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, 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. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. (Hebrews 12:1–3)

Have you ever started a great story that ends in disappointment? Maybe your favorite TV show ends with a whimper instead of a bang, or a much-anticipated book leaves you with more questions than answers. Disappointment is a part of life on this fallen planet. But will our faith end in disappointment? Certainly not, because we are heading toward Jesus. We are now concluding our series on Hebrews 11 by looking at the first three verses of chapter 12. These verses are best taken with what came before them, even as this passage switches from former witnesses to current encouragement: In other words, because you are surrounded by these witnesses, run your race to the end, looking to Jesus.

Surrounded and Called to Endure

“Therefore, . . .” Clearly the preacher to the Hebrews is continuing his argument from chapter 11. His argument goes like this: Since these things are true—since God has testified to the Old Testament saints and since they have witnessed to Jesus—therefore we can run the race set before us. In light of what he has already said, there are consequences and commands for us to reckon with. We have already considered the fact that the Christian life is often one of suffering. What keeps us going? It is not faith itself, but faith in the only completely trustworthy object: Jesus Christ. This is why the faith of the ancients did not let them down, why the faith of the Hebrew Christians did not let them down, and why your faith will not let you down: because Christ will not let you down.

In light of that, our author reminds us that we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses. In other words, we are not alone. This great crowd is comprised of those who were mentioned in chapter 11, and also those who did not make the cut. One purpose of the church around the world and throughout the ages is to glorify Christ by witnessing to him and encouraging us to look to him, as well. This was all to point us to Christ and to encourage us.

Imagine being in a busy, public place where people are coming and going in every direction. Someone stops in the middle of the melee and stares into the sky. What do you think would happen? Before long, there would probably be a group of onlookers, all trying to see whatever the first person saw. Well, Hebrews 11 is sort of like that. All of these witnesses were looking to Christ, and we should look where they looked. They tell us that God keeps his promises in Christ, no matter what. Have you ever been tempted to think you are alone in the Christian life? Sometimes it can be easy to think this way, especially if you are in a school or work environment where other believers are scarce. Remember, even when you seem isolated, you are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses. Your brothers and sisters in Christ are innumerable. Why? Because God has his children. Christ has his people. They surround you, so be encouraged! If the remnant of seven thousand Israelites was meant to encourage Elijah (1 Kgs 19:18), how much more ought hundreds of millions encourage us.

These witnesses have finished their race. Likewise, we should endure to the end of our race. 1 Peter 1:6–7 says something similar: “In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” Where do you receive what you need for this race? God is capable of giving you strength however he sees fit, but he has promised to strengthen us primarily through the means of grace. Attend to them. Come to church on the Lord’s Day. Hear the Word and receive the sacraments. Offer prayers to God with and for each other. Remember what Hebrews 10:24–25 says: “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” God promises wonderful things to us in Jesus Christ. Therefore, encourage and stir up each other to love and good works.

Called to Look to Jesus

When the author to the Hebrews says, “Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,” at the end of verse 1, he is using a metaphor we all understand. Racing is a struggle (unless you are Usain Bolt)—it does not come easy. In order to run a race, you have to exert yourself. I remember being in second grade and running races against my friends at recess (this was the beginning and end of my competitive racing career). If I focused on anything other than the finish line I would lose, or even worse, I would become distracted and not finish the race at all. Hebrews 12 tells us to look to the finish line, but our goal is not so much a place as a person: “looking to Jesus” (v. 2). This is not a sprint, it is a marathon, so pray for endurance and a greater view of your Savior!

No one puts on heavy clothing before an endurance race. In fact, in the ancient world athletes would run naked so as to be as light and unencumbered as possible. Similarly, why would you hold on to unnecessary weights and sin in the race to heaven?¹ Why burden yourself with the old covenant form of worship when it has passed away? Why cling to sin as you are running to Jesus, the one who died to take away the guilt of sin and break its power over you? Lose them! That is what the preacher to the Hebrews (and to us) is saying. What good are these things compared to the surpassing worth of knowing Jesus Christ your Savior (Phil 3:8)? Look to him, focus on the finish line, and run with endurance, because it is all about Jesus. That is what Hebrews is about, and it is the point being made time and again in chapters 11 and 12. Looking to Christ is really the theme of this sermon/epistle. Jesus is the Son who speaks, the Tabernacle, Priest, Sacrifice, etc. Hebrews 12:1–3 tell us to look where the cloud of witnesses looked. Their eyes were on Christ, and so should ours be.

Jesus is presented as the first runner in verse 2 (“founder”). He has finished his race and ascended the hill of the LORD. That is why we are confident—our Savior has finished his task and earned his place on God’s holy hill (Psalm 15; Psalm 24). That word we have translated as “founder” here is also in Hebrews 2:10: “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” (emphasis added). “Perfecter” in verse 2 could be read as consummator. Christ is the one who brings our faith to its completion. So Jesus is both the first runner of the race, and also the consummator: He is the beginning and the end of our salvation.^[2] It is all from him. In other words, by faith, God’s witnesses looked to the object of faith. And so should we, for, it is not truly “by faith” unless that faith is in Christ alone.

In seeing Christ as the one who ran the race first, we can see that the pattern of his life is the pattern that his believing people follow: shame now, joy later. The Hebrew Christians were facing shame and persecution. We can experience these things as well. But so did Christ, far more than us. Yet he persevered, because he was looking ahead to the joy that was before him. Remember, this life of suffering and tribulation is the short part. What will your sufferings be a trillion years from now, other than memories of how God was faithful to you even in trials? When you look at your shame and suffering, also look through it. Look to Christ. Look to eternity. Look to the promises of God that are coming to pass in your Savior.

Hebrews 12:2–3 presents Christ as an example to us. Of course, Christ is far more than an example; he is our Savior. And if he were not our Savior first and foremost, his example would do us no good.^[3] Having said that, the author to the Hebrews presents Christ as the great example of faith. Of course, he did not need faith in order to be saved from the wrath of God. Instead, he put his trust and hope in the God who keeps promises. Christ knew what awaited him on the other side of the cross: glory (John 17:1–5).^[4] That is because the persons of the Trinity had covenanted to save a people for God’s great name—what Reformed theologians have often called the pactum salutis or covenant of redemption. Christ knew that the Father was good for his promises, and so he endured, knowing that blessing was on the other side of suffering. And in his suffering, in his atonement, Christ perfected our faith. Because Christ finished his race you can be certain while you are running yours that he will bring you to the finish. He endured hostility from sinners (v. 3), and so we ought not be surprised when we face much the same. Even in the midst of pressure or even persecution, Christ ran his race, and so too we can run. Your Savior suffered for you. He died for you. He ran for you. As you suffer for him and run toward him, he will not let you down.

Conclusion

As we conclude this series through the Hall of God’s Faithfulness, we can summarize things in this way: Look to Christ, the one who witnesses to himself, rest in him, and run your race from that rest. Because you are surrounded by these Old Testament witnesses, run your race to the end, looking to Jesus. There is nothing behind that we should seek after, be it animal sacrifices, the Levitical priesthood, the temple, or anything else. These things were all types of Christ. The faithful men and women who used them were all looking to Christ. Let us look to him as well.

Notes

1. It seems that the author to the Hebrews is focusing on sin as a whole instead of particular sins—see William L. Lane, Hebrews 9–13, Word Bible Commentary 47b, ed. David A. Hubbard, Glenn W. Barker, and Ralph P. Martin (Zondervan, 1991), 409.
2. Dennis Johnson, “Hebrews,” in ESV Expository Commentary, Volume XII: Hebrews–Revelation (Crossway), 185.
3. John Owen, Hebrews: The Epistle of Warning (Kregel Publications, 1953), 245.
4. Luke Timothy Johnson, Hebrews: A Commentary, The New Testament Library (Westminster John Knox Press, 2006), 548.

©Chris Smith. All Rights Reserved.

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Post authored by:

• Christopher Smith

  

  Christopher Smith is originally from Bellevue, Nebraska. A graduate of Westminster Seminary California (M.Div 2019; MA (Historical Theology) 2020). He is associate pastor of Phoenix URC in the United Reformed Churches of North America. He is currently pursuing a ThM in systematic theology at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary.

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