The Endurance of Jesus

017 The Endurance of Jesus

Hebrews 12:1-3

July 5, 2015

#1 HIS OBSTACLE        “the cross”

You are familiar with how the cross worked – (SUFFOCATION)

CONSIDER THE PAIN

Isaiah 52:13-14 “Behold, My servant will prosper, He will be high and lifted up and greatly exalted. Just as many were astonished at you, My people, So His appearance was marred more than any man And His form more than the sons of men.”

Psalms 22:6-8 “But I am a worm and not a man, A reproach of men and despised by the people. All who see me sneer at me; They separate with the lip, they wag the head, saying, "Commit yourself to the LORD; let Him deliver him; Let Him rescue him, because He delights in him."

Psalms 22:14-18 “I am poured out like water, And all my bones are out of joint; My heart is like wax; It is melted within me. My strength is dried up like a potsherd, And my tongue cleaves to my jaws; And You lay me in the dust of death. For dogs have surrounded me; A band of evildoers has encompassed me; They pierced my hands and my feet. I can count all my bones. They look, they stare at me; They divide my garments among them, And for my clothing they cast lots.”

CONSIDER THE SPIRITUAL ANGUISH

Psalms 22:1 “My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? Far from my deliverance are the words of my groaning.”

CONSIDER THE WEIGHT OF HIS MISSION

Isaiah 53:4-6 “Surely our griefs He Himself bore, And our sorrows He carried; Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed. All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him.”

2 Corinthians 5:21 “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

TURN TO: MATTHEW 26:30-46

1.      The Strong Deserted It (30-35)

2.      The Savior Dreaded It (36-44)

Luke 22:44 “And being in agony He was praying very fervently; and His sweat became like drops of blood, falling down upon the ground.”

3.      The Sinister Devised It (45-56)

#2 HIS RESPONSE       “endured the cross, despising the shame”

“endured” translates HUPOMENO                                                MENO = “abide” like in John 15:4 “abide in Me”

                                                                                                               HUPO intensifies it – “to bear up courageously”

                                                                                                                                                    “to abide under”

                                                                                                                               Luke 2:43 translates it “to stay behind”

·        Even when faced with crucifixion

·        Even when they dared Him to come down

Matthew 27:42 "He saved others; He cannot save Himself. He is the King of Israel; let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe in Him.”

“despising” translates KATAPHRONEO                                         

Literally – “to thank down”

1 Timothy 4:12 “Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe.”

Romans 2:4 “Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?”

Matthew 18:10 "See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven continually see the face of My Father who is in heaven.”

Jesus endured by not thinking the shame was any big deal. He didn’t let it get to Him.

GIVES NEW MEANING TO:

1 Corinthians 3:18 “Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you thinks that he is wise in this age, he must become foolish, so that he may become wise.”

Christ faced the worst and most humiliating death of all time and not only endured it,

But thought little of the shame it brought.

#3 HIS MOTIVE              “for the joy set before Him”

HE SAW THE CROSS AS AN OPPORTUNITY.

To save sinners

To glorify His name

HE COULDN’T BE SIDETRACKED

·        Satan offered Him the world

·        Crowds offered Him a throne

·        Peter offered Him a sword

·        Pilate offered Him a pardon

HE WAS FOCUSED

It is tremendous perspective that can look past the present pain to see the future result.

YEAH BUT…

Christ knew what would happen as a result of His suffering – we don’t know what will come of ours.

NOT TRUE

Romans 8:28 “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”

Romans 5:3-4 “And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope;”

James 1:2-3 “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.”

1 Corinthians 15:58 “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.”

#4 HIS RESULT               “and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

We often read this and think of Him as High Priest.

This verse speaks of Him in terms of victory.

TURN TO: ACTS 2:22-36

Acts 5:29-31 “But Peter and the apostles answered, "We must obey God rather than men. "The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you had put to death by hanging Him on a cross. "He is the one whom God exalted to His right hand as a Prince and a Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.”

Ephesians 1:19b-23 “These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.”

APPLICATION

SINCE OUR GOAL IS TO BE CONFORMED INTO HIS IMAGE

(1-2a) “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, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of faith,”

“fixing our eyes on Jesus” – He is our finish line

“the author” – He is the supreme authority regarding what our faith should be

“the perfector” – He is the chief example regarding what our faith should be

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

“consider Him” (like in 3:1)

“so that we will not grow weary and lose heart”

If we struggle with endurance, then focus on the endurance of Jesus.

WE ARE CALLED TO ENDURE LIKE HIM