In Hebrews chapter 12, verse 2, the Apostle Paul says: “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.”

When I begin to think about what it takes to endure, I am made to feel ashamed of the lack of endurance on my part. The words endure, or endured carries the thought as to remain, to undergo, to bear, to stay under, to have fortitude, to suffer patiently, to persevere, as to stay in a given place, state, relation, or expectancy regardless of the trials, the problems, the sufferings, the pains, the ridicule, or the sacrifice that has to be made.

What is it that would cause a person to even entertain the ideal of going through such things as this? Do you realize that our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ not only entertained the ideal of enduring, but he suffered as no other man has ever suffered and he endured? In Philippians chapter 2, verses 7 & 8, the Apostle Paul says; but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Oh! What wondrous grace we find in the obedience and endurance of Jesus Christ.

I do not think that any of us could, or would say that Christ enjoyed the ridicule, the pain, the sufferings, the beatings, the lies that were told about him, how that man spit upon him, railed upon him, falsely accused him, and nailed him to the cross to die. Oh! This is a lot to endure; yet this is only a small portion of what Christ suffered and endured. Paul has said that Christ became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. It seems that it is one thing to be obedient unto death, yet another thing to be obedient unto the death of the cross. What pain and sufferings that man inflicted upon Christ was great, but nothing compared to the wrath and judgment of God that he endured on the cross for the sins of his people. The Apostle Paul says: but we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

When Christ was hanging upon the tree of the cross in that three hours of darkness and the wrath of God was poured out upon him and had removed his Holy presence from his only Son, this is where and when Christ suffered and paid the ultimate price for sin. This is where the Just suffered for the unjust, this is where redemption took place, this is where the ultimate price for sin was paid, this is the place where Christ secured your body, soul, and spirit that we might live with him in that wonderful place called heaven.

I want you to notice now the text under consideration, 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. Christ did not enjoy the things that he suffered at the hands of sinful men, or the righteous judgment that was poured out upon him on the tree of the cross. Yet for the JOY that was set before him he endured the cross. Now he is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. This joy that was set before him embraces bringing his sons and daughters onto glory.

In St. John, 2:27, Christ says, now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour. Then in verses 31 & 32, he says, now is the judgment of this world; now shall the prince of this world be cast out. And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. Oh! The joy that was set before him, he endured the cross; despising the shame that he might draw all men unto him.

In St. John chapter 17, verses 1 thru 5 "Christ lifted his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory, which I had with thee before the world was."

Christ came to do the will of the Father. He endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, he finished the work that he came into the world to do, that he might secure our place in heaven, that he might bring us into a vital relationship with God. That he might be glorified with the glory that he had with the Father before the world was. Oh! How thankful we ought to be for the grace of God that has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in Jesus Christ.