It was Worth it to Him
“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the 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 has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.” (Hebrews 12:1-3)
The writer of the letter to the first century Hebrew Christians still speaks to us today.
In encouraging us to get rid of the burdens placed on us by the devil and the sin that entangles our feet so that we can run freely as the born again he tells us to focus on Jesus.
He describes Him as the author and finisher of our faith. In other words, the work of making us everything He intends for us to be is in the hands of the Lord. We are to cooperate with Him.
Then, in what we know as Hebrews 12:2, he gives us a glimpse into the mind of Christ as He faced the Cross.
“….who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame….”
Jesus knew that dying on the Cross was considered a shameful way to go in the first century.
He despised or completely disesteemed the opinion of others about that.
The writer of Hebrews tell is that Jesus was looking past the Cross….past His own resurrection…and what he saw gave Him so much joy…that He considered the Cross to be worth it to Him.
At what was He looking if not His own resurrection?
“Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. For he who has died has been freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him.” (Romans 6:3-9)
He was looking at your resurrection WITH Him.
He was looking at mine too.
Brothers and sisters, let’s live like He did while He was on the earth.
Let’s go to what Father wants for us looking for the joy He has in store for AFTER the trial.
Let’s live a resurrected life!
“If (since) then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind (FOCUS!!!) on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.” (Colossians 3:1-4)
Let’s live as the resurrected ones…..because we ARE the resurrected ones.
Pastor Mike McInerney
Mike McInerney Ministries, Inc.
Decatur, TX 76234
© March 26, 2016