Hebrews 12:1-3 (intro)

 The first verses I memorised as an adult believer were Hebrews 12:1-3. I joined YWAM on a Discipleship training school (DTS) and we were set weekly challenges to memorise verses. I was there for 3 months or so, but I only remember 2 sets of verses. Though you have no way of knowing I have typed this from memory, I'm going to to do this for you now, as proof (and to keep my hand in).

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 run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who, for the joy set before him, endured the cross, scorning it's shame and sat down on the throne at the right hand of his Father in heaven. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, that you yourselves will not grow weary of lose heart.

Okay, so to 'prove' it I have deliberately left my mistakes in, namely *sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. But still you don't lose much.

I have it in mind eventually to unpack Hebrews 12 for you, so here is my analysis of these early verses.

Therefore (because of the content of Hebrews 11, which describes the heroes s of faith, many of who were martyred, all facing adversity), since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, the Company of martyrs and saints cheering us on from the auditorium of heaven (This is a sports metaphor), in view of all they went through to achieve what they did, in view of their sacrifices, and the joy they have attained now....Therefore let us throw off everything that hinders. Athletes in these times would often run naked (I am told). Get rid of those hindersome garments that restrict movement. What constitutes something you should get rid of? ANYTHING that hinders. If it slows you down or holds you back from serving Jesus, get rid. This is the ruthless and disciplined approach of the athlete. Why would you go through all the struggle of training and the discipline and pain of improving, just to keep some little thing or habit in for sentimentality. No this is about one goal; your sole purpose, and the person who has captured your soul. If you're not trying to win the prize, then why are you in it? And why would you keep something that hindered you.

 These things, although they may be sinful are not specifically sins. They are described as anything that is unhelpful. A hindrance. Too much telly? A friend who is a bad influence? Someone you can't forgive? Whatever it is, deal with it. Eliminate it. It's not worth the sacrifice if you're to throw everything away after it? If not then you are not serious about Christ. And there it is.

And the sin, (Oh the sin) that so easily entangles. It's like you were running on a smooth and well tended racetrack and you looked at the scenery for a moment and then drifted into a wasteland overrun with overgrown brambles. Its everywhere and you cant disentangle yourself or rejoin the race, and it's ripping you to shreds. Cast it off, whatever it costs. You cant possibly carry on running like this. It's madness to try. Soon you'll be out of the race altogether. And you worked so hard to get here, sacrificed so much. No. get rid of it. Whatever the sin, there is no sin that is worth it's price, because the price of sin is death.

Run with perseverance the race marked out for you

You foolish Galatians, Paul says, you who were running such a good race, who cut in on you? what took you out of the race? You can't just stop now. Persevere. Get going again. 

It's like you forgot where you were going, what the prize was and where the track was! No, no, no. It's marked out for you. It is clear, the way you should go.

Marked out how?

Marked out by those who have run it before. The audience in the heavenly auditorium. The saints and martyrs and those who have gone before. Marked out with the blood they shed. Marked out with the sacrifices they made. This is the heavenly company. Their example calls to us when we stray off track. This was NEVER a cake walk. This is the road marked with suffering: The narrow path. The hard path seldom taken. They showed you the way.

And then marked out by Jesus himself. The author and finisher of our faith. He is the one who began this good work, for you and in you, and he will carry it on to completion. You are not alone. He showed the way more than anyone. The cross has said it all. 

Well, nearly all.

He rose again too. and ascended to heaven. He began this. He will complete it. The 'It is finished' of Calvary will be the it is finished of eternity. Everything he sealed and affected in that moment came true, is coming true and will come true.

His suffering marked the way but also his glory marks the way. Suffering and sorrow give way to Joy. Death gives way to life. Shame gives way to glory and honour. This is the way of the cross. What is sown in death is reaped in a harvest of life, as the scripture says, a hundred fold.

Which Jesus are we looking at? 

I'd always assumed the Jesus we are to fix our eyes on was the Jesus-on-the-cross Jesus, but these verses are more layered than that. We are told exactly how we are to lay hold of him and look to him.

Look to Jesus....who endured the cross
Look to Jesus....who scorned it's shame
Look to Jesus....who sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
 
It is not just the Jesus of Calvary we fix our eyes on. We are not looking at just part of the narrative of the author of our faith. No we are looking at the whole sweeping story of Christ, who authored the world, who orchestrated redemption, who suffered for us, who saved us, who has ascended and bears the name above every name. Him who reigns now from heaven, and who waits eagerly to come and get us and to bring us to himself finally in eternal joy. The suffering is for a moment, is, as Paul asserts, 'light and momentary' when weighed in the light of the prize we gain and the eternity in which we get to enjoy it.

Perspective. 

Heavenly, beautiful, sweet, hope-giving perspective. 

If you lose sight of the prize, then why do you run?

What could you possibly hope to gain by only looking at the suffering Christ? In the same way Paul says if Christ be not raised we are to be pitied above all people. If you fix your eyes only on the cross you've lost sight of the hope. The cross is only the means to an end, and that end is the throne and salvation. It's cross for crown. It's grave for glory.

And this Jesus, because he is ascended can give you what you need for this race. Not just an example, but grace and power. Love, power and self discipline.

Consider him, who endured such opposition from sinful men that you yourself will not grow weary or lose heart.