Monday, May 9, 2011


Steudler Azalea Gardens

"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.  Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart" (Hebrews 12:2,3).

Yesterday was an extra special day for us. On May 8th we celebrate our wedding anniversary (1976) and my ordination to ministry (1979). But this year was also Mother's Day, so we really had three celebration events on one day. Last night I was talking to my brother in California and he told me that we had a trifecta, an interesting term I had heard of but don't commonly use, so I had to look it up. Turns out it's in part a horse racing term, but it also means "a run of three grand events".  That got me thinking about the greatest trifecta of all.
 
Our daily text begins "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him." To "fix our eyes" means to look away from other things and steadfastly or intently toward a distant object, at that which fills the heart. The idea is to direct one’s attention without distraction.

Today let us consider three grand events comprising this glorious trivecta in the life of Christ as expressed in the remainder of this verse:

1) Christ endured the cross. We have the accounts in the Gospels of His endurance as He was completing the mission His Father had sent Him to earth to accomplish; His sacrificial death for the redemption of the human race.  Endured literally means "to remain under but not simply with resignation, but rather with a vibrant hope". It describes one who continues in an activity despite resistance and opposition. Jesus endured short-term pain because of the certainty of long-term gain.

2) Christ scorned the shame. I find an elaboration in the Amplified Bible helpful here, "ignoring the shame".  The cross at His time brought only shame (it was the most shameful of deaths, “yea, the death of the cross” Philippians 2:8). But Jesus ignored that and did his Father’s will by submitting to it.

3) Christ sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. The death and resurrection of Christ are not explicit in this passage but certainly powerfully taught. He who endured and despised the shame of the Cross, died for our sins, was resurrected, ascended into heaven and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. In fact the writer of Hebrews introduced Jesus with the description... "When He had made purification of sins (His work of salvation as the sacrificial Lamb of God was accomplished once and for all), He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high" (Hebrews 1:3).

As a result of Christ's glorious trifecta we are called to "consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men." The word "consider" translates the Greek "analogizomai" which is used only here in the entire New Testament. (The English word "analyze" is related to this word.)  It means to carefully estimate and contemplate. 

There's a powerful reason for this consideration, "so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."  Encouragement is a prominent theme in the book of Hebrews. In fact regular readers may recall that the theme verse for this ministry comes from Hebrews 3:13, "encourage one another daily."

Today we have this same need don't we? By deeply contemplating these various aspects of Christ's redemptive trifecta, we receive encouragement and renewed determination to press on in our faith, even in the midst of opposition.  Jesus Saves!



Be encouraged today,


Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

Daily prayer: Jesus, we want to fix our eyes, our thoughts, and our affections on You, our blessed Redeemer.  Though You faced enormous opposition that would provide understandable excuse for altering Your redemption plan, nevertheless You endured the cross and scorned it's shame. Thank you that you died for our sins and rose in victory and returned to Your Father to sit at His right hand. When we consider the depth of Your commitment we're even more determined to be faithful in the night seasons of our Christian walk.  Help us to endure by keeping our eyes, not on that which is seen, but on the unseen future rewards that You promise to those who are faithful.  We pray this in Your name.  Amen.

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Our friends Tom and Marsha are young grandparents and are still physically fit.Tom managed to get on this Amish trike during a visit last fall.  They came to our church as a young married couple some 30 years ago. We were encouraged and humored by a note Brooksyne received from Marsha this morning concerning an experience in Children's Church yesterday:

I must tell you what I said to the kids yesterday. In Children's Church I began to review  the ABC's of Proverbs which Krista and I have been teaching for several months.  I started from the letter "A" and began to elaborate on each letter and let the kids say what word goes with each letter: (Like, what is our "A" word? They answer, "Avoid" for "Avoid evil".... and so on for each letter).

So, I get to the letter "F" and I ask with GREAT enthusiasm, "What is the "F" word?" I realize RIGHT away what I just asked as I glanced at a surprised 10 year old's face (his second time in Children's Church), along with the open mouth of my son-in-law Bill who had come to sit with his boys and is now blushing. Right away, I have to prompt the children that it is a good word that starts with the letter "F"-FRIENDS. Oh my! The teasing I had to put up with at the dinner table!

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