LOOKING UNTO JESUS
Hebrews 12:1-17
This chapter is introduced with the transitional word, “Wherefore” which strongly connects back to the eleventh chapter which is known for its treatment of the subject of faith. In hermeneutics, one may recognize a principle that is called, “The full mention principle” being employed in chapter eleven as the subject of faith is being considered. The “full mention principle” states that when everything is fully given in a chapter or passage, as it pertains to a particular truth, where nothing else need be said to make it more complete than that which has been already stated, then “The full mention principle” has been exercised. Another way of saying it is: "God declares his full mind upon any subject vital to our spiritual life."
Such is the case with the eleventh chapter of Hebrews. In this chapter both the definition and the application of faith are given. Beginning in chapter twelve, we find ourselves entering into a section of Hebrews that gives great practical insight as to the way that the believer is to conduct himself and how he is to be encouraged in his own spiritual journey. This twelfth chapter likens the believer’s journey to a race. There is the encouragement to remove anything that would impede or hinder the race. The analogy is being made to a conditioned runner who is outfitting himself to win the race while at the same time keeping his eyes glued on the goal.
While running our spiritual races, we should make sure that we avoid the awful pitfall of taking our eyes off of Jesus. We will discover that the “sin which doth so easily beset us” is taking our eyes off of Jesus. We will learn some of the ways that God helps us to keep our eyes focused upon Him and also learn what happens when we do take our eyes off of Him.
I. THE WAY THAT HIS SAINTS ARE INSTRUCTED. (Vv. 1-3)
The first word of this chapter is the word “wherefore” as we have already noted. This word is a transitional word that connects by example the previous chapter to this chapter thereby giving us a strong reason to run our race well. All those who are mentioned in chapter 11 are there for our examples to encourage us to be faithful by their faithfulness. They have lived and then died, or in the case of one who was translated that he should not see death, and they all left behind a great example of how each of us should proceed in the faith.
A. By The Cloud That Surrounds Us. (V. 1a)
The great cloud is a metaphor that describes the great number of people that made up the faithful believers. These who made up the cloud of witnesses were great in that they pleased God. We have learned from our previous study that it is impossible to please God without faith. These patriots of the faith certainly pleased God. If we constantly examined and studied their living we would have much by way of example to encourage us. When we are given instructions to go forth in the Lord, we may, as an example, observe the person, Abraham, who left his land and people and trusted God as he journeyed. While he was in the land of promise, there were times that his faith suffered a lapse, yet God graciously helped him to return to where he needed to be.
As we observe this cloud of witnesses to be our example, we may also observe it to be our challenge. A good example should also challenge. The writer of Hebrews, under the inspiration of the Spirit gave us and encouraging challenge as he gave us these good examples. They were given to us as witnesses. They all witnessed their faith in a very admirable way, even those who were “sawn asunder” (Hebrews 11:37). Those who make up “so great a cloud of witnesses” are those whom the Lord especially honored. He thought them worthy to be put on display as examples because of their faithful exercising of their faith. The expression “great cloud of witnesses” indicates a most worthy number of witnesses. It represents, as does a cloud a far reaching number. When one observes a great cloud, he does so recognizing that it covers a great span of space. The space that has been covered by those mentioned in chapter eleven and referred back to in chapter twelve covers many years. This shows that the Lord has had and still has those who faithfully worship Him across a great period of time.
B. By the Command That Strengthens Us (V. 16)
We notice the expression that is given in verse one, “let us lay aside every weight and the sin which doth so easily beset us”. We recognize that this command is given in two parts with the second command saying, “let us run with patience the race that is set before us.” This command involves removing and running. The metaphor is given of a runner in a race. Those who were to run in the race did not always free themselves from those things which could have hindered their race. Such things were capable of impeding or hindering their race to the extent that they could not claim the prize for finishing well.
In a practical sense, anything that was capable of weighing down or slowing down the runner was to be avoided. This meant that the runner was to carefully examine himself and determine just what it was that could hinder him from running his very best.
Spiritually, we are all challenged as the runner to remove anything that would be a hindrance to running the “race of faith”. It certainly should be obvious that we should “lay aside every weight.” These weights would be any sin that would hinder ones race of faith. It could be habits that are sinful; it could be the neglecting of Bible time, not praying, not being faithful to church, lying, stealing, watching anything or listening to anything that would be defiling and anything that violates the Scriptures.
Then there is “the sin which doth so easily beset us”. I have read much commentary on just what that besetting sin may be, but I believe that a careful study of our context tells us exactly what that sin is. It is the sin of taking our eyes off of Jesus. One of the easiest sins for the believer to commit is when one takes his eyes off of Jesus.
C. By the Challenge That Sends Us (Vv. 2, 3)
What greater challenge do we have than the challenge to look “unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith”. This section considers within its context the importance of keeping one’s eyes on Jesus. It also shows the way that the Lord chastens one to help that one keep his eyes upon the Lord. The Lord Jesus Christ is our example and in our “faith race”, He is our Goal. In this section of study, we will also be observing some of the awful consequences of taking our eyes off of Him. As we are looking at Jesus, it should be comforting just in knowing that He is the Author and the Originator of our faith. It all rests upon Him. He is the one who “endured the cross, despising the shame,” and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God”. The same power that allowed Him to conquer the cross is available to us as we exercise our practical faith. We only get in trouble spiritually when we take our eyes off of Jesus.
Can you imagine what it is like to be running in a race knowing that there are those in the grandstands who had run previously? They are there not only to observe you as you run, but they are there also to inspire you as you run. Then the greatest inspiration of all is in seeing the One who out ran them all and is now standing at the “finish line” encouraging you to faithfully run. We see Him through the eye of faith. That is exactly what is taking place as we read and study our Text. There is one who ran before us for our example. This tells us that Christ is not only a witness but a better witness.
II. THE WAY THE SAINTS ARE CORRECTED (Vv. 4-11) (through chastening)
Even as a father corrects his children, so also does the heavenly Father correct us. These next several verses give us tremendous insight as to the purpose of chastisement.
A. The Receivers of Chastening (Vv. 4-8)
According to our Text, one should never despise the chastening that comes from the Lord. The chastening should also not cause one to faint or be discouraged knowing that it comes from the Lord and is exercised towards those whom He loves and those who are His dear children. These verses show us that he deals with His children in the faith as a father would deal with his own children. A good father uses discipline and correction in the form of chastisement to correct his children because he loves them. Can anything less than that be said about our heavenly Father chastening His own children whom He loves?
The important thing that should be observed from our Text is that when a person does not receive any chastisement, then that person is not a son. That should be a very scary thought for the “pretender”. Though you may think that all is well and at the same time live in violation of the Scriptures, and see no evidence of chastisement, you best make your call and your election sure. The Scriptures are clear on this; those who do not receive correction are not His children (V. 8).
B. The Reason for Chastening (Vv. 9-10)
The Lord chastens us for our profit. This is a word that is used to impress upon the one that is being chastening that there are benefits to being corrected. The Lord wisely applies the chastening to bring us to a higher level of Spiritual maturity. The Lord knows just what is needed. Whether this chastening is in the form of a rod or in the form of the Word spoken, He is doing it for our profit. When we are non-responsive to the Word spoken, then He finds it necessary to apply the “rod of correction”. Chastening involves a parental interest in His children. He chastens us with better consistency than an earthly father could ever chasten his own children. We mean well as earthly parents, but even like the children that we are chastening, we always come up short. But He does not, for He is always consistent. He knows when and He knows just how much chastening to apply.
The Lord also has a providential interest in His children. He always knows where we are and He knows what is going on with us wherever we might be. He knows what we are doing before we even do it. We might also say that He has a personal interest in what we are doing. This is so because we are His own and His beloved. He not only knows us, but He is jealous of His own name. We who are members of His family reflect who He is by the manner of our living. We should very carefully carry the family name. We should do all that we can to live our lives out of respect of who He is and who we are because of Him.
C. The Results of Chastening (V. 11)
This verse indicates that chastening, though it may not be joyous but grievous, it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness. The Lord chastens us so that we will be more like Him. To be more like Him, we must fix our eyes upon Him. By fixing our eyes upon Him and being chastening when we do not, we will develop more Christ-likeness and gain the peaceful fruit of righteousness. Romans 8:28 and 29 tells us the extent of His purpose in chastening us. “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.” When it is necessary, He applies chastening to bring about the conforming that is necessary for our spiritual growth and maturity. He knows just how much correction that we need and how much chastening to apply to bring forth the peaceful fruit of righteousness.
III. THE WAY THAT THE SAINTS ARE PROTECTED. (Vv. 12-17) (By keeping our eyes upon Jesus).
In verse number two, we are instructed to look unto Jesus. In verse number three we are told to consider him. This means that we are not to look at Him with a passing glance but to fix our eyes upon Him. In 1 John 1:1 the verse reads: “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life:” The phrase, “which we have looked upon” means to look intently as you would be watching a public show. The word theater comes from the same word, looked. Notice Strong’s definition of this word looked. To behold, look upon, view attentively, contemplate (often used of public shows). In the same way, we should consider Him. We should fix our eyes upon Him to gain all that we can about Him. We do this by looking at Him through God’s Word. Unless you fix your eyes upon the Word of God, you cannot see Him. He is invisible except through the eye of faith.
We are told to look at Him and to consider Him; we are also told to look diligently at Him. When we look diligently, we look carefully and intently. Again, this is not just a casual glance, it is looking with purpose. The way that we focus on Him will determine how we become like Him. Now, we shall look at what happens when one takes his eyes off of Jesus…
A. Taking Your Eyes Off of Jesus Will Affect Your Journey (Vv. 12-14a).
The runner is encouraged to go on while facing Spiritual fatigue. The believer’s race is not just a 100 yard dash; it is a marathon. Just like the Boston Marathon’s Heartbreak Hill, there are also some hills which seem impossible in the Christian race. Yet, we must run and make straight paths for our feet and follow peace with all men and holiness. When we take our eyes off of Jesus, it will affect the believer’s journey. The Christian race is to be run with courage and determination. There is enough grace for the entire course. To fail of the grace of God is to fail to appropriate all of the grace that God has for the journey. I liken the grace of God to being a coupon book that the runner can clip while running his race. I heard the imaginary story once of how someone died and went to heaven. Upon his arrival, he was given a tour that led him to a large room with many shelves. The person asked, “What is all the stuff in this room and why are some of the selves empty?” He was answered in this way, “The shelves are where those things that you had need of while you were living were stored. Every time that you asked the Lord to provide you with something, you clipped a coupon of faith from this coupon book.” Then the person who had just arrived in heaven asked, “Why so much stuff still on the shelves and why are there so many coupons still in the book?” To which he received this answer: “The articles still on the shelves are what you could have had if you had clipped all of the coupons.”
This is an illustration that shows that God has all of the grace that we need for the journey. When we take our eyes off of him and began focusing on the problems, we forget that we have a problem solver. He certainly has all that we need to continue the journey and to finish the journey.
B. Taking Your Eyes Off of Jesus Will Affect Your Joy (V. 14b.)
This part of the verse indicates how it is for a root of bitterness to spring up in one’s life and then affect others. It is common to find bitterness both in the church and also in people in general. Much of the bitterness that I have experienced has affected not only me but also affects others. An experiment was once conducted in a sociology class where the professor staged a situation that involved a school class that was enjoying a spirit of frivolity because of something that the professor had said to them. While they were experiencing much joy and jubilation, a student came into the room that had been prepared to come in to show the emotion of anger and pretend also to have a foul mood. It was not long after his arrival that the entire class was taking on his same personality. The professor then told the class that everything had been staged and that the entire class was negatively affected by the one student. They saw how one person could affect them all.
This shows how one person can allow a root of bitterness to spring up within himself and it then begins to take its toll on many. Churches are especially vulnerable to this happening. One disgruntled member suffering from bitterness can cause hurt to come to the entire body. While running in the race, one’s eyes should be fixed straight ahead and not looking on to the surrounding problems. One’s problems will cause bitterness and bitterness will hinder the journey and may even stop the race.
C. Taking Your Eyes Off of Jesus Will Affect Your Judgment (Vv. 15-17),
Just as Esau took his eyes off of the covenant promises of God, so does the believer when he takes his eyes off of Jesus. It is a terrible event in one’s life when one gets to the place that he no longer gives attention to the Word of God and begins to do that which is right in his own eyes. When the fear of God is gone, it is a fearful thing to fall in the hands of an angry God. During this time, those who have taken their eyes off of Jesus, will make judgments or decisions that will hurt them for the remainder of their lives. If during this time, no chastening or correction comes, then that is a clear indication that the person is not even saved. It is not a light sin, the sin of taking one’s eyes off of Jesus. It is a very serious sin and as our Text has already indicated, it is the sin that “doth so easily beset us”. We must strive to stay in the race, because our adversary, the devil would love to destroy us by knocking us out of the race.
