FIX YOUR EYES ON JESUS; BEHOLD THE LAMB OF GOD; BEHOLD THE MAN; BEHOLD I AM COMING SOON; BEHOLDING THE GLORY OF THE LORD
FIX YOUR EYES ON JESUS – –“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 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.” (Hebrews 12:1, 2) The writer of Hebrews tells us how to finish our race well — by looking at Jesus the Model for a life of faith. Jesus is the author (source) and perfecter (the One Who matures our faith) as we follow His example. –“It is finished” was a shout of victory for Him as He lived a perfect life of faith and obedience to the Father.
BEHOLD THE LAMB OF GOD — –“ The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” Jesus was God’s Lamb of sacrifice. –“Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, "My father!" And he said, "Here I am, my son." And he said, "Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?" Abraham said, "God will provide for Himself the lamb.” (Gen. 22:8) And Jesus’ death on the cross fulfilled this prophecy. –“For Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed.” (1 Cor. 5:7) Even as the believing Israelites had to put the blood of a lamb on the doorposts of their house so the death angel would –“passover” (Exodus 12:1-29) so we must by faith trust Christ’s shed blood for the forgiveness of our sins.
BEHOLD THE MAN — –“ Jesus then came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, "Behold, the Man!" (John 19:5). How then shall we live? Jesus the Man is our Model and Exemplar on how to live. Not St. Paul or Mother Teresa or Billy Graham or any human being. God calls us to be conformed to the image of His Son not any one else. (Rom. 8:29) And though Paul said He fell short of this, yet he pressed on toward Christ likeness. (See Phil 3:10-14) Jesus showed absolute dependence on God and absolute submission to His will. (John 5:19; Matt. 26:39) and calls us to live the same life of humility before God. (Phil 2:5-7) With man, He was the servant of all and yet spoke the truth in love and often hard truths. (See John 6:41-69): –“…being afraid of no man; for You (Jesus) are impartial and do not regard either the person or the position of anyone.”(Matt. 22:16; 20:28; Eph. 4:15) So we too are to –“ Submit to one another (serve one another) out of reverence for Christ.”(Eph. 5:21) But we are not to seek the praise of man for our service but the praise of God. –“How can you believe if you accept praise from one another, yet make no effort to obtain the praise that comes from the only God?” (John 5:44) –“For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” (Hebrews 2:17-18; 4:15-16)
BEHOLD, I AM COMING SOON – –“Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done.” (Rev. 22:12) We are saved by grace but we are rewarded for all eternity based on works done in the power of the Holy Spirit for the glory of God. –“By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.” (1 Cor. 3:10-15) –“I have seen all the works which have been done under the sun, (selfish and temporal benefit) and behold, all is vanity.” (Eccl. 1:14) –“Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”
BEHOLDING THE GLORY OF THE LORD — –“But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord ,(of Jesus Christ) are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. (2 Cor. 3:18). So as we keep looking at Jesus and follow Him in obedience all the way to heaven God will change us to be more and more like Him by the power of the Holy Spirit.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
After looking at the Life of Jesus for a year, 52 weeks, what about Him has struck you the most?
Finishing our faith race well means living well each day for we never know when the Lord will call us home. The writer of Hebrews tells us how to finish our race well — by looking at Jesus the Model for a life of faith. What does –“fixing your eyes on Jesus” mean to you?
You have died and you are standing before God. He asks you in a kind but forceful way, –“Why should I let you in heaven?” What would you say? What does the blood of Jesus mean to you?
Relative righteousness is comparing ourselves to other people (and usually those with greater faults than ourselves) and feeling pretty good about ourselves. God calls us to look at Jesus Christ alone and desire and seek to become like Him. How can we go about doing this?
We are not to seek the praise of man for our service but the praise of God. How do you seek God’s praise?
Does the promise for eternal rewards have any significant motivation for your day to day obedience to Christ?