“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, 2 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. 3 For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. 4 You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin;” NASB
Many years ago my sister and I had a debate. It wasn’t a heated debate and it didn’t last very long. I told her that I didn’t think people already in Heaven were aware of what was going on here on earth, and she said that she thought they were, based on Hebrews 12:1.
My response was that I didn’t think I would want to know what’s going on here once I’m in Heaven; that part of the reward, to me, will be leaving all of this behind. She said that she thought once we’re in Heaven our glorified minds will have everything in perspective and it won’t be a grievous thing to know what is going on here. So I dropped it. That was the extent of the debate.
I still do not believe that people in Heaven are watching the history of this world wind down. What then, you may ask, does Hebrews 12:1 mean?
I think it means much the same thing that Jesus meant when in Matthew 11, He pronounced woes on the Jewish cities that had rejected Him, even in the face of miracles He had performed in their midst, saying that the pagan cities of Tyre, Sidon and even Sodom would testify against them in the judgment, declaring that if the miracles had been done there the people would have repented.
Now certainly, the cities of Sodom and Tyre and Sidon will not be present to testify before the Throne against Bethsaida and Capernaum. His words were intended to illuminate the deliberate disbelief and rejection of the Messiah by the Jews as a nation.
So here, in verse 1 of our text, I believe what the writer is telling us is that the life testimony of those saints who have gone before us, those of whom he says the world was not worthy because of the greatness of their faith, we should think of as a multitude of spectators, sitting in the Heavenly stadium seats which surround the arena that is this word, cheering us on and encouraging us to run the race faithfully.
It is knowing they have had their time in the arena and triumphed that should spur us on, inspiring us to give it all we’ve got, as the saying goes. But there is another reason for us to be encouraged to endure in this race also. There is the testimony of the ancient heroes, yes, but there is also the goal that requires our focus. We’ll talk about that today.
TIME TO STRIP DOWN
When the Summer Olympics were held in Greece in 2004, the news media spent a lot of time discussing the ancient games and showing us locations where those games were held and talking about the conditions those athletes faced.
Anyone who was not already aware of one bit of that history soon learned from the reporters there that in the ancient games contestants were naked. They told us that the Greek word for naked is gymnos, and the place where athletes performed was the gymnasium.
The writer to the Hebrews here, is appealing to an audience that would have had first hand knowledge of the nature of those events, and although I am certain he was not intending to advocate nor condone the practice, his audience would have had a very clear picture of the absolute freedom of movement unhindered by extra weight, wind resistance or potential entanglement he was encouraging toward, when he said, ‘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’.
The word translated ‘encumbrance’ is used only here in the New Testament, and it refers to weight or bulk. So if we’re sticking for the moment to the reference to the Olympic games, we think of the athlete laying down anything he is carrying in his hands, stripping off all garments, and taking his place on the track, ready for the signal that will start the race.
Now here is where someone might ask what sort of things would constitute an encumbrance or a snare, and of course the list would be long if we were attempt to name everything and anything to be wary of. Let the words of one of the old commentators suffice, who suggested when contemplating any business venture or pleasure to indulge in, the believer simply ask himself if it is a weight or a wing. His meaning should be clear without further comment.
The preacher is employing this sports illustration only here in verse 1 and the first part of verse 2, but he employs it well.
The entire previous chapter has encouraged faith with stories of faith; triumphs of faith; demonstrations of faith that gained God’s approval and by which men of old earned a good testimony.
So now he is saying, ‘as though these heroes of the faith are spectators, sitting in the stands and cheering you, put your faith to work and don’t look back, don’t bring worldliness with you, don’t bring the old sinful habits and practices that deny true faith and trip you up. Lay aside your burdens, strip away the evil that once kept you down, and run the race of faith, faithfully!
I said we were going to talk about the goal, didn’t I?
TIME TO CONCENTRATE ON THE GOAL
Well it’s no mystery that the goal is Jesus, since that is what the writer tells the runner to fixate on in the first line of verse 2.
I detest doing this, because I know it has been done so many times and it is simply stating the obvious – but as a pastor friend of mine recently said, ‘When people talk about the obvious they aren’t really stating anything obvious’. Don’t ask me what he meant by that…
Anyway here it is.
The writer is saying don’t look at your feet. In other words, don’t let yourself get so introspective, worrying about your worthiness or lack of, or just so self-absorbed because you’re so enamored with you, that you veer off course. Don’t be distracted by the worldliness and worldly people around you which would cause you to slow your pace. Don’t look back to see how the other guy is doing, just pay attention to what your assignment is and run!
You might be reminded at this point of Jesus’ words to Peter at the end of John’s gospel. The risen Jesus has met His apostles on the shore of the sea and fed them breakfast. Then He reinstated Peter, giving him his charge and saying, “Follow Me”. As they walk down the road, Peter looks back and sees John following and asks, “What about him?” to which Jesus replies, “If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow Me!”
In other words, just keep your focus straight ahead toward the goal, Peter, so you don’t veer off the track, slow to a stop or trip yourself up.
And I think we’re living in a day when that constitutes very wise counsel for the church in our culture, where the spirit of competition and jealousy has crept in and gotten such a firm claw hold.
Christians value or devalue other Christians based on what they see them doing or hear them saying or even on what they’re wearing. You’ve seen it, I know. Maybe you’ve done it.
The true church in our society might actually move forward in her spiritual work and see the Lord’s leading and blessing if believers, from the leadership to the pew, would focus on Jesus, not worry about how much He is blessing or not blessing the other guy, and just run the race set before us.
TIME TO FIX OUR EYES ON JESUS
Ok, enough of all that. As I said, the obvious had to be stated to get our instructions straight and our minds cleared about what our approach should be to this life of faith.
But the preacher has brought us to the best part now, so let’s get our focus off us and onto Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith.
The very first thing I want to make clear here, is that the text does not say that Jesus is the author and perfecter of our faith. The word ‘our’ is included in all but several translations, but it should not be there and it is an unfortunate inclusion if it is.
Jesus is the author, the leader, the perfecter, the completer of faith in that His example far exceeds the example of any of those champions included in chapter 11. If they are paraded past the stands as the army of heroes, He is at the head, leading the entourage as the One to whom they look as their Captain. And I’m speaking metaphorically, of course.
The writer goes on to describe the work of Christ that completed faith. He says here, ‘who for the joy set before Him’, and I want to discuss that joy that was set before Him but we’ll come back to it at the end.
The Greek term at the beginning of verse 2 which is translated ‘fixing our eyes on’, or in some translations, ‘looking to’ or ‘looking steadfastly on’ very specifically means to take our eyes off of other things and fix them on something. The call of the preacher is to look away. Look away! Look away from self, look away from the lures and distractions of the world, look away from all fears and concerns for the future, yes, even look away from present circumstances and fix your gaze on Jesus!
These people were experiencing suffering and ill-treatment for their faith. They needed to look away and see what example Jesus set for them in suffering for He is the perfect and supreme example.
Whatever is in your life now or expected in the future, look away to Jesus. He is the Author and Perfecter of faith, having been completed in that office through what He endured. Look to Him now, is the call.
“He is the Perfecter of faith – the faith that looks away to Him the perfect One and the Perfecter, is the secret of Christian perfection.” Andrew Murray, THE HOLIEST OF ALL, Revell
He endured the cross, despising the shame.
The word ‘endured’ speaks of patience and steadfastness.
Can we fully understand this even if we were to meditate on it day and night until our life wastes away? He endured the cross, with patience and steadfastness!
This could not be said of any mere man. No man would go willingly to that kind of suffering and torture. We would not say of a man that he was enduring, because he would be there against this will and would simply be suffering – but not suffering simply – and he would be wanting in turn to either be rescued or to die.
Not the God/Man who is the Perfecter of faith. He endured with patience and steadfastness that which the Father gave Him to do; that which He purposed to accomplish before the universe was.
This was His plan. This was His purpose. By what Jesus endured He brought perfect glory to the Father for His endurance there was the perfection of faith and trust in the Father to reckon His death all-sufficient for the payment of sin and appeasement of wrath, and honor Him in resurrection.
I want you to know that in verse 1 of our text the same word is used in encouraging us to run with endurance. And it is the same word employed by James when he says,
‘Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” James 1:2-4
Do you understand what this is telling us, Christ-followers? No suffering you encounter is by chance. None of it is an accident. There is no trial in your life that God has not ordained for the perfection of your faith and for His glory.
Jesus endured the cross patiently and with the steadfastness of One who has gone there willingly to complete a plan and glorify God with perfected faith, and by virtue of His faithfulness to the Father and to you, He now has all authority to require the same faithfulness from you and me, no matter the cost of obedience, no matter the extent of suffering, no matter the degree of grief.
Do you, in your sinful selfishness cry out, “Deliver! Deliver!” Well, He, in His infinite wisdom and grace answers back, “Endure! Endure!”
“…for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ…” 1 Peter 1:6-7
Do you see why it is so important for us to obey this exhortation to look away from all else and fix our eyes on Jesus? How can we endure otherwise? We never can. We are so weak and so silly in our reasoning; as soon as we get our concentration off Jesus it goes to something else, and that something else, no matter what it is, can never be sufficient to sustain or aid us. We are called to patiently endure and that will never be done except our steadfast focus is on the Author and Perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame.
Let’s look just briefly at this word ‘despising’, then finish.
Despising = to think little or nothing of
What was the shame of the cross? Well, it was a curse before men and before God. Paul quoted Deuteronomy 23 when in Galatians 3:13 he wrote;
“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it is written, “CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE”—
Anyone crucified was considered to be rejected by men and rejected by God. They became a non-entity, deserving only of death and disposal. When people were crucified if no one came to claim the body they were often taken down and thrown in a heap of bodies that had been discarded before them. Many times their corpses were left hanging until by decomposition alone they rotted from their bindings and dropped to the ground.
They were accursed.
This is what Jesus endured for you and me. He patiently and with steadfastness endured that which was given to do, thinking little or nothing even of the shame of being accursed of men and God.
He took the cup the Father gave Him to drink and drank it to the last drop. He took upon Him all the fiery wrath of Holy God against sin and bore it with patience, ignoring the shame, so that by the perfection of His sufferings He could bring many sons to glory.
And this is the point of the preacher in these verses of our study today, Christ-follower. He says ‘endure’ as the perfecter of faith endured. Look to Him steadfastly and don’t look away for He is the one who endured the cross, despising the shame.
You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin, but He did; and He shed it for you. So endure. Do not grow weary. Do not lose heart. Consider Him who endured all hostility and disgrace that the sin of man could muster against Him and by so doing glorified the Father and perfected faith.
Remember that the end of your endurance is, according to James, completion and perfection; according to Peter, praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Remember that the One who is the Perfecter of faith has now sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. If you are looking to Him, where else can your suffering and sacrifice take you but to the place where He has sat down, forever to be with Him?
And this brings me to the phrase we skipped over earlier and saved for last.
THE JOY SET BEFORE HIM
In the context of encouraging his readers to endure suffering with patience and run the race of faith, and talking about the cross that Christ endured and knowing what we do about that, isn’t it striking to see this word ‘joy’ in the middle of it all?
Joy? For the joy, He endured? What joy? Certainly not the cross! No of course not. The cross was not a joy; it would be the height of idiocy to say or think so.
But there was joy set before Him. What was it?
It was in doing the Father’s will.
“Then I said, “Behold, I come; In the scroll of the book it is written of me. I delight to do Your will, O my God;” Ps 40:7-8
It was for the joy, after a ministry of hardship and rejection and toil and difficulty, of being able to pray;
“I glorified You on the earth, having accomplished the work which You have given Me to do. “Now, Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.” Jn 17:4-5
It was for the joy of reentering His glory and taking His rightful place at the right hand of the throne of God.
More, it was for the joy of once and forever putting away sin and the guilt of sin from His people and introducing them to grace and eternal fellowship with God.
“For both He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one Father, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren” Heb 2:11
It was for the joy of completing the most noble task in all eternity and crying out in triumph, “It is finished!”
It was for the joy of pouring out His infinite love on those who without Him would be eternally lost, and bringing in a New Creation where righteousness dwells and sin is known no more.
It was for the joy of being the final and eternal Victor, who has overcome the world the flesh and the devil and reigns the King of Kings and Lord of Lords and the joy of now declaring;
“He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.” Rev 3:21
And that’s what our text is looking forward to, believers. Strip off all encumbrances, leave sin behind, look away, look away from the world and it’s distractions and it’s lures, fix your eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of faith, and run with the patient, steadfast endurance with which He fulfilled the Father’s will and perfected faith.
For in the future there is laid up for you the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to you on that day; and not only to you, but also to all who have loved His appearing. (see 2 Tim 4:8)
Do you see why when you cry ‘deliver’, He calls back, ‘endure’? Endure, Christ-follower, and count not the cost. More real than your suffering, more precious than any sacrifice you could ever make, is the sure and coming honor He waits to bestow upon all who overcome, granting them to sit with Him in a place of eternal honor and glory.
Sure, He’ll award us the crown of righteousness, and in return, acknowledging Him as all in all, we will cast our crowns at His feet and rule and reign with Him unending, to the glory of the Father. That’s what we have to look forward to. That is what is coming soon for all who have loved and watched eagerly for His appearing.
Endure. Endure.
