A Great Cloud of Witnesses: "Jesus"

We are concluding our series today, “A Great Cloud of Witnesses”. We have spent 27 Sundays in Hebrews 11, examine the Great Cloud of Witnesses that testify about the one true God.

Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Joshua, Rahab, Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jepthah, David, Samuel, Daniel, Isaiah and many other witnesses tell us all the same thing...

...faith in the Lord Jesus pays off. It is worth it. God is good and He is trustworthy and we need to trust in Him and wait on Him to work in our lives.

The Great Cloud of witnesses in Hebrews 11 remind us that God is with us in the midst of our sufferings and if we have faith in the Lord Jesus, His cross and His resurrection, one day, He will take us to heaven where there is no more suffering and no more death.

We’ve finished chapter 11 and now we have come to the conclusion in Hebrews 12:1-3. It really should have been included at the end of chapter 11, but we will just tag it on here.

Let’s read it...

Hebrews 12:1–3 (NASB)

1 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, 2 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. 3 For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

It starts with a “therefore”. Whenever we see a therefore, we need to ask ourselves, “what is the therefore there for?” When we do that here, we see that the writer of Hebrews has been making it abundantly clear what chapter 11 has been all about. It is all pointing us to Jesus, the object of saving faith. And Jesus is not only the object of saving faith but also the author and perfecter of faith. Equipped with that knowledge, the writer of Hebrews encourages us to run the race of faith because faith is the thing that pleases God...

Hebrews 11:6 (NASB)

6 And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.

If we want to have a faith that is pleasing to God we need to:

Number 1…

Focus on the example of faith.

1 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us…

2 ...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith...

Jesus is the perfect example of faith that pleases the Lord.

Now, this Great Cloud of Witnesses give us some examples to follow as well. 20 times in Hebrews 11 we are told that these men and women were saved “by faith” and saw God work in their lives “by faith”. That said, none of them are perfect examples of faith because they also give us examples of things to avoid. Many failed. Some doubted. Others feared. None were sinless. Not one member of the Great Cloud of Witnesses was a perfect example of faith, but Jesus is that example. The witnesses all point us to Jesus, and so, the conclusion is...we need to focus on Jesus in we want to have a faith that is pleasing to God.

Do you know what made the Apostle Paul the man of God and the man of faith that he was? Jesus! Specifically focusing on the example of Christ.

1 Corinthians 11:1 (NIV)

1 Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.

Proverbs 4:25–27 (NASB)

25 Let your eyes look directly ahead And let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you. 26 Watch the path of your feet And all your ways will be established. 27 Do not turn to the right nor to the left; Turn your foot from evil.

Philippians 2:5–8 (NASB)

5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. 8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

So how do you fix your eyes on Jesus? How do you focus on Him?

20 x in Hebrews 11...“By faith”

Faith is taking God at His word. It is trusting what He says and putting it into practice.

Luke 9:23 (NASB)

23 And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me.

Galatians 2:20 (NASB)

20 “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

Ecclesiastes 12:13–14 (NASB) [20 times… vanity/worthless]

13 The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. 14 For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.

Hebrews 11:25–26 (NASB)

25 choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, 26 considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward.

Fend off encumbrances and entanglements.

1 ...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, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus...

Encumbrances:

An encumbrance is a heavy burden we carry that weighs us down.

Matthew 11:28–30 (NASB)

28 “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. 29 “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 “For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Philippians 3:12–14 (NASB)

12 Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead...

(v. 3) For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Carrying burdens we weren’t meant to bear causes us to grow weary and lose heart.

Galatians 6:2 (NASB)

2 Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.

We are to help others carry their burdens to Jesus. Bearing one another’s burdens doesn’t mean you make their burden your burden, it means you pray for them and encourage them and help them carry that burden to Jesus.

We aren’t supposed to carry our own burdens not make other’s people’s burdens our own.

Why? Because we try to bear the burden we get encumbered. It weighs us down It slows us down. We can’t run the race of faith carrying a burden. When we carry our burdens we get encumbered because we focus on our burdens instead of focusing on Jesus. Instead, we are to keep our eyes on Jesus.

2 fixing our eyes on Jesus...

Entanglements:

…the sin which so easily entangles us...

When we walk according to the flesh rather that walk by faith, we get entangled with sin. Sin keeps us from running the race of faith. Sin trips us up. Notice the description as well… it “so easily entangles us...”

1 Corinthians 10:13–14 (NASB)

13 No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.

14 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.

1 Corinthians 6:18 (NASB)

18 Flee [sexual] immorality...

1 Timothy 6:10–11 (NASB)

10 For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. 11 But flee from these things, you man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness.

2 Timothy 2:22 (NASB)

22 Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.

Flee from sin and run the race of faith toward Jesus!

Philippians 3:12–14 (NASB)

12 Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Finish the race with endurance.

1 ...let us run with endurance the race that is set before us...

1 Corinthians 9:24 (NASB)

24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win.

Philippians 3:12–14 (NASB)

12 Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.

Isaiah 53:6 (NASB)

6 All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way...

Joshua 1:7 (NASB)

7 “Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go.

2 ...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. 3 For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

1 Peter 2:21–24 (NASB)

21 For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, 22 who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth; 23 and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously; 24 and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.

James 1:2–4 (NASB)

2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Last week’s memory verse:

Galatians 6:9 (NASB)

9 Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.

1 Corinthians 15:58 (ESV)

58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

Are you in the race of faith?

Are you running it with endurance?

Maybe you’re in the race but you’ve become encumbered or entangled...

Fix your eyes on Jesus today.

“Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus”

Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in His wonderful face, And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, In the light of His glory and grace.

Let’s pray.

Memory Verse of the Week:

1 Corinthians 9:24 (NASB)

24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win.

Bible Study Questions:

What does this Scripture teach us about God?

What does this Scripture teach us about man?

Do you see any commands to obey or principles to apply?

Do you see any promises to claim or blessings to enjoy?

Do you see any truths to meditate on or Gospel messages to share?

Did anything else in the passage stick out to you?