Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter 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.looking to Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising its shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.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 is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.looking unto Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising shame, and hath sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
20 sermons cite this verse
… it's not that important. Now, this is a powerful tool for having the strength to keep going for the rest of your life to finishing well. Hebrews 12, verse 2 says this, we must focus on Jesus. This is the fourth key, the fourth secret. We must focus on Jesus, the source and goal of our faith. He, Jesus, saw the joy ahead of him. So he endured death on the cross and ignored the disgrace it brought him. Then he received the highest position in heaven. Now that verse is chock full of spiritual truth, but I just want to mention a couple things. The reason that Jesus was able to keep going strong, are you listening to it? The reason Jesus was able to keep going strong, even through the pain and the shame of the cross, was because what see that? He wasn't focusing on the current pain, the current problems, the current stress, the current difficulties, the current criticisms. He wasn't focused on all that. No, he was focused on the future joy. He says he looked to the joy that was set before him. He looks past the cross to the reward. He looks to the future glory. He has an eternal perspective. …
The text that made the most difference for me was Hebrews chapter 12, verse two. It's where I want to finish. Hebrews is saying, let us run with endurance the race that is before us. Verse 2, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who, here it is, for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. what was so compelling for me as a college student and is still compelling for me is if this is how jesus lived if this is what got jesus to the cross that's how i want to live that might be as close a thing there is to a secret except it is not a secret for the Christian life because Hebrews 12, 2 tells us. How did Jesus get to the cross? Through the agony, through the utterly humiliating shame, for the joy that was set before him. The cross is the ultimate test. …
… Hebrews 12, it says, we should look to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and now sat down on the right hand of God. And then it says, for consider him who endured such hostility from sinners against himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. So if you're discouraged, if you're weary, look to Jesus. Remember what he did for you. And remember that he is with you and you are not alone. You feel perplexed and scared. Jesus says, be of good courage. Don't be afraid. And maybe I'm talking to somebody that doesn't have Jesus in their life right now, and that's why it's so hard for you at this moment in time. Well, of course, Jesus didn't stay on that cross. They put him in a tomb, and he rose again three days later. It changed everything, and it can change you. He came out of an empty tomb to fill your empty heart. …
… and run with endurance, a race that is set before us, 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 now is set down at the right hand of God. So that's how you look to Jesus. I don't run this race for people. I don't run it for applause. I don't run it for likes on my social media. I don't run it for any of those things. I started it this way, and I hope to end it this way. I'm doing it for Jesus, and that's what will keep you going no matter what you're facing. because people will let you down. People will disappoint you. Circumstances will overwhelm you. Just keep your eyes on the prize, and specifically, keep your eyes on the Lord. In fact, that's what kept Jesus going, because it says, for the joy that was set before him, he endured the cross. What was the joy set before Jesus? …
… Hebrew Christians to keep pressing forward in their journey of faith said this. He said, you need to keep looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising, forgetting about the shame. What drove Jesus to pour out his life on the cross? Was it duty? Oh, I better do this or the father's gonna curse me. No. What drove Jesus down that long road to Calvary? What was it? It was joy. Joy over what? What was Jesus thinking about as he went to the cross that brought him heleros, that brought him joy? You. the joy set before him was the thought of you saved and me saved and you and I with him forever in heaven thought of you giving thanksgiving to God the joyful thought that joyful thought is what moved Jesus to make that sacrifice on the cross now Paul says you go and you do likewise the secret to soaring balloon no smacking required generosity is when the joy of seeing lives changed exceeds any superficial tingle that you get from some shiny new toy or a new purse or a new pair of clothes. …
… in order to look intently at one object. he's looking to the reward. This same basic word is used in a few verses later in Hebrews 12, verse one and two, where he says, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. That word looking unto is this word, continuously say no to a thousand voices so I can give myself intently to the one voice that matters. It's not a casual floating through life. It's not a casual just adjusting to whatever circumstances come. It is this decision of the heart that says, I have a supreme value for one thing. That is the voice of the Lord. It's what he says. It's what he is doing. My heart is anchored in the continual expectation for God himself, for God to speak, for God to reveal himself, to show me what to do. My heart is anchored in this one thing. So to look to the reward, or in Hebrews 12, 2, to look unto Jesus, the author and the finisher of our faith, looking to him is to say this. I have said no. In fact, the word means to continuously say no. To continuously look away from a thousand other options so that I might give myself intently with extreme focus and energy to the one thing I'm willing to say yes to. It's not casual. …
… when you walk out these doors, you need to keep your eyes on Jesus, the author and the finisher of your faith, who, for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame. And who is the joy that was set before him? When you have a chance, go look in the mirror. You're the joy that was set before him. Father, we come before you and we thank you because we do not deserve, we cannot earn this love that we know that you have exhibited for us. This love that you have for us as your children. That we should live and walk in the newness of life that we would put the past behind us. As Paul said, one thing I do, I forget the things that are behind and then I press toward the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Lord, may your people do that today. As we close in a song of worship, may they be reminded that you are high and lifted up and that you love them. …
… the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy set before him, he endured the cross, scorning its shame and sat down at the right hand of God. I like that this text here puts it in context that you got a lot of people that are cheering you on. Yeah, you're part of a bigger family. And all these people cheering you on because of all they've gone through and the faith that they had and now they've passed the baton on to us. He says, in light of that, your faith is not just some intellectual, it's not just something that you kind of process through personally and internally and it stops there. No, it actually gets lived out, worked out. And one of those ways is you throw off the stuff that hinders and the thing that so easily entangles. I'll share this story, then we'll get ready to close. The team can come out. …
… was both Abraham's son and Abraham's Lord, would provide a once-for-all sacrifice, would crush our enemy death and bless the whole earth through his name. Again, Hebrews chapter 12, verse 2, after recounting this, Abraham's great faith through this trial says this of all of these people, the faithful, including Abraham, that we saw what they did and we look to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Abraham's faith in this chapter of Genesis, the first book of the Bible, anticipates the provision of the sacrifice that will come in the flesh, the form of the Son of God, and go up to the cross and pay the once-for-all penalty for sacrifices. We would have to spend eternity trying to bear the weight and the just penalty for our sins, but the Lord Jesus Christ could pay for it all in a moment because he was eternal. Because man came to take on the sins of man, but pay the divine price for our sins. The catechism says it this way, God's justice and truth require Christ's death. …
… let us also lay aside every weight and sin which clings so closely, And let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. What a great morning. It's Easter Sunday. we have these two verses. You all look just so good, so lovely. We have these two verses, and not most important, but little, little important is these two verses give your pastor long-awaited opportunity to share many, many running illustrations, many running stories, because unlike most American boys, I did not grow up dreaming of hitting a home run in the World Series in the bottom of the ninth or a touchdown in the Super Bowl, but that I might run the fastest. Now, that dream was also unfulfilled, but continue to run and realize that the DeYoungs, or at least this de Young was given a body that was not as good running into people. I played one year of football and had many, many bruises, but was better running away from people. …
… But here's another person who really does it well. Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him, sounds familiar? Things hoped for. For the joy set before him endured the cross, despising the shame and is seated, this is the joy, at the right hand of the throne of God. So he calls Jesus the founder and perfecter of our faith. That founding includes not only his role as foundation but also illustration. Look to Jesus. Look at him. Watch him do this. How does he do this? How does he dare endure the cross? So he not only secured our finishing the race by his death, chapter 7, saved to the uttermost, he also gave us the example of how to get there, how to finish the race, how to do it. So the writer tells us look to Jesus, verse 2, what does he want us to see what does he draw our attention to when he says look at him, look at him. …
… And this near approach of the cross brings to mind Hebrews 12.2. I mentioned Hebrews 12.2 briefly last night. Biblically, it is one of the more significant texts in the Bible for me. Because it talks about what got Jesus to and through the cross. Whatever that was, that's what I want. That's how I want to live. That's why I'd come to Sweden to talk about real joy. because that's what got Jesus, our Savior, to the cross and through it. So Hebrews 12, 2, he starts with us in the church, and then he moves to Jesus in verse 2. Hebrews 12, 1 to 2. Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, and it's easy to feel in this room, however alone, however much in the minority you feel in your church, back at home, just take it in in this room take in the cloud of witnesses here bring it back with you in your mind in your photos in your imagination since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses let us also lay aside every weight and sin which clings so closely and let us run with endurance how? that's what I want to know how do I run with endurance? …
… he is our example because he's the author and finisher of our faith. And the Bible says, for the joy that was set before him endured the cross. So he didn't look at the cross and allow the cross to keep him from staying stuck, sad and anxious and emotional. No, he looked past the cross and looked at the joy of heaven. He looked at the joy of being with the father. He looked at the joy of being obedient to the father. He looked at the joy of like, no matter what this world may give me, I'm not going to be here. I have the joy that's before me. And that joy allowed him to go to the cross. And that joy produced fruit that we now get to eat off of. The joy that's within us, the fruit that's with us, that God wants us to now give to the world. Don't you want joy this morning? I don't know about you, but I want that joy that when the whole world has dumped on me, the enemy is kind of confused. …
… but with gladness. For the joy that was set before him, he endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. In other words, when insolent men came to arrest him, abuse him, and crucify him, the father gladdened the heart of his servant. He took the cross for you with joy. and if he could bear that trouble with that kind of joy in the father surely I can bear my small t trials with greater joy in him let me pray heavenly father i'm saying amen to prayers that jody prayed before we began there are needs around this room precious needs babies in the womb sicknesses being battled marriages and families needing mending there are needs there is trouble all around this room and we're asking oh god for the sake of your glory deliver us. Glorify your name by working in our specifics, by meeting our needs. teach us your way make us more like you through the trials that we're bearing right now as a church and we can pray with boldness gladden our hearts in the valley and we can pray that way expecting you to meet our needs and to refine us to sanctify us and even to give us joy in our suffering because you have already delivered us in Christ. …
… I needed Bible texts to put underneath this. and among the many texts that I encountered in those days Hebrews 12 2 almost sealed the deal for me the reason I say almost is because there was such an avalanche of texts a tidal wave of texts that it would give the wrong impression to say that one text did it by itself. But if anybody would have said to me in those early days, gun to your head, you got one verse for Christian hedonism, for the pursuit of joy in the Christian life, what would it be? I think I would have said Hebrews 12 too. Why? Because Hebrews 12 too is about Jesus. And Hebrews 12 too is about why he went to the cross and how he endured to go to the cross. So if this is how Jesus lives and if this is how Jesus got to the cross, would this not be the way to live the Christian life? Would this not be the very essence and the heart of what it means to follow after him? …
… not on the trauma, not on the pain, not on the diagnosis, but fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and the finisher of our faith. For the joy that was set before him, the cross, he endured, scorning its shame and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him. I wanna invite you today to consider him. there's some prodigals in this room and you've had life cut in on you or you've fallen away and at one point you were believing and you were running your race well. Who cut in on you? I'm convinced you'll take no other view. In fact, I prophesy it over everyone in this room, over everyone under the sound of my voice today that you will take no other view other than the view of the one who has called you. And he says, you are chosen, you are mine, nothing can deny me from you. My blood speaks a better word over everything about you, your mistakes, your diagnosis, that divorce, any and everything that could cut in on you. …
… protect your internal peace and number two last week we talked about always give yourself something to look forward to wasn't that rich out of hebrews 12 2 for the joy that was set before him jesus endured the cross despising the shame and now he is set down at the right hand of the throne of god and so tonight we're jumping in on the third ingredient are y'all ready somebody say ready the third ingredient is this to a happier life and y'all not ready you said you're ready but you're not ready the third ingredient is this mind your business mind your business unless i waste time explaining to you why this is going to make your life happier let's jump right into the word of god come with me to proverbs chapter 26 and i want to go to verse 17 proverbs chapter 26 verse 17. I want to walk you through three scriptures tonight that are going to explain to us why it's important to mind your business, mind your business, and how much happier you can be if you get out of other people's business and just focus in on your business. Because if you be honest, you got enough business of your own and you have, it takes enough energy to take care of your business that you really don't have time to be focusing in on other people's business. Check this scripture out proverbs chapter 26 verse 17 one little verse when you grab i'm in the message …
… She says you give yourself something to look forward to. Unless I tell you all of the lesson, our key verse today comes from Hebrews chapter 12, verse 2. That's the only verse we're going to look at tonight because this verse shows us Jesus. It shows us how Jesus moved. It shows us how Jesus lived. It shows us how Jesus endured suffering. And so I want to read it tonight out of the King James Version and I want to read it out of the Message Bible. Hebrews chapter 12 verse 2 from the King James Version says, 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 is set down at the right hand of the throne of god i like that looking unto jesus the author and finisher of our faith watch what did he do who for the joy that was set before him there was some joy set before him and it helped him endure the cross despising the shame and is set down at the right hand of god the throne of god now listen to this out of the message bible it says keep your eyes on jesus who both began and finished this race we're in study how he did it because he never lost sight of where he was headed that exhilarating finish in and with god he could put up with anything along the way cross shame whatever and now he's …
… fixing our eyes on Jesus. He's our example, the author and perfecter of faith, and here's what I want you to hear, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame. Why did He endure all that? Why did He handle the suffering the way He did? Because He knew that on the other side was joy. How did He know that? Because that was the promise of the Father, and He trusted the Father. We are to live as He died, forgiving, evangelizing, loving, resisting sin, sympathizing, finishing, and in all of it, trusting God in the moments of hell's most vicious assaults and Satan's most dangerous efforts, because set before us by the promise of God is eternal joy, as it was for Him. Our Father, we thank You for the treasure of the truth that grips our minds and hearts and allows us to face life even in its most difficult expressions. Thank You for giving us such a magnificent evening together. So many people have enriched our evening, those who sang, those who played instruments, and then reaching back into the centuries, even up into the very modern day, people who wrote these magnificent tributes to the Savior that fill our hearts with joy as we worship and sing and offer our humble praise. …
… in order to look intently at one object. he's looking to the reward. This same basic word is used in a few verses later in Hebrews 12, verse one and two, where he says, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. That word looking unto is this word, continuously say no to a thousand voices so I can give myself intently to the one voice that matters. It's not a casual floating through life. It's not a casual just adjusting to whatever circumstances come. It is this decision of the heart that says, I have a supreme value for one thing. That is the voice of the Lord. It's what he says. It's what he is doing. My heart is anchored in the continual expectation for God himself, for God to speak, for God to reveal himself, to show me what to do. My heart is anchored in this one thing. So to look to the reward, or in Hebrews 12, 2, to look unto Jesus, the author and the finisher of our faith, looking to him is to say this, I have said no. In fact, the word means to continuously say no, to continuously look away from a thousand other options so that I might give myself intently with extreme focus and energy to the one thing I'm willing to say yes to. …