Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. (Heb 12:1-3)
Here we continue with the analysis of this passage. The last post was very joyful.
This one is heart wrenching, and even stomach wrenching.
· endured the cross: Jesus knew exactly the brutality and death that he was about to face, and still went through with it so that he could have the wedding described in the previous post. The price he paid was infinitely more expensive than a diamond ring!! He went through that because He loves YOU!
In our pristine society, I find it hard to really grasp the torture Jesus endured. I encourage you to follow the link and read the medical description of the crucifixion written by C. Truman Davis, M.D., M.S., originally printed in Arizona Medicine, 1965. The Passion of Christ from a Medical Point of View
After reading the Biblical accounts and the medical account, we must conclude that there is no trial in our own lives that can come close to the physical, emotional, or spiritual suffering Jesus endured on the cross. He went through that torture for you and me! Some of the trials we face are the result of our own sin or stupidity. This was not the case for Jesus -- he endured the cross because of our sin, not his own!
· scorning it's shame: ”The cross was an instrument of ‘shame’ in both Roman (the standard proclamation of execution) and Jewish (cf. Deut ; Josh -27) thought.”[1] Crucifixion was reserved for the worst criminals. No matter what their crime, Roman citizens could not be executed by crucifixion. Jesus died the shameful death of the worst of sinners -- a death that our sin heaped upon him. He scorned that shame and declared the victory of God Almighty over sin and death! We need to stop looking at our own problems and focus on Jesus!
“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (2Co -18)
[1] Craig S. Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament, 1993, Inter Varsity Press, p. 678.
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