LET US CONSIDER JESUS
Hebrews 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
‘Witnesses’ — ‘those who have borne testimony of the truth’.
We shall look in Hebrews Chapter 11 at just a few of those who have borne testimony to the truth, some of the more prominent ones, and as we look briefly at their lives we shall be able to check our own lives to see where we are.
ABEL - The Worship
4 By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.
Here was a person who was willing to do what the Lord required, even though his own brother thought differently, and even though it would mean problems! Abel offered the right sacrifice, a blood sacrifice, admitting his sinfulness. In our worship, do other people, and what they may think, bind us? Or are we willing to be what we ought to be?
ENOCH – The Witness
5 By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. 6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
Enoch stood for the truth, and was in the minority. He was faithful to the revealed truth that he had from the Lord, and in his faithfulness pleased God, although it was opposite to what the people of his day wanted to hear.
NOAH - The Work
7 By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.
Noah had a message from the Lord, and I would think it was hard to understand, but Noah was willing to do what the Lord instructed, even though It would certainly have caused ridicule and resentment from his neighbours.
ABRAHAM -The Walk
8 By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. 9 By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
Abraham could easily have stopped at the border of the Promised Land, but the Lord had told him that what he trod on would he his, so he went walking! He walked for hundreds of miles, claiming God’s promise. He put feet to his prayers - as he claimed the fulfilment of the promise. God had said walk – so he walked!
ISAAC—the Wait
20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future.
Here was a problem! God had given the promise to Isaac’s father Abraham, and it could not begin to he fulfilled until Isaac was married and had a family, and he was getting older, but he was willing to wait for God’s way as he waited for his bride. It may be that he did not want to make the same mistake that Abraham had made in trying to help God! The result of this was not helpful, but it was a thorn in his side, as he constant problems with his half-brother Esau. This is a difficulty that we all have to face at some time or other, this matter of waiting for the promise to be fulfilled. We all get impatient for the promise.
GIDEON - The Warfare
32 And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets, 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions,
Gideon was a man like us one who was not seeking prominence and obviously felt that he was a ‘nobody’. The account of Gideon’s life is such an encouragement, as we realise what God can do with ‘nobody’s’ like us, that is if we are willing to hand ourselves over to the Lord. Gideon’s battle with the enemy was one that could not be won, but it was! It should never have been fought, but God had told him to do it, so he did, and he won!
The battle was too big for him, but God was on his side! The enemy were too many, but when God is included, numbers don’t matter! They did not have the right weapons to fight a battle, but they had the name of the Lord! They were not trained soldiers, who knew battle strategy, but the Lord had the plan of campaign already worked out - the result was victory.
We could continue to look at others in this great catalogue of faithful witnesses for the Lord, but that will do for this present time. So let us move on to the next chapter and see the lesson the writer, inspired by the Holy Spirit, wants us to learn.
From the example of these people, we are given the challenge to remove anything that would slow us down, and to press on for the goal. We are then given an even greater challenge as we are invited to look at the Lord Jesus Christ.
JESUS - The Wonder
12:1-3 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
There are times when we would excuse ourselves from comparing ourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, as we realise that He was, and is the Son of God. Let me remind you that being a Christian means that He lives within us, and is able to help us as we face the difficulties of living a Christian life.
This verse tells us what Jesus did, and the way we also can do it. Jesus treated the shame He would have to endure with scorn. He experienced opposition from sinful men. This verse tells that He did it because of the joy that would result from His suffering on the cross. How then can we be like Jesus? We need to be fixed, and selective in our vision.
‘Let is fix our eyes on Jesus’ [AV]
Literally to give undivided attention, looking away from all distinctions in order to fix one’s gaze on one object. This means
‘having eyes for no one but Jesus! [Spirit Filled Life Bible].
We need to give careful thought to the Lord Jesus - ‘consider Him’. If we are prepared to think about Him, to meditate on His manner of life, we will ‘not grow weary and lose heart’.
While we are encouraged to look at the example of the people referred to in Hebrews chapter eleven, our vision should be centred on Jesus. He is the only one who can bring our faith to perfection, (the author and perfector of our faith), and because He lives within us, as we allow Him, He can bring us through the times of scorning and opposition. We get weary when we are weak, so what we need is His strength, the same strength that took Him through.
Verse three tells us
Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
The idea here is to give thought to Jesus – the way that He lived - the sacrifice He made - to think about Him – to give Him quality time!
Can He really help us? Verse two says that He is
sat down at the right hand of the throne of God
Now that is a position of power! From the throne of God He can help us in our time of need.
We take strength and courage from the examples of the patriarchs of old, but through the indwelling power of the Lord Jesus Christ we can be victorious, and bring glory to His name.
