LOOKING UNTO JESUS
(By Emerson Blythe)

TEXT: (Heb 12:1-3 KJV) "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, {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 is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. {3} For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds."

SOME OBSERVATIONS:

1. We are running a race... The Christian Race.

(1 Cor 9:24-27 KJV) "Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. {25} And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. {26} I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: {27} But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway."

2. WE ARE ENCOMPASSED (OR, ENCIRCLED) BY A CREAT CLOUD OF WITNESSES.

These are the ledger of the faithful he has just named in the previous chapter. Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses and his parents, and so forth. Then he continued: (Heb 11:32-40 KJV) "And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: {33} Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, {34} Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. {35} Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: {36} And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: {37} They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; {38} (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. {39} And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: {40} God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect."

All these people ran the race before us, and they are there to encourage us on!

This cloud of witness serve a dual purpose, Number One, of ENCOURAGING US, since they showed that it can be done. And, Number Two, of SHAMING us, if we become discouraged, or throw in the towel.

3. WE NEED ALL THE HELP WE CAN GET IN RUNNING THIS CHRISTIAN RACE.

That help comes from both sides, both negatively and positively: Number One, by getting rid of hindrances: "let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us." And, Number Two, by constantly keeping our eye on our leader and our teacher, Jesus Christ, "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith." He continued concerning Jesus, "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. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds."

It is important to shed the sins and worldly distraction. The Hebrew writer likens them unto an athlete trying to run a race encumbered with weights and encumbrances.

BUT THE PRIMARY TOPIC OF OUR STUDY TODAY IS THE IMPORTANCE OF KEEPING OUR EYE ON JESUS.

Jesus tells a little story: (Mat 14:22-31 KJV) "And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away. {23} And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone. {24} But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary. {25} And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. {26} And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. {27} But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. {28} And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. {29} And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. {30} But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. {31} And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?"

You see, Peter had no trouble so long as he had his eyes on Jesus. It was when he took his eyes off Jesus and started looking at the storm and the waves, that he began to sink.

Through FAITH, we see the invisible. (Heb 11:1-3 KJV) "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. {2} For by it the elders obtained a good report. {3} Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear."

(1 Pet 1:8-9 KJV) "Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: {9} Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls."

When we are in trouble, we need to have our eyes on Jesus: (2 Cor 4:17-18 KJV) "For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; {18} While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal."

(2 Cor 5:1 KJV) "For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens."

When we are tempted with the allurements of this world, we need to have our eyes on Jesus. (Heb 11:24-27 KJV) "By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; {25} Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; {26} Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward. {27} By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible."

We need to keep our eyes on the Lord for security. (Psa 16:8 KJV) "I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved."

As quoted in the New Testament: (Acts 2:25 KJV) "For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved."

Not only do we need to look TO the Lord, we need to look FOR Him. (Titus 2:11-13 KJV) "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, {12} Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; {13} Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ."

(Heb 9:28 KJV) "So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation."

(Heb 11:8-10 KJV) "By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. {9} By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: {10} For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God."

(2 Pet 3:12-14 KJV) "Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? {13} Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless."

(Phil 3:20, 21 KJV) "For our conversation (CITIZENSHIP) is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself."

"Looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith." Jesus was the beginning of Christianity, and it is Him we will meet at the finish line. He came to the world to be our Saviour in the beginning; we will face Him as our Judge in the end. He is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end, the First and the Last, (Rev. 22:13).

Come to Him now as your Saviour, and you will be ready to meet Him as your Judge.