Hebrews 12:1-3: Jesus our Great Example

Hebrews - Jesus is Greater  •  Sermon  •  Submitted
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Introduction

Scripture

Hebrews 12:1–3 ESV
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.

Outline

Hebrews 1-2 - Jesus is Greater Than the Angels

Hebrews 1:1-4 - God has Spoken
Hebrews 1:5-14 - The Son is Superior to the Angels
Hebrews 2:1-4 - A Warning
Hebrews 2:5-9 - Lowliness to Crowning Glory
Hebrews 2:10-18 - Jesus has Delivered His Brothers

Hebrews 3:1-4:13 - Jesus is a Greater Rest

Hebrews 3:1-6 - Jesus is Worthy of More Glory Than Moses
Hebrews 3:7-19 - Disobedience After the Exodus
Hebrews 4:1-13 - A Sabbath Rest for God’s People

Hebrews 4:14-7:26 - Jesus is Greater than Melchizedek

Hebrews 4:14-16 - Jesus is the Great High Priest
Hebrews 5:1-10 - Jesus is the High Priest After the Order of Melchizedek
Hebrews 5:11-6:20 - Warning and Exhortation
Hebrews 5:11-14 - Failure to Mature
Hebrews 6:1-8 - Pursue Maturity
Hebrews 6:9-12 - Loving Motivation
Hebrews 6:13-20 - The Promise of God’s Word and God’s Oath
Hebrews 7:1-10 - The Greatness of Melchizedek
Hebrews 7:11-19 - Jesus’ Priesthood is Needed
Hebrews 7:20-28 - Jesus Guarantees a Better Covenant

Hebrews 8:1-10:18 - Jesus is the Greater Covenant

Hebrews 8:1-6 - Jesus Mediates a Better Covenant
Hebrews 8:7-13 - The Promise of the New Covenant
Hebrews 9:1-10 - The Earthly Tabernacle Points to What Would Come
Hebrews 9:11-14 - Christ is The Mercy Seat
Hebrews 9:15-22 - Blood is Necessary for Forgiveness
Hebrews 9:23-28 - Christ’s Sacrifice Permanently Removes Sin
Hebrews 10:1-10 - Christ’s Sacrifice Replaces the Law
Hebrews 10:11-18 - Christ's Sacrifice Fully Forgives Sin

Hebrews 10:19-12:29 - Assurance of Faith

Hebrews 10:19-25 - Because of Christ's Sacrifice Let us...
Hebrews 10:26-31 - A Warning Against Apostasy
Hebrews 10:32-39 - A Warm Encouragement
Hebrews 11:1-11:40 - Faith
Hebrews 11:1-7 - Faith Before the Patriarchs
Hebrews 11:8-22 - The Faith of the Patriarchs
Hebrews 11:23-31 - Faith in the Midst of Danger
Hebrews 11:32-40 - The Faith of the Future Hope
Hebrews 12:1-3 - Jesus our Great Example
Hebrews 12:1-2 - Looking to Jesus, Run with Endurance
Hebrews 12:3 - Consider Jesus

Purpose of Book

Christ, who has accomplished salvation through His atoning sacrifice, is greater than all things; therefore, persevere in true faith and encourage others to do likewise

Main Point

The greatest example of endurance is Christ Himself, so put off everything that could hinder you from entering the New Jerusalem as He did

Hebrews 12:1-2 - Looking to Jesus, Run with Endurance

Hebrews 12:1–2 ESV
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses,

Therefore
Linking the exhortation that is to come with the previous section
Since we are surrounded
Great cloud of witnesses
Those mentioned in Hebrews 11 who were commended for their faith
“witnesses” is related to the word “commended” in 11:2, 4, 5, & 39
These witness are meant to be a source of encouragement for the Christian for they watch and cheer on the believers to continue in their pilgrimage on earth

Let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely,

Lay aside every weight
Things that are not sin, but hinder us from persevering in the faith - careers, friends, ambitions
Things that may appear to be innocent
Sin which clings so closely
The opposite of the cheering witnesses

And let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us
Run is in the subjunctive mood - Exhortation/command for the author and his associates
Endurance reveals that the race isn’t short, but a long-distance run that requires focus and dedication
Hebrews 10:36–39 ESV
36 For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. 37 For, “Yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay; 38 but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.” 39 But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.
Race does not mean we are competing against anyone, but one where we all are called to finish
The race is set before us by who? God Himself
The race is completed by a life of obedience to God
Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith
Founder or pioneer
Hebrews 2:10 ESV
10 For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering.
He leads the followers of God in suffering
Perfecter
He makes His people perfect through His high priestly ministry
Our faith
THE faith
He perfects the faith AND the faith of the OT saints from chapter 11
Who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame
The joy was the end goal
Hebrews 9:11–15 ESV
11 But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) 12 he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, 14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God. 15 Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.
Crucifixion was a horrible torturous death
Deuteronomy 21:22–23 ESV
22 “And if a man has committed a crime punishable by death and he is put to death, and you hang him on a tree, 23 his body shall not remain all night on the tree, but you shall bury him the same day, for a hanged man is cursed by God. You shall not defile your land that the Lord your God is giving you for an inheritance.
Matthew 27:27–31 ESV
27 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the governor’s headquarters, and they gathered the whole battalion before him. 28 And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, 29 and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on his head and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 30 And they spit on him and took the reed and struck him on the head. 31 And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him and led him away to crucify him.
Seated at the right hand of the throne of God
***The ascension of Jesus is CENTRAL to the book of Hebrews***
Psalm 110:1 ESV
1 The Lord says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.”
Hebrews 1:3–4 ESV
3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.
Hebrews 1:13 ESV
13 And to which of the angels has he ever said, “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet”?
Hebrews 4:14 ESV
14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.
Hebrews 8:1 ESV
1 Now the point in what we are saying is this: we have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven,
Hebrews 9:11–12 ESV
11 But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) 12 he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.
Hebrews 10:12–13 ESV
12 But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, 13 waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet.

Hebrews 12:3 - Consider Jesus

Hebrews 12:3 ESV
3 Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.

Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.

Consider him
Command
Endured from sinners such hostility against himself
Mark 15:18–20 ESV
18 And they began to salute him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 19 And they were striking his head with a reed and spitting on him and kneeling down in homage to him. 20 And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the purple cloak and put his own clothes on him. And they led him out to crucify him.
The call to endure is rooted in following their Lord and Savior
Though great suffer, he was TRIUMPHANT
You may not grow weary or fainthearted
Hebrews 10:32–39 ESV
32 But recall the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, 33 sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated. 34 For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one. 35 Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. 36 For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. 37 For, “Yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay; 38 but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.” 39 But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.

Main Point

The greatest example of endurance is Christ Himself, so put off everything that could hinder you from entering the New Jerusalem as He did

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