Paul gave his readers three tasks to perform, and they are: lay aside everything that hinders one’s walk in Christ, lay aside the sin-principle (the old man) before which we have no power to overcome, and run the race before us with endurance (Hebrews 12:1). But, one may ask: How is this done? Well, Paul gives us the answer in the very next verse (Hebrews 12:2). We are able to make the necessary sacrifices, overcome the enemy over whom we have no power and run the race faithfully only by fixing our eyes upon Jesus.
“There were in Greece certain fields called Palaestrae, where young men exercised themselves in wrestling, running, &c. In these were set up statues of various valiant champions, that the young men that ran or wrestled, might fix their eye upon them and be encouraged. When Jerome had read the life and death of Hilarion, he folded up the book, and said, Well, Hilarion shall be the champion that I will follow.”[1]
Does this mean following Jesus is merely a human labor, whereby we are inspired by a good example to follow (cp. 1Peter 2:21)? Context is important in understanding one’s obligations toward God. Peter never claimed that, because Christ was sinless, we need to get rid of sin in our lives, if we are to follow him. The context of 1Peter 2:21 is submission to higher authority, not becoming sinless. Following Jesus is not a human labor. That is, we are no more able to act like Jesus in our own strength, than we are to overcome sin in our own strength.
Notice that Paul describes Jesus as both the Author and the Finisher of our faith. That is, faith in God isn’t something we conjure up from our own list of abilities or talents. Rather, faith is a gift from God (Ephesians 2:8). A drug addict may have a desire to quit his habit, but that desire has no power. Faith isn’t **our** faith to begin with. It is a gift given us by the Lord, but it does have power, not drawn from the flesh that we may add to its strength, but, rather, its power is drawn from the Spirit, and it is strengthened through use. Mankind’s strength wanes with use, but the gifts of the Spirit grow in strength with use.
Therefore, Paul tells his readers that Jesus is the Author or Beginner of their strength to follow him (i.e. their faith). He enabled them to believe and to walk with him up to this very time in the first century AD. It was not their own strength they used, but his (Galatians 2:20; cp. 1Corinthians 15:10). Then, Paul encouraged his readers by saying, not only was Jesus responsible for their ability to believe from the very beginning of their walk with Christ, but he has made it his responsibility that they complete their journey, as well (cp. Revelation 1:8, 11). In other words, it is not their salvation that is in question at this point in their walk with Christ, but their reward (cp. 1Corinthians 3:11-15).
Jesus entered into our world to save mankind from death, and his doing so was according to the will of God (John 5:19; 1Timothey 2:4). Paul tells us that Jesus endured the cross[2] with joy. In other words, Jesus came into our world in weakness, laboring in hope and trusting his Father would complete his labor by raising him from the dead, and afterward he would dwell in his Presence in power (Psalm 16:9-11). Therefore, Jesus sits on the Throne of God (Hebrews 12:2; Revelation 22:1, 3), having received a Kingdom from his Father and rules, bringing the whole world before his judgment seat (cp. Acts 2:32-36; 3:19-21).
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[1] See John Trapp’s Complete Commentary.
[2] This is the only reference to the cross in the Epistle to the Hebrews, and its mention carries ‘shame’ with it. Thus, Paul reminds his readers that Jesus understood the ‘shame’ they had to endure before their fellow Jews (cp. Hebrews 10:32-34), and he encourages them not to cast that all away (Hebrews 10:35; cp. 1Corinthians 3:11-15).
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