Monday Meditation
July 09, 2012
The Quintessential Life of Faith
“Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of faith.”
Hebrews 12:2
“The just shall life by faith” (Heb 10:38) is the background for the Heroes of Faith chapter (Ch.11) of Hebrews. The newly saved Hebrew believers were being wooed back to Judaism with its tangible and visible vestments of worship: a temple, sacrifices, and a high priest. Everything which the believers possessed was unseen to natural sight. Thus, the Spirit of God brings before the believers the examples of those who walked and worshiped by faith, seeing the unseen.
But He leaves the lives of chapter 11 and introduces us to the ultimate life of faith. “Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of faith.” You will notice that Bible versions which insert words in italics all place the word “our” in italics. This is to indicate that it does not belong in the original. So it is not speaking here of our faith, the body of truth we embrace. It is referring to the Lord Jesus as living a life of faith while here as a Man upon earth.
He is the author or the One Who actually is the source and originator of faith. We are taught in Titus 1 that before the worlds began, God promised eternal life. To whom was this promise made? Is it possible that it was made to the Son in light of those He would bring to salvation? If so, then His advent to earth was marked by faith – total dependence on the fact that God would fulfill His promise and give eternal life to those for Whom He died.
As He moved here among men, He lived a life of total unblemished faith. He lived “on every word that proceeded from the mouth of God” (Matt 4:4, Newberry). As a Servant of Jehovah, His ear was opened morning by morning to hear (Isa 50:4) and He was not rebellious and did not shrink back from what the Word of God instructed Him to do. He obeyed the word and Will of God, leaving results and consequences with His God.
Consider:
1. Think of times as a Servant, the Lord Jesus served His Master on the principle of faith. Consider Him as King Who would be faith wait for His kingdom. What about His life as a Man? In what way did He display faith?
2. As the Son of God in John’s Gospel, did he need to live by faith? Are there instances where you can see the Lord Jesus leaving His vindication as Son of God to a future day?