pondering Hebrews 12:1-3

Pondering Hebrews 12:1-3 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 fixing our eyes on Yeshua, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. The witnesses Herod the Great built various theatres and amphitheatres throughout the land of Israel for entertainment, performances, and sports (Josephus Antiquities 15.8.1). In some of them Olympic styled games were held every five years, in honour of Caesar. In these arenas the spectators sat in rows of seats ascending from a central stage (refer the image above). The author of Hebrews now borrows the imagery of spectators and runners in a race. The author sees us being in a race and surrounding us are the spectators, “a great cloud of witnesses.” The witnesses are people who are watching the games in front of them; their eyes and ears tell them what is happening, and they are talking about what they have seen and heard. The point of Hebrews is that these witnesses are not silent. “And by faith he (Abel) still speaks, even though he is dead” (11:4). All of the heroes of faith make up these witnesses and they still speak to us today, through the pages of Scripture. I do not think that they are in heaven to cheer us on, sitting on a balcony looking down. No, they are there as an example to us on how to live our life of faith. Neither do the saints in heaven make intercession for us, but their Biblical stories are given to us as an encouragement to keep running the race of faith. The hindrance “Let us lay aside every encumbrance…” What were they and what are we to lay aside? The Word encumbrance is the word ‘weight,’ so anything that weighs us down, anything and everything that will keep us from faithfully running the race. What are the things that can so easily weigh us down? The apostle John mentions three things 1 John 2:16-17 “16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. 17 The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.” There are two stories in the Bible where we see all three clearly. The first story is with Eve and Adam in Genesis 3:6 “6 When the woman saw that the tree was good for food [lust of the flesh], and that it was a delight to the eyes [lust of the eyes], and that the tree was desirable to make one wise [the pride of life], she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate.” The second story is with Yeshua in Matthew 4:3-10. Here Satan came and tempted Yeshua to change stones into bread [lust of the flesh], to use His power to command angels [the pride of life] and finally to seek power (kingdom) and glory [the lust of the eyes]. Friends, we are and will all be tempted, so we ought to remember the Saints who have gone before us. Their lives are a witness to us and this is why we ought to pray for one another (James 5:16). The Sin which so easily entangles us There is one specific sin that the author keeps addressing. This is the sin of apostasy; the sin of going back into Temple Judaism. Five times he has given a warning in Hebrews. Each one was a warning not to fall away from Yeshua, by going back to Temple (sacrificial) Judaism. Hebrews 2:1-4, Danger of neglecting salvation, by drifting away. Hebrews 3:7-4:13, Danger of wilful disobedience and so developing an evil heart of unbelief. Hebrews 5:11-6:20 Danger of failing to mature and remaining babes in Messiah and missing out on the spiritual blessings promised. Hebrews 10:26-31 Danger of wilful sinning and going back to Temple (sacrificial) Judaism. Hebrews 12:25-29 Danger of being indifferent to the better sacrifice that Yeshua bought. The reason the author has been describing Yeshua in such great detail, and giving so much attention to the priesthood of Melchizedek, is in the hope that the Jewish believers would not drift away, but grow in maturity. Instead of remaining babes, he wants us to mature in the knowledge of Yeshua, who is “the greater than.” Yeshua, the author and perfecter of faith Fixing, not just glancing. We are encouraged to keep our eyes locked on Yeshua. Who started the faith in us and leads us as our captain. Having started the faith in us, He then goes on to perfect our faith. The word means completer, in that by His single sacrifice on the Cross, He completed what was lacking in us. But His ministry, for and to us, does not stop there. Just as the Holy Spirit intercedes for us (Romans 8:26-27), Yeshua is also making intercession for us (Hebrews 7:25), so that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it (Philippians 1:6). Praise God. Yeshua who endured the cross, despising the shame Nobody would have regarded the cross as a joy, For the Joy set before Him… How could He see joy in such great suffering? He could by looking at the eternal perspective. Because He was the willing guilt offering (Isaiah 53:10-11), “the Righteous One, My Servant, will justify the many.” By His actions He brought many sons and daughters unto glory (Hebrews 2:10). He did this by taking the form of a bond-servant and becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. (Philippians 2:7-8). As such He endured the shame and humiliation. What seems like foolishness to us, enabled our salvation (1 Corinthians 1:18). As such we must speak about Messiah crucified, a stumbling block (Isaiah 28:16, 8:14, 1 Peter 2:8) to Jews and folly to Gentiles (1 Corinthians 1:23). But because He was the willing sacrifice, obedient to the Father, He now has been exalted to the right hand of the throne of God. As such we need to ponder Yeshua, who has endured hostility from me and you, yet was willing to endure such shame to bring us to into His kingdom and give us His righteousness. In light of what He has done, let us not grow weary or lose heart. Shalom in Messiah Paul