March 13th, 2024
“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.” (Hebrews 12:2)
In this final devotional in our series, I don’t intend to unpack this verse to its fullest. That could be an entire series in itself. However, in a study on faith in Hebrews 11, we must acknowledge that this verse really is the climax of the argument.
Once we have considered the examples of faith throughout history, there comes a time that we must fix our eyes on Jesus. The verb “looking” clearly indicates a turning away from everything else and placing our whole focus on Jesus. As helpful as the examples of Hebrews 11 may be, there is only one perfect example.
Furthermore, while men and women of old were commended for their faith, this verse says that Jesus is the Author and Finisher of our faith. Let’s take a moment to consider these two descriptions of Jesus.
He is the Author of our faith. We could take this in two different ways, both of which are true. One possible translation is “pioneer,” and certainly, Jesus was our forerunner (see Hebrews 2:10). Ray Stedman writes, “Jesus has gone before us in this race to keep faith. He knows the need for it. He himself ran the race. He laid aside every weight, every tie of family and friends. He set his face against the popular sin of unbelief and daily lived in patient perseverance, trusting his Father to work everything out for him. He set the perfect example.”[1] Like the trailblazer who cuts through the wilderness to benefit others, Jesus – through His obedience – forged the ideal path of faith for His disciples.
Another emphasis could be that Jesus is the source or origin of our faith. Truly, by His death and resurrection Jesus became the “source of eternal salvation” (Hebrews 5:9). Without Him, we are still in our sins (I Corinthians 15:17). Our future-directed faith (i.e., hope) finds its origin in Jesus as well. As the old hymn goes, “My hope I built on nothing less/Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.”
In so many ways, our faith begins in Jesus. But it also ends in Him as well.
He is the Finisher of our faith. Once again, this is a unique word, used only here in the entire Greek New Testament. However, it comes from a familiar word group. The Greek word telos is well-known because of its adaptation in English words like teleology. It has the idea of end, purpose, or result. In a similar way, this related noun means “the one who finishes” or even “the one who brings things to their consummation.” That’s what Jesus does. He completes our faith. He is the perfecter of our faith.
We can think of this experientially. When we don’t have enough faith, when we struggle in the day-to-day life of faith, Jesus imparts faith and strength through His Spirit.
We can also think of this eschatologically. When it’s all said and done, our faith will prove to be a gift of God, and a work of the Lord Jesus Christ on our hearts.
I’ve played a lot of basketball with children, particularly my own kids. When they are little, they often can’t reach the basketball with their own strength. Sometimes they give their very best effort, and it still falls short. Often, I’ve taken the shot they’ve put up and given the extra help it needed to go through the basket. Although they tried, they could never do it on their own.
Our faith is similar in this sense. God completes it, in the end. He takes our feeble efforts, empowered by His Spirit, and “makes the basket,” so to speak. On the “day of Christ” we will be “filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ” (see Philippians 1:9-11).
Without Jesus, there is no faith. He starts it, and He completes it. He is the Author and Finisher, or we could even say the “Alpha and Omega” of our faith.
[1] Ray C. Stedman, Hebrews, The IVP New Testament Commentary Series (Westmont, IL: IVP Academic, 1992), Heb 12:1–3.
In this final devotional in our series, I don’t intend to unpack this verse to its fullest. That could be an entire series in itself. However, in a study on faith in Hebrews 11, we must acknowledge that this verse really is the climax of the argument.
Once we have considered the examples of faith throughout history, there comes a time that we must fix our eyes on Jesus. The verb “looking” clearly indicates a turning away from everything else and placing our whole focus on Jesus. As helpful as the examples of Hebrews 11 may be, there is only one perfect example.
Furthermore, while men and women of old were commended for their faith, this verse says that Jesus is the Author and Finisher of our faith. Let’s take a moment to consider these two descriptions of Jesus.
He is the Author of our faith. We could take this in two different ways, both of which are true. One possible translation is “pioneer,” and certainly, Jesus was our forerunner (see Hebrews 2:10). Ray Stedman writes, “Jesus has gone before us in this race to keep faith. He knows the need for it. He himself ran the race. He laid aside every weight, every tie of family and friends. He set his face against the popular sin of unbelief and daily lived in patient perseverance, trusting his Father to work everything out for him. He set the perfect example.”[1] Like the trailblazer who cuts through the wilderness to benefit others, Jesus – through His obedience – forged the ideal path of faith for His disciples.
Another emphasis could be that Jesus is the source or origin of our faith. Truly, by His death and resurrection Jesus became the “source of eternal salvation” (Hebrews 5:9). Without Him, we are still in our sins (I Corinthians 15:17). Our future-directed faith (i.e., hope) finds its origin in Jesus as well. As the old hymn goes, “My hope I built on nothing less/Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.”
In so many ways, our faith begins in Jesus. But it also ends in Him as well.
He is the Finisher of our faith. Once again, this is a unique word, used only here in the entire Greek New Testament. However, it comes from a familiar word group. The Greek word telos is well-known because of its adaptation in English words like teleology. It has the idea of end, purpose, or result. In a similar way, this related noun means “the one who finishes” or even “the one who brings things to their consummation.” That’s what Jesus does. He completes our faith. He is the perfecter of our faith.
We can think of this experientially. When we don’t have enough faith, when we struggle in the day-to-day life of faith, Jesus imparts faith and strength through His Spirit.
We can also think of this eschatologically. When it’s all said and done, our faith will prove to be a gift of God, and a work of the Lord Jesus Christ on our hearts.
I’ve played a lot of basketball with children, particularly my own kids. When they are little, they often can’t reach the basketball with their own strength. Sometimes they give their very best effort, and it still falls short. Often, I’ve taken the shot they’ve put up and given the extra help it needed to go through the basket. Although they tried, they could never do it on their own.
Our faith is similar in this sense. God completes it, in the end. He takes our feeble efforts, empowered by His Spirit, and “makes the basket,” so to speak. On the “day of Christ” we will be “filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ” (see Philippians 1:9-11).
Without Jesus, there is no faith. He starts it, and He completes it. He is the Author and Finisher, or we could even say the “Alpha and Omega” of our faith.
[1] Ray C. Stedman, Hebrews, The IVP New Testament Commentary Series (Westmont, IL: IVP Academic, 1992), Heb 12:1–3.
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