Upper Loft Meditation - Hebrews 12:2

“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” - Hebrews 12:2

What a tremendous contrast, joy verses shame.

Jesus sees the fulfillment of the promise of God, the joy of eternal communion with the Father. The humiliation and suffering of the cross was but for a moment in comparison with the fellowship with the Father forever. This should be our perspective, because we have the same promise. This is the very request of Jesus. “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.” - John 17:24

“The greatest act of love that has ever been performed was sustained by the joy of hope.” (Piper) Because of the joy set before us, you can endure all the suffering the world can throw at you. You are loved by the Father and by Jesus.

The Holy Spirit manifests the Father’s love upon you in many and various ways. One way is to strengthen you with the hope that is yours in Christ Jesus. The pain and suffering may still be there, but underneath it all the joy and hope of the Father’s love remains.

“I’m absolutely convinced that nothing - nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable - absolutely nothing can get between us and God’s love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us.” - (Romans 8:39 - MSG)

This is why we are to fix our eyes on Jesus.