Jesus: The Author and Finisher of Our Faith
Base Text: Hebrews 12:2
Proposition: Jesus is the origin, the perfect example, and the total fulfillment of our faith. Motivated by the joy set before Him, He endured the cross, despised the shame, and received the eternal reward.
Introduction
In the Greek text, Jesus is called the Archegos (the Pioneer or Author) and the Teleiotes (the Perfecter or Finisher).
• The Author: Without Him, faith has no beginning. He is the one who blazed the trail of salvation.
• The Finisher: He didn't just start the work; He completed it. On the cross, He cried, "It is finished!" (John 19:30), signifying that the debt was paid and the path was open.
To complete this mission, Jesus didn't rely on sheer willpower alone. He was fueled by something specific: Joy. Let’s look at how that joy shaped His sacrifice and how it should shape our service.
I. Motivated by the Joy Set Before Him
The secret to Jesus’ endurance was His focus. He looked past the immediate agony to the future result.
• The Source of His Joy: His joy was the redemption of mankind. He was moved by the prospect of bringing many sons and daughters to glory.
• Service vs. Obligation: When we serve out of "duty," it becomes a heavy burden. But when we serve with joy, it becomes a privilege. The early Christians even accepted the seizure of their property with joy because they knew they had a better inheritance (Hebrews 10:34).
• A Tale of Two Responses:
◦ The Rich Young Ruler: He walked away sad because he wasn't willing to lose his earthly treasures for Christ (Matthew 19:16–21).
◦ The Apostle Paul: He lost everything but considered it "garbage" or "loss" compared to the joy of knowing Christ (Philippians 3:7–8).
Application: If your Christian walk feels heavy today, ask yourself: Am I looking at the weight of the cross, or the joy of the crown?
II. He Endured the Cross
We often sanitize the cross, but for Jesus, it was a gauntlet of physical and emotional agony.
Category of Suffering: Biblical Evidence
Physical Torture - Scourging, the crown of thorns, and being struck in the head (Mark 15:15, 19).
Public Humiliation - Being spit upon, slapped, and stripped naked (Matthew 26:67; 27:28).
Emotional Betrayal - The denial by Peter and the abandonment by His closest friends.
Verbal Abuse - Mockery from the soldiers and insults from those passing by (Matthew 27:39).
The Contrast: We sometimes struggle to forgive a brother for a small comment or a slight offense. Yet Jesus endured the ultimate "contradiction of sinners" against Himself. He calls us to be faithful even unto death (Revelation 2:10).
III. He Despised the Shame
In the Roman world, the cross wasn't just about pain; it was designed for shame. It was the death of a slave, a criminal, the lowest of the low.
• The Humility of Christ: He emptied Himself and took the form of a servant (Philippians 2:8).
• Numbered with Transgressors: He was crucified between two thieves, treated as a common criminal though He was the only innocent man to ever live (Matthew 27:38).
• Our Response: Christ did not shrink from the shame of the cross to save us. Why do we so often shrink from the "shame" of being identified with Him in a world that rejects Him?
IV. He Obtained the Prize
Because He finished the race, He received the seat of highest honor.
• The Exaltation: He is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God. God has made Him both Lord and Christ (Acts 2:36).
• The Guarantee of Reward: His exaltation is the proof that our labor in the Lord is not in vain (1 Corinthians 15:58).
• Our Future: Like Paul, we can look forward to the "crown of righteousness" that the Lord will give to all who have loved His appearing (2 Timothy 4:7–8).
- Preaching on Amos 4:12 - Prepare to Meet Your God
- Preaching on Idolatry: Why God Rejects Idols
- Preaching on the Healing of a Leper Matthew 8:1–4
Conclusion
Jesus is the Author of your faith—He called you. He is the Finisher—He will sustain you until the end.
If the road is hard, look to Him. If you are tired of the "shame" of being a Christian, look to Him. If you have lost your joy, look to Him. He endured the worst this world could offer so that He could offer you the best that Heaven has to give.
Final Thought:
Jesus gave His life for you. The question remains: What are you giving for Him?
