Consider Him

Heb. 12:2-3, Looking unto Jesus, the Author and Perfector 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. Consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.

Perfector, according to the Interlinear:  
one who has in his own person raised faith to its perfection and so set before us the highest example of faith.” Consider Him. And not only Him, but the Word as well. We should read the Word of God with purpose and intent to understand and not skim over the words.

So let us first “consider” the word consider. Strong synonyms for “consider” according to different sources, are… “sympathetic meditation, conscientious study, careful thought, quiet deliberation, attentive observation! Usually over a period of time in order to achieve THE understanding of what is presented to you.”

Not “an” understanding, but THE understanding! The word "the" is a definite article which always refers to a "specific" thing (noun), as opposed to the words "a" or "an" which are a general reference. So THE understanding defines a specific understanding. For example, one can read the Bible or one can study the Bible. Reading will give one a general understanding of creation, the flood, the Hebrews, Jesus, the crucifixion, etc. But a study would give one a specific understanding about a specific subject or theme. As a further example, casual reading might tell the reader that “Jesus died to save man from the consequences of their sin” and then conclude that they are saved. Does anyone think that hasn’t happened?

Gill's Expository Commentary: “Consider him in the greatness of his person, as God, the Son of God, the Heir of all things; and in His offices of Prophet, Priest, and King, as the Savior of lost sinners, the Leader and Commander of the people, as the Apostle and High Priest of our profession: consider Him in His human nature, His conversation on earth, and what He did and suffered for men; how that in His nature He was pure and holy, in His conversation harmless and innocent, in His deportment meek and lowly; Who went about doing good to the souls of men, and at last suffered and died, and is now glorified: consider the analogy between Him and us, and how great is the disproportion.”

So let us consider Him Who endured such vicious, evil, violent responses from His own people. We don’t have to go to the Gospels to consider the assaults on His person. 700-800 years before the crucifixion, Isaiah wrote of the assaults on His body, Spirit, and soul, saying... Many were appalled at Him because His appearance was so disfigured beyond any resemblance to a human being and his form marred beyond human likeness. Consider THAT!

He was pierced through for our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities; Consider THAT! Pierced, crushed… simplistic words, for some, if one just reads past them.

the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, Consider the word “chastisement.” Not a frequent word in my vocabulary, so I had to look it up to be clear. Basically, it means “to punish someone for wrong-doing.” Even the meaning does not have a very profound impact in today’s culture because we don’t even “spank” anyone anymore. But here we have a “man” CRUCIFIED for doing NOTHING wrong! …FOR OUR PEACE!!!

and by His stripes we are healed. “Stripes” is such an inoffensive word there, considering His flesh was shredded by the Roman scourge. Consider THAT!

Isaiah 50:6 says, I gave My cheeks to those who pluck out the beard.

One needs a fair amount of hair on the cheeks for someone to grab with enough leverage to rip it out. Consider this tortuous act!

Surely, He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows - One Who left the glory and joys of heaven to take on our sorrows. He poured out His soul unto death, He poured it out, death didn’t take it… and He bore our sin, this sinless man voluntarily bore our sins, and yet still makes intercession for the transgressors.

And Jesus was also assailed by satan, enduring suffering...

Heb. 2:18 He Himself has suffered, being tempted (or tested).

During His 40 days and nights of fasting, Jesus was tempted by satan to sin. We know the story. Satan was trying to get Jesus to act of Himself apart from the will of God. Isn’t that what Adam did? It was the Holy Spirit that led Him into the wilderness to fast, and Jesus would have to wait for the Holy Spirit to minister to Him at the end... as determined by God, NOT Jesus.

The incarnate God, as Jesus, also endured “being made a little lower than the angels” and living among the depravity of a world that was once His garden of Eden.

Does anyone ever go to Walmart? Is not your spirit “stricken” by what you see? And it’s not just Walmart... it’s supermarkets, Kohl’s, Home Depot, restaurants... IT’S THE WORLD!

And Jesus – Righteous, Holy Jesus, the incarnate God in His own world, had to walk around in the corruption of His creation.

Heb. 3:1 Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus.

Consider His patience, His forbearance, His profound forgiveness.

And finally, Jesus had to endure death.

Heb. 2:14-15 Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself (Jehovah, God) likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

Jesus endured being persecuted, spit on, beaten, He had His omnipotent, omniscient authority challenged by sinful men, mocked, whipped, crucified and buried in death which He did not deserve.

Consider the Author and Perfector of our faith.