Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses,
let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us,
and let us run with patience 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 is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself,
lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
Hebrews 12:1-3
Introduction:
- The theme of rewards or recompense is strong in the Bible, promised by God but conditional to men.
- Before the rewards for righteous men, which are many, let us see God’s clear gifts and honors to Jesus.
- The Bible has over 100 references to “rewards” (crowns included), but the word is not used for Jesus.
- Reward = a gift, payment, or recompense for service or merit, sometimes unconditional or for evil.
- Recompense = a synonym for reward = compensation for trouble, exertion, services, merit, or evil.
- For a full reward, you must achieve the goal and follow the rules (II Tim 2:5; Rom 12:8; I Cor 9:24).
- To consider God’s rewards in the Bible, we begin with the best, greatest, preeminent example, Jesus.
- The Hall of Faith, connected to the verses above, lists great O.T. examples of major exploits by faith.
- Jesus is Author and Finisher of our faith as origin, strength, object, perfecter, chastener, etc. (Heb 5:9).
- But the verse’s content shows He is the greatest example and leader of faith, Whom we should follow.
- In this verse we have His character, conduct, focus, motivation, and reward. Let us review His rewards.
- Our goal – it must be preeminent – is to preach Jesus Christ crucified (I Cor 1:23; 2:2; 3:11; Gal 6:14).
- This study and sermon is simple (and not exhaustive), but its simplicity should be precious to believers.
- God’s great drama of the universe is primarily about His Son, and we should be glad to do Him honor.
Philippians 2:5-11 … Jesus humbly obeyed God to die but then He was highly exalted with the best name.
Philippians 3:20-21 … He now has a glorious body and will return with great power to change all things.
Isaiah 52:13-15 … Jesus dealt prudently, was greatly abused, and was exalted and extolled and very high.
Isaiah 53:7-12 … Jesus obeyed to die like a criminal for sins in prime of life but lives forever with spoils.
Psalm 22:30 … though cut off in the prime of life without progeny, He has a glorious seed and generation.
Psalm 8:5-8 … Jesus was made lower than angels but then crowned with glory and honor and dominion.
Hebrews 2:7-9 … Jesus was made lower than angels to die for us but then crowned with all under his feet.
I Peter 3:22 … at God’s right hand, Jesus is Lord over the hosts of heaven’s angels, authorities, and powers.
Ephesians 1:20-22 … God put Him at His right hand after His resurrection far above all angelic authority.
Psalm 16:8-11 … Jesus always obeyed God and was resurrected to live forever with full joy and pleasure.
Acts 2:25-28 … Jesus depended on God and thrived in heart and voice with eternal life given by the Father.
Psalm 2:7-9 … God declared Jesus His Son at His ascension and gave Him the Gentiles and a rod of iron.
Hebrews 1:4-6 … Exalted as the Son of God, He was made much better than the angels over the universe.
Revelation 2:27; 12:5 … He received a rod of iron indicating dominion over all the nations of the earth.
Psalm 110:1-2,5-7 … Jesus was David’s Lord, and God set Him at His right hand and gave Him a footstool.
Acts 2:30-36 … Peter explained at Pentecost that this reward had been given to the Jesus they crucified.
Hebrews 1:3-4,13 … Paul explained how much greater Jesus was than angels and also stated the footstool.
Hebrews 8:1 … our high priest does not fulfill His office on earth but at the right hand of heavens’ Majesty.
Hebrews 10:12-13 … God gave Jesus this great gift at His right hand with a footstool for dying for sins.
Romans 8:34 … Jesus died for us so successfully that He is at the right hand of God to intercede for us.
Colossians 3:1 … believers risen with Christ by baptism should seek the things where He sits beside God.
Matthew 28:18 … before Jesus ascended up to God, He declared He had all power in heaven and in earth.
Daniel 7:13-14 … Jesus came to the Ancient of Days to receive dominion, glory, and a kingdom over all.
Luke 24:26 … Jesus reminded two from Emmaus that Christ was to suffer and then enter into His glory.
I Peter 1:11,21 … Peter identified the glory that followed His sufferings as glory given to Him by God.
Revelation 1:10-18 … when John saw the glorified Jesus in great splendor he fell at His feet as if dead.
Psalm 68:18 … When Jesus ascended up to heaven after His work on earth He received gifts for ministers.
Ephesians 4:8-11 … Jesus ascended far above all heavens and gave these gifts of the ministry to His men.
John 7:37-39 … Jesus preached about the great gift of the Holy Spirit with believers that was yet to come.
Acts 2:33 … Jesus received the spoil of the Holy Spirit, when He then in turn greatly blessed His church.
Matthew 16:27 … Jesus humiliated to die would come in His Father’s glory with angels in vengeance.
Mark 8:38 … choosing to be ashamed of Jesus and His doctrine would bring great shame at His coming.
Luke 9:26 … Jesus would return in unprecedented vengeance in His own glory and in His Father’s glory.
Isaiah 9:6-7 … as Isaiah had prophesied, Jehovah in His zeal made Jesus the perfect King of the universe.
John 17:4-5 … Jesus in His prayer as priest before His death spoke of the reward of God’s glory to come.
Matthew 25:31-46 … Jesus will come in His glory and sit on His throne of glory to judge angels and men.
I Corinthians 15:24-28 … Jesus will deliver up the kingdom to God with total victory over all enemies.
Revelation 1:5-6 … He was promoted to prince of the kings of the earth with glory and dominion forever.
Revelation 2:1,8,12,18; 3:1,7,14 … when Jesus addressed the seven churches He identified some rewards.
Revelation 3:7 … He has the key or authority of David at the highest level to open or close as He chooses.
Revelation 3:21 … Jesus was an overcomer, beating enemies and temptations, to sit in His Father’s throne.
Revelation 5:1-14 … His authority and glory in heaven are unprecedented and all creation sings His praise.
Revelation 19:12 … not only is He on His throne at God’s right hand, He has many crowns on His head.
Revelation 21:22-27 … describes the Lamb as the temple and light of the heavenly city over earth’s kings.
I Timothy 6:13-16 … for making a good confession before Pilate, He is the blessed and only Potentate.
Revelation 17:14 … all Europe would unite against Jesus, but He won as Lord of lords and King of kings.
Revelation 19:11-16 … on His white horse, there is no more glorious image than Jesus, The Word of God.
Conclusion:
- To consider God’s rewards in the Bible, we begin with the best, greatest, preeminent example, Jesus.
- Hebrews 12:2 shows that Jesus is the greatest example and leader of faith, Whom we should follow.
- In this verse we have His character, conduct, focus, motivation, and reward. Let us review His rewards.
- As our leader and example, we should seek to please God as He did to obtain rewards promised to us.
- This study and sermon is simple (and not exhaustive), but its simplicity should be precious to believers.
- God’s great drama of the universe is primarily about His Son, and we should be glad to do Him honor.
For Further Study:
- He Ascended Up on High … He Ascended Up On High (1 Sermon).
- Coronation of Jesus Christ.
- Christ in Glory – Revelation 5 … Christ in Glory.
- Exposition of Isaiah 52–53 … Isaiah 53: Servant to Son.
- Who Shall Declare His Generation?
- Exposition of Psalm 22 … Psalm 22: Christ Crucified.
- Exposition of Psalm 45 … Psalm 45: A Song of Loves.