” This is comforting and exciting.
“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” Eph. 2:10
We don’t know what path our race will take, or what will be the path of our children’s races. But God knows. He has already mapped out the course. It is designed just for us.
Comparing our race with another’s is common but not wise or beneficial. I’ve done it. You have too. Has it ever helped? It usually ends with us asking, “How come I . . . . . ?”
This happened to Peter.
After His resurrection, Jesus explained to Peter what his future would hold. Peter looked around to others (first mistake - didn't he remember taking his eyes off Jesus led to a watery mess?)
“When Peter saw him [John], he said to Jesus, ‘Lord what about this man?’ Jesus said to him, “if it is my will that he remains until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!” (John 21:21,22)
The order of the words in Jesus’s reply is interesting. He literally said, “You-me, follow.” Stick close to me.
Even so we should stick close to Jesus. Don’t compare your race to others. Don’t compete. We are all going to win.
Enjoy your run.
-All paths end with each believer transformed into Christ’s likeness.
The race is not aimless and it has a finish line.
“We have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.” Col. 3:10
“For those whom he foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his son.” Rom. 9:29
“Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven.” 1 Cor. 15:4
“We await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body.” Phil 3:21
The chief end of man is to Glorify God and enjoy Him forever.
This is our motivation and our passion.
The chief end for man is to be changed into Christ’s image.
This is our reward.
What is it that you don’t like about yourself?
Are you undisciplined? Cantankerous? Envious? Cowardly? Stingy? Given to outbursts of anger? Anxious? Lustful? Prideful?
God has a plan to change all that! The race set before you was designed to transform you.
“He disciplines us for our good, that we may share His holiness.” Heb. 12:10
At the end of our races, we shall be “completely molded in character, disposition, nature, heart and will into the likeness of Jesus Christ.” (Hebrews, Alexander Maclaren)
What a day that will be!
-The race requires steady progress and strenuous effort.
The race is not a walk in the park.
Think of the work required for a baby to grow into adulthood. So much work! Then imagine the work to transform a sinner into Christ’s likeness! It is a lot of work.
One of my kids once asked, “Why couldn't we be born knowing everything so we wouldn’t have to go to school?” We tried to imagine what this would have looked like. Would a baby be born knowing how to talk, walk, and get themselves to the bathroom? No diapers! Would we have “little grown up men” completely adult except for their size? Or would they be zapped into adult size after their first breath? Foolish, silly thoughts.
God did not set up the world this way. By His design - His wise design - every living thing has stages of growth. In the same way, there are stages of growth in our spiritual lives as well.
And yes, dear child, school can be difficult. So will be our life of faith.
“And we all with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another.” 2 Cor. 3:18
“But grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 3:18
Not only has God designed our lives to be progressive, He has also designed us in such a way that what comes easy is not as satisfying as what takes effort.
Take almost every area of life.
What is more satisfying - to set a mac and cheese dinner on the table for your family or to serve them a complete Thanksgiving feast? Which took more effort?
Which is more satisfying - to listen to a first year violinist struggle through a piece or to listen to an accomplished orchestra play a piece of one of the masters? (Unless of course it's your child and you know the effort put in by the whole family to get her to this point.) Which took more effort?
What is more satisfying - to hike a few miles to view a spectacular waterfall, or to see it on a postcard? Which took more effort?
“No pain. No gain.” seems to be one of the laws of mankind. And the race set before us is long and often hard. There will be pain in the running. Instead of focusing on the pain, let’s focus on what is to be gained: the image of Christ formed in me - perfect, lasting satisfaction and joy!
“I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Phil. 3:14
“For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness and godliness with brotherly affection and brotherly affection with love.” 2 Peter 1:5-7
“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions and to live self-controled, upright, and godly lives in the present age.” Titus 2:11,12
Endurance is available for the Christian
-The testimony of others who have endured encourages me to endure.
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses.”
The writer begins chapter twelve with the word “Therefore.” It is his grand application of all the stories of all the people of faith in chapter eleven. If they could endure on the far side of the cross- looking forward to what was promised, how much more should we be able to endure? We who know the promised Christ and have full and free access to God?
The cloud represents a throng of people - a vast number. All the saints in Hebrews eleven and trillions upon trillions more.
The witnesses are not watching us, as in witnesses at an event. They are witnessing to us. The Greek word used here, mortus, means to testify. To speak of one's experience.
All the folks from Hebrews eleven and all other saints who have died, are telling us by their lives that if they - imperfect and failing and facing similar trials as we do - could endure to the end of the race, we can too.
-Laying aside hindrances enables me to endure.
“. . . Let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely.”
Let’s look at another of the Greek words used here. Weight - Onkos - this is the only use of this word in scripture. It refers to unnecessary body weight or clothing that a runner will get rid of before a race.
It is any burden that you carry that would slow your running down.
A “weight” is contrasted with “sin.” Weights are things that are not sinful in themselves, but they are not helpful or necessary.
Sin is said to “cling so closely” - the Greek word, Euperispastos. It has the idea of something that is around you, perhaps a loose garment which comes around your legs and entangles you - trips you up.
Sin hangs on us closely. It gets in our way. It hinders us from running the race set before us.
How serious did Jesus take the issue of clinging sin?
“If your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away.” Mt. 5:30
Whether it is a weight or a sin, we don’t need the extra baggage. We need to lay aside anything that is slowing us down.
“Every earthly inclination - every pursuit, however innocent in itself, when it interferes with the cultivation of Chrisian dispositions and the practice of Christian duties, becomes a weight which must be laid aside.” (The Message of Hebrews, Raymond Brown).
Sin is sin for each of us. We have just to look into the mirror of the Word of God to see what sin we are carrying around. Weights are different for each person.
There could be a legitimate blessing that for some reason is an impediment to your running your race. Consider the issue of wealth and position. For Moses, the treasures of Egypt had to be denied. For Joseph, his position in Egypt was a gift from God for the salvation of His people.
Each must figure this out for herself. We can not judge another about this. We stand before God and from Him we ask wisdom and guidance.
“You were running well, who hindered you from obeying the truth?” Gal 5:7
“Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me and lead me in the way of everlasting.” Ps. 139:23,24
-Focusing on Jesus ensures I will endure.
Looking unto Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith,
who for the joy that was set before him
endured the cross, despising the shame and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
Looking to Jesus. The Greek word Aphorao is the same word used of Moses who looked away from the treasures in Egypt and looked toward the reward of heaven. We need to look away from our circumstance and surroundings, the people and pain around us, and look to Jesus
When I think about looking to Jesus, I think of the time Peter walked on water. As long as Peter was “Looking unto Jesus” he made progress toward Jesus. It was when he looked at his surroundings that he started to sink.
What was it that made Peter get out the boat in the first place? The compelling presence of Jesus. His awesomeness. His Command. “Come.”
When you came to Christ, it was really because Jesus had first called you to come. That call was compelling and life giving. You had to respond.
I want to remind you how awesome is the one who called you.
Jesus is The Founder and Perfecter of our Faith
Jesus blazed the trail of faith for us. He was the first witness before all the witnesses mentioned in Hebrews eleven. Jesus told us that “Before Abraham was, I am.” He had led all the people of God, from earliest times, along the path of God. (Jude 5; 1 Cor. 10:3)
And in His incarnation, he showed us what it looks like to walk by faith with the limitations of a human body.
Jesus is the one who will perfect our faith. In Olympic Games, the “perfecter” was the person who (because he had won the prize in the past) judged the competitors and gave out the prizes. The “perfecter” was the rewarder. Perhaps this is what the writer to the Hebrews had in mind.
“The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. “ Rev. 3:21
The writer has also used the word perfect to refer to the completion of a process.
Both of these terms (founder and perfecter) have been used earlier in Hebrews.
“For it was fitting for Him, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering.” Heb. 2:10
“In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him.” Hebrews 5:7-9.
Jesus, by becoming a man and suffering as a man, added to his glorious divine perfection the perfection of being tested as a man yet without sin.
The incarnation is a wonderful truth - and I truly mean a truth full of wonder! Jesus did not just wrap human flesh around His deity. He took on human nature and lived as a man. As a human, he could not be omnipresent, omnipotent, omniscient.
As a baby, then toddler, child and young man - Jesus had to grow in His understanding and faith as he grew into adulthood. He grew physically, mentally, relationally, including his relationship with His heavenly father. (Luke 2:52). Because of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and, we expect, his parent’s explanation of his birth, from an early age, He knew his identity and purpose. Still, as a child he had to learn God’s promises from Scripture. (Did you ever wonder why at twelve He was in the temple asking questions? He wanted to learn!) Jesus studied the Psalms and prophecies regarding the Messiah.
His character had to be formed and His faith had to mature over years of trusting and obeying His heavenly Father and proving Him to be faithful.
“Throughout his life he fought to believe and fought to obey and fought in prayer as he hoped in what the Father would provide. To put this point differently, Jesus’s faith and obedience during these times of testing, in which he offered supplications with loud cries and tears, were not experiences of an easy walk of faith or effortless act of obedience. Jesus’s obedience was not automatic, as though his divine nature simply eliminated any real struggle to believe or effort to obey. No, in his human nature, Jesus fought for faith and struggled to obey.” (The Man Christ Jesus, Bruce Ware).
And because of all that, He is the perfect example (to us also humans) of faith in the midst of suffering. He lived his life dependent on God and fully confident in God. His life was a life of trust and obedience. All of the things we have studied about what is true of a person who walks by faith - they were true of Jesus. He embraced the course His father had set before Him. He never faltered, never turned his gaze from the things not seen, never let go his grasp on things hoped for. He always looked for the reward of obeying His father.
It was His faith that helped Him endure the cross.
The writer to the Hebrews tells us this is how Jesus was ”made perfect.”
“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weakness, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Heb 4:15,16
Having identified with our weaknesses, frailties and vulnerabilities, Christ set an example for me that helps me to endure.
Jesus is an Enduring Savior
Jesus endured more than any of us will ever be asked to endure.
Jesus suffered agonizing physical pain, unrelenting and undeserved abuse, mockery and shame. On top of that, He bore the whole cup of the wrath and curse of God for our sins. The shame of the cross was more intense than the pain of the cross. And He did this willingly by design because of His love for the Father and His love for us.
“I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do.” John 17:4
“Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. John 13:1
Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour?’ But for this purpose I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name.” John 12:27,28
“Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood.” Heb 12:3,4
Christ’s endurance for my sake strengthens me to endure the race He has set before me.
Jesus is a Pursuer of Joy
Jesus was well aware of the joy set before Him. He read the scriptures, studied them, and learned from them. He knew the suffering the Messiah would endure. He knew the promise of glory that would follow. And this helped Him endure.
Jesus was looking forward to the fullness of joy and glory in His father’s presence.
“For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption. You make known to me the path of life, in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Ps. 16:10,11
“For you make him [the coming King] most blessed forever; you make him glad with the joy of your presence.” Ps. 21:6
“And now Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.” John 17:5
Jesus was looking forward to sharing this joy with His brothers.
“These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you , and that your joy may be full.”
John 15:11
“I will see you again and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.”
John 16:22
“The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as i also conquered and sat down with my Father on His throne.” Rev. 2:21
Knowing Jesus wants to share the joy of Heaven with me for eternity, helps me endure.
“For I consider that the suffering of this present time is not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” Ro. 8;18
“For this light, momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen, but to the things that are unseen.” 2 Cor. 4:17
Jesus is The Enthroned King
Because Christ is the enthroned King, I have a blessed assurance of victory!
“He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. Phil 2:8-11
Because Christ is the enthroned King, I have the comfort of an intercessor.
Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession . . . . Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Heb. 4:14,16
He is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. 7:25
For Christ has entered . . . into heaven itself to appear in the presence of god on our behalf. 9:24
Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died - more than that, who was raised- who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Roman 8:34
Once Jesus’s sacrifice made a way for us to draw near to God - where He always wanted us to be - God never again looks at us in judgment. He only looks at us as wearing the perfect righteousness of Christ. However, we will still sin. Our hearts find it difficult to permanently believe we are forgiven. Our prideful selves continue to want to earn or think we need to earn God’s approval. We still live in a body of flesh that has sinful tendencies and fallen natural instincts. Our enemy never relents in his accusations of us. We do not need an intercessor to reassure God of his love for us - we need continual reassurance that he in fact loves us!
And so we are comforted with the knowledge that Christ “always lives to make intercession for them.”
What a difference it could make if at every trial, every anxious thought, every decision we need to make, we would remember that Christ is praying for us! In the pattern of the priests in the Old Testament, Jesus takes the coals of His sacrifice and the incense of our prayers into the presence of God and says:
“This prayer is from my sister - flesh and blood like myself, your beloved child, who you sent me to die for, who you have completely cleansed. I understand her limitations and frailty. This sister is united to me. We are one. All my righteousness is hers. All your love for me is love for her. Hear then, this her prayer.” That is why we can come boldly into the presence of God to find grace and mercy. ( Heb. 4:14-16).
Jesus is interceding for me right now. He is making a way of escape. He is reminding me of my position before God. He is silencing Satan’s accusations. He is hearing my prayers.
Knowing this, helps me to endure.
Therefore, let us run with endurance the race that is set before us!
Application Questions
Take some time to reflect on what Christ endured to purchase your salvation.
Slowly read Psalm 22 or Isaiah 53
Maybe you would like to commit to memorize verses about Jesus that would help you keep your eyes fixed on Him. Consider:
Col. 1:12-20
Heb. 1:1-3
John 1:1-5
Rev. 1:12-17; 5:19-14; 19:11-16
Psalm 89:5-18
Think through these questions about the race set before you.
What kind of course has God designed for you?
What unique circumstances are in front of you?
What relationship has He given you? Who is running alongside you?
What “handicaps” has He allowed in your life?
What areas is He right now in the process of sanctifying?
What fruit of the Spirit is He producing in you?
What characteristics of Christ is He forming in you?
Think through these questions about weights that you may be carrying?
What is holding you back from running well?
What is the hardest part of your race?
What makes you fell fainthearted and weary?
What people or activities weaken your faith?
Where do you waste time?
Are there habits in your life you need to work at breaking?
What is your pattern of confessing sin and acknowledging dependence on God?
What will you do to lay aside these weights?