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Jesus, Example of Patience (5/5)

So Jesus was patient; what is that to me? Is there some response that God desires of me because of the patience displayed by His Son?

Hear Hebrews 12.1-3: "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." (emphasis mine, jb).

Note the three usages of the root word endure in the verses quoted. In the English and in the Greek these words are directly linked; they are from the same root concept of patient endurance and the refusal to give up or to swerve from one's righteous purpose. The two latter usages of the word in the previous verses are references to Jesus and how He endured the cross and all the other indignities that led up to the cross. The first usage of the term is an admonition to believers. We will explore this admonition further as we conclude this miniseries.

Believers are admonished to do two things: (1) "Lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily besets us," and (2) "Run with endurance [patience] the race that is set before us." As believers follow this admonition, they are instructed to keep their eyes on the example, Jesus, so as not to lose heart. The strength that we gather from these verses goes something like this: If Jesus was able to endure what He did and has since been duly seated at the right hand of the Father, we are also be able to finish our God-given tasks here with full assurance that God will reward us when the time is right.

The Hebrews writer makes this point even stronger when he interjects, "You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin." (Hebrews 12.4). Unlike Jesus, the audience to whom this epistle was penned had not yet been called upon to make the ultimate sacrifice, namely their own blood. This is not to say that they would not be called upon to do so in the future, but it was not a reality at the time of the writing. Implied in this verse is the fact that God actually expected them to be prepared to make such a sacrifice should it be required in the future.

So what effect is the patient example of Jesus to have on us as believers? Hear Peter: "For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps." (1 Peter 2.20-21). The plain import of this text is this: If we suffer wrongfully for right-doing, God sees this as commendable; contrariwise, if we fail to take such things patiently, the suffering has no positive results; only when we suffer patiently is there credit to be given.

"For to this you were called… that you should follow His steps."

"God's Words For US" from Cecelia Lester

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