It is all making sense now, isn’t it. We are all in a race, or a fight (the word is agown, from which we get “agony”). The saints in Heb. 11 have already finished their race, and they finished successfully, even though they died without seeing the thing for which they hoped. Now Christ, our “forerunner” (Heb. 6:20) has run the race on the course that was set before Him. He too has been faithful, with perfection, and has thus achieved what the OT saints hoped for. Now all of these, the former saints (the alumni), as well as the Savior Himself, are testifying to us as we run. They are encouraging us by their presence in the arena. We know they are all victorious, and that testimony encourages us. And our eyes are set on the One who endured the most and ran the perfect race! (In my view, the question as to whether those who have gone on before are watching us, is not particularly important. I know God sees me; and I know I need to be looking to Christ.)
This race is not a
sprint. It’s more like a marathon. Or better yet, more like the “tour de France.” But the picture the writer has in mind is of
a race in an arena. There is a large
crowd cheering on the athletes. And in the
most prominent place is the seating for the emperor who will reward the
winner. So, for us, the saints who have
finished their race are cheering us on. Like
them, we have girded up the loins so as not to be ensnared as we run.
And above all, we run
to please the Savior, our Lord, the “author and finisher of our faith.” What does this mean? First, we should note His running of the
race. He endured all things, but
especially the cross where He “finished” His race. He was encouraged in His race by the “joy
that was set before Him.” From John 17,
Jesus’ High Priestly prayer, we learn about that joy. It was the joy of being reunited with His
Father (17:4-5), and the joy of being with those the Father has given Him
(17:24). He also despised the
shame. Possibly this refers to the shame
of the cross where He was ridiculed by the crowds. But even more, the shame of sinners (Gen.
3:7), because He was “numbered with the transgressors” (Isa. 53:12). To “despise” the shame is to think little of
it, and this is what Jesus did. He
endured the hostility from sinners. This
was a lifelong issue, but certainly culminated at the cross. He endured all we endure (Heb. 4:15), and
more (we have not even resisted to bloodshed in striving against sin). He learned obedience from His sufferings (Heb.
5:7-8). And was made perfect (came to
the end that the Father had in mind for Him, as our Savior; Heb. 2:10) as the
captain of our salvation.
With all that, we understand then that Jesus
was the “author” (originator, source) of our salvation and the finisher
(perfector) of our salvation. He left
nothing for us to do but to receive His gift by faith. And then to set our affection, our focus, our
full attention on Him, in the front row seat, as we run the race. Oh, to bring joy to my Savior, my Emperor, as
I run and as I anticipate standing before Him at the conclusion that I might
receive His “well done.”
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