wtwh.org

LOOKING UNTO JESUS

By Todd Pekel

 

This time of year many people are “looking unto Jesus.” My question to them and to you who read this is quite simple. When you look unto Jesus, which Jesus do you see? Is it the “baby” Jesus, depicted in swaddling clothes and lying helplessly in those manger scenes that dot the landscape? Or is it the long-haired, sandal-wearing, revolutionary who wants everyone to make love and not war? Is it the mythical and seemingly powerless Jesus of men’s tradition who used to do miracles but really can’t be bothered with them anymore? Which Jesus is to be firmly set in our eyes as we are looking unto Jesus? Let’s read the following Scripture carefully.

Hebrews 12:2:
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.

“Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.” This is the Jesus we are to be looking unto. Not “baby” Jesus, not traditional Jesus, not Jesus the philosopher or Jesus the radical, but Jesus the author and finisher of our faith. It’s no coincidence that this verse of Scripture follows on the heels of “the great cloud of witnesses” mentioned in verse one of this chapter. It is recorded in the previous chapter of Hebrews that Moses endured while looking unto someone. Who was it that he was looking unto?

Hebrews 11:24-27:
By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter;
25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.
27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.

Moses endured, “as seeing him who is invisible.” While we respect the great things our forefathers in the faith did, we can’t help but marvel when we look unto the Lord Jesus and see the things he accomplished for us. “Who for the joy that was set before him ... endured the cross.”

Hebrews 12:3:
For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

Consider him, indeed! This Jesus, who is the author and finisher of our faith, endured such contradiction of sinners against himself. Think about it. I’m sure he knew He was innocent. I’m sure Jesus knew that he didn’t deserve to be there on that tree while at the same time knowing that everyone around him certainly did deserve to be there. Contradiction? There’s never been any greater. There has simply been no greater contradiction endured by anyone, anywhere, at anytime... ever! Only Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, resisted unto blood, striving against sin.

Hebrews 12:4:
Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.

He endured... “despising the shame,” He endured. Oh how He must have despised the shame! Think of a time or a situation when you were unjustly accused. A time when you knew you were innocent, just knew it, yet others around you condemned you as guilty. Did you despise the injustice done unto you? Did you endure the contradiction against yourself? Now multiply that times infinity to begin to get an idea of how much our Lord must have despised the shame he suffered so unjustly.

This Jesus, who endured such contradiction and shame, did so not to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved!

John 3:17:
For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

Jesus, “the author and finisher of our faith,” endured the cross while despising the shame, “for the joy which was set before him.” This Jesus, is set down at the right hand of God.

1 Peter 3:22:
Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.

When Stephen was “looking unto Jesus,” which Jesus did he see? Did he see a newborn “baby” Jesus? Was it the radical, philosophical Jesus? No. When Stephen was looking unto Jesus... he saw nothing less than the glory of God!

Acts 7:55-56:
But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,
56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.

Stephen saw nothing less than the glory of God as he was looking unto Jesus, and rightly so, because Jesus is the very image of the invisible God.

Colossians 1:15:
Who [Jesus] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:

In fact, as we are looking unto Jesus, we should see what Moses, Stephen and all of our brothers and sisters in the faith have seen throughout the ages. That is, we should see him, “who is invisible,” the Almighty God.

Hebrews 1:3:
Who [Jesus] being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

As is recorded in John’s gospel, Philip one day asked Jesus to “shew us the Father.” Jesus’ words are recorded for all who have been given eyes to see.

John 14:6-9:
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
8 Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.
9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?

“He that hath seen me hath seen the Father,” said Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. As we look unto Jesus during this holiday season, let us not see the traditions of men, radical philosophers, or babes in mangers. As we are looking unto Jesus, let us be given eyes to see “him who is invisible.” Let us see what our forefathers in the faith have seen as they looked unto Jesus. In short, let us see nothing less than the express image and glory of God Almighty himself.

 

 


From the December 2002 issue of The Vine & Branches