TEXT:

‘Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance 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 has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God’ (Hebrews 12:1-2).

Many Christians say, “I just can’t do it, I can’t live the Christian life!” Even those thinking about turning to Christianity are sometimes deterred from doing so because of the high standards they feel they will not be able to live up to.

Today’s Teaching seeks to counteract that misunderstanding and show how we can live the life God wants us to live. We can make it! Our text highlights three main reasons to help us say with confidence, “I am able to make it!”

1. Past Believers – ‘Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses’

Hebrews Chapter 11 names sixteen Old Testament believers, plus unnamed ones, whose testimonies should spur us on. We read how when they faced insurmountable problems and difficulties, God brought them through into victory or helped them to keep the faith when death was the only outcome.

How many Christians have taken encouragement from God’s promise to Joshua? ‘Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go’ (Joshua 1:9). Who hasn’t been inspired by the words David penned? ‘The Lord’s my shepherd, I shall not want’ (Psalm 23:1).

I do find it incredible that many Christians choose not to read the Old Testament. They are missing out on the encouragement those witnesses are shouting out to them, to endure. They’re really saying, “If we kept going in the face of extreme hardships and without the knowledge of the Messiah, you can too because you have had a personal experience of Jesus!” Those witnesses have run their race it’s like they are seated in the stadium watching us as we run ours. They’re shouting, “Keep going Norman, you can make it. Finish your race with joy!”

2. Jesus, our supreme example and focus – ‘Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith’

Not only do we have the encouragement of Old Testament believers, but we have the example of Jesus himself. He’s the author and finisher of our faith. The One who’s begun a good work in us and will complete it (See Philippians 1:6). The One who said to Peter, ‘Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith should not fail, and when you have returned to me, strengthen your brethren’ (Luke 22:31). Jesus still believed in Peter when Peter didn’t believe in himself anymore. Our text reveals four things about Jesus, which we can imitate.

• Enjoying – ‘Who for the joy that was set before Him’

Jesus focussed on the future joy to get Him through the present pain. Nehemiah encouraged the people with, ‘The joy of the Lord is your strength’ (Nehemiah 8:10). My first pastor said to me in 1974, “Norman, never let anything rob you of your joy”. I’ve never forgotten those words, for they have helped me through tough times. This is why the Bible says, ‘A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength’ (Proverbs 17:22 NLT).

I am sure a lot more people would regularly attend church if there was more joy in the services. Cold, miserable and boring churches do not reflect a gracious, loving and joyful God.

• Enduring – ‘Endured the cross’

No one can ever know what Jesus went through bearing our sins on the cross. Nor can we fully appreciate why He prayed, ‘O my Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me’, or ‘My God, why have you forsaken me?’ (Matthew 26:39, 27:46). But joy helped Him to endure. The Bible says, ‘Happy is the man who doesn’t give in and do wrong when he is tempted, for afterwards he will get as his reward the crown of life that God has promised those who love him’ (James 1:12 TLB).

• Despising – ‘Despising the shame’

Jesus said, I don’t care what I look like on the cross, how weak and pathetic, I’m focussing on the finished article. In fact the Bible says, ‘None of the rulers of this age or world perceived and recognized and understood this, for if they had, they would never have crucified the Lord of glory’ (1 Corinthians 2:8 AMPC). The authorities never realised what would happen to that bruised, broken, scarred figure hanging lifeless on the cross. Within three days Jesus was appearing as the mighty Son of God and in His hands are the keys of death and hell. God turned the open shame of the cross into eternal glory.

• Sitting – ‘and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God’

Just as God sat down and rested on the seventh day after creating the world, so Jesus has finished the new creation and sat down. There is still work to be done at a later date, when He will return and finally end the misery and influence of the devil, disease and death, but for now He’s seated, waiting until all his enemies are made His footstool (See Hebrews 10:12-13). Everything we receive from Him is because of the finished work of the cross. The curse has gone and the blessing has come. Hallelujah!

In Part 2 we will see what our response should be.