Awaken, and Look to Christ
The writer to the Hebrews, has just given many examples of faith to the Hebrew Christians…who were fainting under their trials.
Faith is imperative if we are to please God (Hebrews 11:6)….and the writer knows that one of the besetting sins of the Hebrews is unbelief. (Hebrews 3:7-4:1)
( A quick definition of unbelief might be helpful. It is not that they do not believe in God….but that they do not trust God, and go on and fulfill HIs Will for themselves.
Unbelief is personal….as belief is placing all the weight of our lives upon God….so unbelief is choosing to place ourselves on God, and…. It could be “ and our intellect”, or “and our friends”, or “and counselors”, or “and the world’s reasonings”…
….but unbelief will not be content with God, alone.
This was beginning to show up in the Hebrew Christians, who had been sorely tried)
So the writer has set before them a feast for their weary souls. Faith in God was the distinguishing factor….before the flood….before the Ten Commandments….and all during every phase of the Israelites history. It has been faith in God which has given them the greatest promises, and the best blessings.
Here, at the beginning of chapter twelve….he puts before them the greatest example of faith….Jesus.
Hebrews 12:1-2 “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,
Looking 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.”
The writer now exhorts (awakens) these tried Christians to follow the examples of these Old Testament witnesses of faith….for Christ’s sake.
How? Let us…..the writer always includes himself when he speaks to them. When are we ever out of danger? When can we say that we have so much of God, we need not consider that we too need to:
“Lay aside every weight”. Weights are those things in our lives that we pick up here, and there. They do not help our running in the race or Way of God, but they seem harmless. But ultimately, they hinder….for they steal time and attention away from our main goal….Christ’s Will and Way for me.
“And the sin which so easily besets us” or as Luther said, “so easily clings to us”.
Remember the besetting sin of the Israelites was unbelief….and we, too are warned against it,…for it can appear in our thoughts and attitudes…at any moment.
The answer for these…and us: “looking unto Jesus”.
The Name used here is Jesus….Savior.(Matthew 1:21). He is Savior from the love of sin, as well as the guilt and penalty of sin.
Jesus is above all other examples of faith…for He is the Author (really leader or Captain) of our faith. And He is the finisher of our faith.
When there is storms in life….He speaks peace, both to the storm and us.
When there are long miles of road before us, with no rest….He is our companion and guide.
When there are enemies before….or sometimes all around us…..He is our Shield and our Fortress.
He walked through this world in faith….looking forward to the “joy set before HIm”….which is us. He did all…that we might be partakers of HIs life of faith.
Hebrews 12:3-4 “For consider Him that endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.”
Look to Jesus:
He endured the cross: hating the shame of sin, bearing the cruel mockings, and nakedness—for our sakes.
He endured such “contradiction of sinners” for our sakes.
Endured is said twice. What it means is “to stay under”. Jesus endured the cross….the suffering from God that was for our Salvation…only Christ Jesus could endure.
But the persecution and suffering all through His life, in words and deeds….all His own will have some of the same.
Everything that touched Christ Jesus came through the hands of God….for His purpose of Salvation, and Sanctification.
Everything that touches us, comes through the hands of God…but He allows it for our discipline. Which we, too, must endure…or stay under….till He removes it, so that we may learn from it…
…and that it will increase our faith.
Look to Jesus….Who is at the right hand of the throne of God. Here, now, we need to look at the right hand of the throne of God…the place we have been already called to come…to get mercy and grace! (Hebrews 4:16)
Jesus paid every price that our sins merited….
…but now He is seated in honor at the right hand of God….in power and authority for us. Look to Him, there.
But notice,…”lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.”
This awakening suggests that one of the Hebrew Christian’s troubles were their “minds”.
It was what they were considering might happen….worrying about could happen.
They had been through persecution before….famine before….
….but they were growing weary and faint—ready to give up…..in their minds. They were becoming despondent….and letting their work and walk stop.
“Looking to Jesus” is what they needed to do. He is the answer. Look and remember what He did….and look, and know that He is before the throne of God for us.
Faith in Jesus will lead us into finishing the race.
If you will look to the heroes of the faith chapter, you will see that the heroics mentioned are things that were right before them. The next step with God.
Our perfect example of faith, Christ Jesus, lived His life….a perfect life….without sin….and in the right time became the perfect sacrifice for our sin…
…and has gone on to become our life….giving us faith, showing us faith, and drawing out from us the devotion to HIm….in our life of faith.
So let us, too, awaken…and look to Jesus. For He will awaken our love to Him….for in our love to Him, we are stronger.
Preaching, Teaching, and Notes 