Don’t grow weary or lose heart

Hebrews 12:3 For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Yesterday we drew encouragement from how Jesus, the author and finisher of faith, ran His race in this world as He lived to love with His Father. Today we consider what Jesus endured as He ran the race. To consider something means to take it into account or to reason, think, or analyze.  The author told his readers to consider the hostility that Jesus endured against Himself. Would you think about that with me? What comes to mind? First, a short list of some of the sinners that come to my mind. Let’s see. Herod the Great sought to kill Him. The Jews of Nazareth were going to throw Him off a cliff. We know of a few times when the Jews in the temple in Jerusalem planned to stone Him. He called Peter, Satan, for his hostility to His mission. His own brothers pushed Him to move against His Father’s timing. Then there was Judas Iscariot, the Pharisees, the Sanhedrin, Pilate, Herod Antipas, and the Roman soldiers. Why should we think about them? So we see that He, like us, has sinners who will cause us suffering in this world. He made it to the end and finished well, and so will we. Second, consider the hostilities He suffered. For almost the entire time of His ministry, Jesus endured hostile questioning, insults, and shaming. He was slapped, beaten with the cat of nine-tails. He was stripped, mocked, had a crown of thorns pounded on his head, nailed to a cross, and was pierced with a spear. Have you suffered like that? Third, let's consider his endurance of such hostility against himself. He had to endure the hostility of the Pharisees his entire season of ministry, from emotional and verbal attacks and slander to physical threats. How can we possibly overlook the endurance of the pain of the crucifixion? Certainly, it ranks at the top of the most inhumane forms of torture in human history. He knows what it takes to endure hostilities and will help you. Why are we to consider these things? The author was encouraging them to endure in faith until the end of their lives regardless of what they suffer in this world as foreigners and exiles. In this verse he was encouraging them to not grow weary and lose their motivation to keep their eyes fixed on Jesus and finish well. We all need such encouragement, don’t we? Sometimes our suffering is circumstantial, and other times it comes from the hands of sinners. If you are in the second category of suffering, let this verse spur you on to live to love with Jesus regardless of what you suffer. Fix your eyes on Jesus’ heart to finish well, and join Him at the finish line for the glorious celebration and reward.