26/08/2016
By-Evg-Samson Sam ' O:) a Wonderful Word ,
FAITH IN CHRIST THE AUTHOR AND FINISHER OF OUR FAITH Hebrews 12: 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. 3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Jesus, our example, perfectly finished his race. Because he stands at the finished line, Christians should keep their eyes on him, looking away from other distractions or options. It is upon him that our faith depends from start to finish. Jesus is the first who obeyed God perfectly and thus began the new covenant (see also 2:10). He set the course of faith, ran the race first (6:20), and now waits for us to join him at the end, encouraging us all the way. He is also the one who brings us to our intended goal because he was made the perfect High Priest through suffering and obedience (see 2:10, 5:8). He was willing to die a shameful death on the cross. Yet Jesus endured all this suffering on account of the joy he knew would be his afterward. He kept his eyes focused on the goal of his appointed course, the accomplishment of his priestly work, and his seat beside God’s throne in heaven. Knowing that a great reward was coming for God’s people gave Jesus great joy. He did not look at his earthly discomforts, but he kept his eyes on the spiritual, invisible realities. Like Christ, we should persevere in times of suffering, looking to Christ as our model and concentrating on our heavenly destination.