Today’s reading is Hebrews 12.
Our author tells us to look to Jesus. Why? I don’t mean that in the general sense. Obviously, we look to Jesus because He’s our king, our savior, our Lord. He is the example. I mean that in the contextual sense. Why does he tell us to look to Jesus right now? He has told us about the faith of Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Sarah, Joseph, Moses, Rahab, Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets. He’s told us about great things accomplished by these ancient examples. Why isn’t it look to them? And why are they called a great cloud of witness? Why not a great cloud of examples?
Special thanks goes to my friend, brother, and fellow-worker in the kingdom Jason Longstreth for pushing me in this direction. This great cloud of witnesses is not a group of people witnessing us run the race. This is a great cloud of people whose lives testify or witness that Jesus is the Christ, the Son, the Chosen of God. In one chapter, our author has shown how Jesus the Christ fulfills not merely the words but the very lives of all these ancients.
Abel who died at the hands of a jealous brother, who offered a better sacrifice, and who being dead still speaks. Who does that sound like to you? Doesn’t that sound like Jesus? Wasn’t Jesus crucified over jealousy? Wasn’t His sacrifice better? Didn’t this entire letter begin with the statement that God is now speaking to us through Jesus, the Son? Enoch walked with God and was not because God took him. Where is Jesus again? Is He in the tomb? Is He in the temple? No, He was taken from the tomb. He was taken from the earth. Noah who condemned the world by his faithful obedience and became an heir of righteousness. Doesn’t Jesus’s entire life condemn sin in the flesh? Isn’t Jesus the greatest heir of righteousness? Abraham who left his homeland and tabernacled with Isaac and Jacob. Did anyone do this more than Jesus who left heaven and tabernacled among men on earth?
We could go through the entire list and see Jesus is the epitome of the example set by the men and women of faith. As Melchizedek foreshadowed the Christ, the Son, Jesus our High Priest, each of these folks in Israel’s history did the same.
However, there is one significant difference. Each of the people in the list of Hebrews 11 failed. They sinned. They did some great things. However, none of them did great enough things to be the sacrifice, Savior, and Lord we need. Jesus, however, did. He is the author, the perfecter of faith. He lived it out completely, faithfully, perfectly. Therefore, He endured the cross, and is now seated at God’s right hand.
Let us look to Him. The others are bush league compared to Jesus. Keep your eyes on Jesus. Don’t let go of Him. He is the only one who can save, deliver, and lead.
Tomorrow’s reading is Hebrews 12.
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Discuss the Following Questions with Your Family
- What are your initial reactions to the chapter and the written devo above?
- What are some other connections you see between the people mentioned in Hebrews 11 and Jesus?
- How does looking to Jesus help us maintain our own faithful pursuit of life?
- What advice would you give to others to help us keep our eyes on Jesus?
- What do you think we should pray for and about in light of this chapter and today’s post?
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