Fix our eyes on Jesus

Hebrews 12:1-2 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, fixing our eyes on Jesus, 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. How are we to run the race God has set before us? Implied in this verse is that our race is the same race Jesus ran. He has run the race that has been set before us. The author first had his readers look at Jesus as a fellow runner. Heb. 2:10, 17-18. For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings (that’s the race in this life). Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted. Jesus knows what we need at the beginning and throughout the race. The key to His running the race was fixing His eyes on His Father, His joy, and His reward as the heir of all things and to sit down at His Father’s right hand.  Today’s encouragement is to fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith. Let’s remember, the author’s point throughout chapter 11 was to encourage his readers to not quit but endure to the end of their lives in faith. His encouragement in this verse was that their confidence as they ran was to be in Jesus, who is the starter and finisher of faith. In the analogy of the race, He was the starter who called them to their mark and then fired the starting gun. Their race began when Jesus gave them faith. He also is the finisher of the race. He’s there throughout the race to carry them through to the finish line. As we live to love with Jesus, we may expect to carry our cross and suffer shame and rejection as He did. We are indeed running this race as foreigners and exiles, even as He was. Fix your eyes on Him! Compared to the joy set before Him and the reward of His Father’s joy and exaltation, the suffering and rejection were not worth thinking about. They were despised in His mind, meaning they were made little of or overlooked.  How are we to run the race of living to love with Jesus with endurance? Fix our eyes on Jesus, the Son of God, our high priest who made purification for all our sins, and has sat down in victory at the right hand of the Majesty on high where He runs all things by the power of His Word and ever lives to intercede for us until we cross the finish line. When you feel yourself fainting, growing weary, or entertaining the idea of quitting the race, then overlook your suffering and focus on Jesus. Draw near to Him, and He will give you the mercy and grace you need to endure to the end in faith. Hallelujah! What a Savior! Hallelujah! What a friend!