He's Been There, Done That

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This sermon is based on Hebrews 12:2-3 and explores the reasons why Christians are urged to keep their focus on Jesus while going through life. We receive encouragement by remembering three main things about Jesus: what He went through, who He is, and He is always with us.

Written Excerpts:

Hebrews 12:3 ^(NKJV) For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.

Introduction:
Imagine that you are being prepared for an extensive surgery that will require a lengthy rehabilitation process following surgery. There is a close friend with you trying to encourage you for the long process ahead. They tell you that you’ll be able to get through it; the pain won’t really be that bad; and you will eventually be back to normal functions of daily life.

You look at them and ask, “Have you been through this before?”

They suddenly get a blank look on their face and reply, “No, but I read a book about it!”

How would that make you feel? How much encouragement would that provide for you?

Wouldn’t you rather hear from someone who had been through the exact same experience and “lived to tell about it?”

Last Sunday we discussed a phrase found in Heb. 12:2 – “looking unto Jesus.” We talked about four different qualities that were evident in the life of Jesus from His birth until His resurrection. I mentioned how we can look at those qualities exhibited in the life of Christ and use them as a model or pattern for our own walk of faith.

Today, I would like to draw your attention to verse 3. Those early Christians were instructed to think about Jesus who had endured severe hostility from His peers. Obviously, they would have understood that the writer was not only speaking about the verbal opposition Jesus received during His ministry, but even more, the physical suffering they put Him through with the crucifixion. We mentioned before that they were urged in v. 1 to “run the race with patience” or endurance. I had mentioned then and at other times that this patience or endurance is not the kind we describe by the phrase, “grin and bear it.” Nor is it some kind of light, frivolous emotion that pretends things aren’t really as bad as they are.

I came across a quote by William Barclay that I wanted to share regarding endurance. He writes, “… [it] does not mean the patience which sits down and accepts things but the patience which masters them. It is not some romantic thing which lends us wings to fly over the difficulties and the hard places. It is a determination, unhurrying and yet undenying, which goes steadily on and refuses to be deflected.”

Last week we already mentioned that we need to keep our eyes focused on Jesus. In that message we talked about some of the general aspects of His life and the qualities He exhibited. Today, I want to further explore how “looking to Jesus” can be of any help to us when we are traveling through this life and dealing with all its obstacles and challenges.

I.      We can remember what He went through.

“He endured the cross” – As I read earlier the quote from Wm. Barclay, this phrase reminds us that Jesus didn’t evade the cross; He endured it. He accepted it and faced it “head on” and went through the whole ordeal.

“Despised the shame” – The death of crucifixion was shameful. It was the death reserved for “criminals.” There was a huge social stigma associated with it. But Jesus despised all of that – He didn’t allow those facts to deter Him from fulfilling the Father’s plan.

“endured contradiction of sinners” – Boldly and confidently faced the opposition directed to Him by sinners.

These sinners included the socially respected, religious leaders.

“resisted unto blood” (v. 4) – He went through it all including the point of shedding blood. He gave His very life, which has not yet been the experience of the readers. Writer may have also been thinking of others who were included in the examples given in chapter 11, who also died (shed their blood) because of their faith in God. (Barclay)

II.    We can remember who He is.

I don’t know about you, but sometimes I think we can begin to reason – well, Jesus was God after all, so He had supernatural powers and He was better fitted for these situations than I am.

Let’s look at a few of the verses that was read earlier in the service.

Hebrews 2:17 ^(NKJV) Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.

Hebrews 4:15 ^(NKJV) For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.

The writer goes to great lengths to show us that Jesus is human just like us. He did have the supernatural power of God in those situations where He was demonstrating God’s grace and love to people, and for confirming His own deity. However, the Bible clearly states that He laid aside His divine power in order to submit to the Father’s will for the plan of redemption. When it came to benefiting himself, He willfully chose not to use divine powers so that He could fully experience our humanness in suffering and in representing us in His death.

He literally and truly has “been there and done that.”

III.   We can remember that He is with us all the way.

Finally, I want to remind us that the hope and good news goes further than simply instructing us to keep Jesus in mind as we endure opposition, persecution, or adversity. We need to remember that His presence is actually with us and in us.

Wm. Barclay – “He is at once goal of our journey and the companion of our way; at once the one whom we go to meet and the one with whom we travel…. forever in the company of him who has already made the journey and reached the goal, and who waits to welcome us when we reach the end.”

Conclusion:

Life is full of obstacles, opposition and suffering, especially when we purpose to be completely devoted to the Lord and do His will. Let us remember that Jesus has gone through the same experiences. “He was tempted (tested) in all points, or all kinds of ways, such as we are.” Let us remember that He was fully and completely human, just like us. He didn’t use His divine prerogatives for His own benefit. Let us remember that He is always with us, whether we can sense it or not; He is there.

Therefore, let us keep on trusting Him. Trust Him for direction and guidance in tough decisions. Trust Him for comfort in grief and sorrow. Trust Him for relief in suffering and pain. Trust Him for power to overcome temptations and trials.

Our closing hymn is a song about trusting Jesus. Let us stand and sing it together, Trusting Jesus