“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. 2. 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.”
There is so much to preach about and write about in this text. It almost “falls apart” into a sermon outline. But for my purpose today, I want to focus on just three words, “Looking unto Jesus…” No better advice is given in the Bible than this. Whether things are going our way or away from us, it is always fitting and wise to look unto Jesus. Why is this true? The text tells us that Jesus is the “author of our faith.” Jesus did not come onto the worldly scene accidentally. It was in the heart of our triune God that Jesus would come as the Savior of the world. John 1:1-2 tells us: “In the beginning was the Word, and Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2. The same was in the beginning with God." The origin of the Word, or Jesus, was not at His birth in Bethlehem, but way back before the creation of the world, the Son was ordained to be our savior. Revelation 13:8 tells us, “And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship Him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” This is the Bible’s way of telling us that it was always intended that Jesus would come to earth and would be slain for our sins. We should look unto Jesus, because He is the author of our faith. The text also tells us that Jesus is the “finisher of our faith.” These four words might get lost on us if we did not pause and think about the meaning of them. In John 19: 28-30, we see the ultimate significance of these words: “After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, said, I thirst.” 29. Now there was a set vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a sponge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to His mouth. 30. When Jesus therefore has received the vinegar, He said, IT IS FINISHED: and He bowed His head and gave up the ghost.” We need to look unto Jesus because He finished the work on our behalf that had been in the heart of God “from the foundation of the world.” The “it” in “it is finished,” is the plan of salvation that had been worked out before one person was created. Only Jesus could have achieved this for us. Hebrews 12:2b explains it this way: “Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross…” There is one more thing in this text that we need to see that will tell us why we should look unto Jesus. It is found in Hebrews 2c: “…despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." This means that death did not end the saving ministry of Jesus Christ. He arose from the grave and taught His disciples for forty days and ascended to the Father. Jesus is still alive and is interested in your life and mine. Hebrews 7:24-25 sheds some light on the meaning of Jesus’ continuing ministry with us: “But this man, because He continues ever, has an unchangeable priesthood. 25. Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever lives to make intercession for us.” As incredible as it may seem, Jesus is eternally interested in our little lives, and ministers to us from the “right hand of the throne of God.” Then, it just makes sense that we would look unto Jesus, because He can actually make a difference in our lives. here to edit.
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AuthorDr. Joe Beauchamp is the author of this blog and website. Categories
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