The Daily Office for February 2, 2012
Scriptures
Psalm 70
Genesis 23:1-20
Hebrews 11:32-12:2
John 6:60-71
Reading (Hebrews 11:32-12:2)
Reflection
The Book of Hebrews is laid out in a logical, sequential manner. Prior to chapter 11, the primary emphasis is on doctrine and instruction. Chapter 11 gives us an array of Old Testament examples of faith and patience that affirm the earlier chapters. Now, in chapter 12, the writer begins building upon these examples, which are then followed by more admonishments.
The first two verses of 12 refer to the heroes of the faith as a "great cloud of witnesses." The Greek word for the witnesses, martyrōn, literally means (of course) martyrs. During the terrible days of martyrdom following the New Testament era, this word became the common term for identifying those who testified through their death. The witnesses in verse 1, then, testify to the need for a persistent faith that endures even under the most difficult of circumstances. The author is emphatic that we need to run as they have. The faithfulness they have exhibited is something we must demonstrate as well. And we must set aside anything that could hinder our effectiveness for service. Whatever does not aid in the race is a weight and must be cast aside. The second thing which must be put off is sin. This sin may be a different for each Christian. It may be greed, gossip, sexual immorality, or lying. Whatever it is, it must be put off in order to run the race which God has placed before us. We must run with endurance, for the race doesn't end.
In Verse 2 we are told to direct our gaze or focus upon Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. He is the one who has already run the course set before us. Though chapter 11 has provided us with many champions to emulate, the supreme example of endurance is Jesus Himself. So the Christian is to run the course that has been placed before him or her with endurance, just as Christ endured the cross for our sake. As Jesus fixed His gaze upon the joy which lay at the end of the course, so we must fix our gaze upon Jesus, the finisher of our faith.
Collect for the Day
Almighty and ever-living God, clothed in majesty, whose beloved Son was this day presented in the Temple, in substance of our flesh: grant that we may be presented to you with pure and clean hearts, by your Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.