In our preparation for communion I would like to review this great passage.
Communion is a special time to gather and celebrate our great salvation and to encourage us to continue to be faithful to the Lord Jesus Christ.
The background of the book of Hebrews was written to men and women in the thick of the battle against the flesh, the world, and the devil. Most of them were trembling in their boots. Others retreated to the trenches. Some of them may have been tempted to turn and run. But the writer of Hebrews directs them to run the right direction. The author has already warned them of the cost of defection in chapter 10. Now he continues to urge them toward a life of enduring hope that responds positively to God’s hand of loving discipline with maturity. He wants them to keep trusting in Jesus Christ, who is superior, and to press on in faith.
Hebrews 12:1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.
The “therefore” in verse 1 is referring to the people in chapter 11. When we studied the men and women of faith of chapter 11, their lives instructed and inspired us to remain faithful to Jesus.
We are encouraged to, “Lay aside THE sin that we cling so closely to.” In the Greek language, there is a definite article in front of the word “sin.” That means there is a particular sin the author has in mind; and in this context, that particular sin is the sin of being unfaithful.
A believer’s unfaithfulness will consume time and energy when we should be living for the glory of GOD. What kind of unfaithfulness will distract or keep us from the race that God has set before us?
We can see the unfaithful choices when we briefly look at some of these witnesses in chapter 11: Samson was easily distracted and lost his way until the end. Abraham often made poor choices but would learn from them and return to the Lord. Rahab finally knew when she faced the spies. David grieved and suffered from his distraction. Moses took awhile to come around and then climbed the mountain of God.
Believers are to take off the weight of unfaithfulness; and climb to heights you never thought possible before. Depend on the Lord and keep on going!
Verse 1 ends with believers running with endurance, the Greek word hypomones is referring to endurance in the face of opposition or competition. In verse 2 the believers are encouraged to look away from other things and fix our eyes on the only One who has already run the race of life from start to finish.
Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Focus on Jesus! Look to our Savior, who has the victory already won.
Notice verse 2 states that Jesus is the creator and sustainer of our faith. From the very beginning, from the book of Genesis to the book of Revelation, Jesus blazed the trail all the way to its completion.
The writer is really saying that by faith, we have the privilege to run in the only race on earth with a victory line. But running in this race REQUIRES that the runner must trust Jesus as your Savior.
That’s the message of God’s love, the gospel in a story. Faith begins by accepting Christ as your Savior. Trusting that Jesus gave His life for you! But just as important is seeing salvation is only the start of the race, the rest of the journey also requires faith and that is most of the New Testament’s message.
The context of Hebrews 12:2 says it this way: look to Jesus as your Savior the rest of the way.
It means that, we who believe will look to Jesus as the way through this life. He went before us to show us the way to finish the race. We like to somehow think that there is another way to finish the race. But there isn’t.
The picture we have of Jesus in Hebrews 12:2 is that He is the author and sustainer of our faith. Ultimately, that is the theme of the book of Hebrews. Jesus blazed the whole trail all the way to the top, and we must follow Him with confidence, totally secure in the path He has opened up for us.
These verses are telling believers that because Jesus goes before us,
- We can endure anything through faith in Jesus, who works all things for good.
- We can endure burdens, trials and frightening experiences.
- We can look to Jesus as our Savior; He leads us to the only way to heaven.
The ultimate witness the writer has to encourage the believers is Jesus Christ. Believers are required to have a sure faith and depend on the Lord Jesus Christ to bring them through some very difficult times. As a result, we are able to endure. See this in…
Hebrews 12:3 For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.
There are times when we think it is more than we can bear. When we are under heavy pressure and pain. We will need to look to Jesus as our motivation to persevere.
Jesus Himself suffered greatly, more than any of the previous examples in chapter 11, but notice in verse 2 His suffering was for the sake of THE joy. He saw beyond the sufferings. Like the patriarchs in chapter 11, He lived in a forward motion and looked forward to the fulfillment of the promise, which is here called the joy set before Him. Because of verse 3, we know that Jesus “joy” is having us in heaven! Jesus is set forth as the ultimate example of living by faith.
Jesus endured hostility so believers;
- Would not grow weary or be worn out by life’s trials.
- Would persevere in good times and bad times in this life.
- Would persevere to the end by faith.
- Will enter heaven with all the saints.
The idea is that we are to remember to look to Jesus’ who endured the cross and gave us the victory so we who believe can keep going and finish the race. Without Him we are already defeated at the starting line.
Communion is about considering Him; What Jesus has accomplished and how He did it. So, we do not get discouraged by what this life throws at us.
- The table reminds us that we are never defeated by sin.
- The table reminds us to examine our motives and our Christian testimony as we live.
- The table reminds us that we are bought with a high price and are called to love and serve Him.
Before we partake of the elements, let’s take a moment to reflect on our life testimony to the truth of this table and on what it symbolizes for our salvation through Jesus Christ’s sacrificial death.
1 Corinthians 11
23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread;
24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”
25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”
26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.
The last item that we do is to take a collection to assist our brothers and sisters in the Lord. We call it our deacons fund. It is based on the passage in 1 John 3:17-18 “But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? 18 My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.”