A Christmas Gift of Endurance

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. Consider him who endured…so that you will not grow weary and lose heart (Hebrews 12:2-3).

I discovered an early Christmas gift this week, tucked away in the pages of Hebrews. Jesus wrapped it Himself for each of us in His own humanity when He was born on Christmas Day. And this is a gift we need now more than ever.

Jesus learned Endurance from the moment He took his first frosty breath as a newborn, gulping in the frigid night air of a stable in Bethlehem.

He learned endurance less than three months later as His parents fled with him in the night to avoid His murder by a jealous king.

He learned endurance as a refugee living in Egypt, the land that once enslaved His ancestors.

He learned endurance throughout His life on earth, even until His death on a criminal’s cross for a crime He never committed.

The Greek word for “endure” used in Hebrews 12:2 & 3 is hypomenō. It comes from hypo, under, and menō, to remain.

Surely 2020 has been a year of hypomenō. We have remained and still remain, under the weight of a global pandemic and all its consequences. Civil unrest has grown, wars have continued, refugees remain in flight, children remain hungry and without clean water, cancer ravages, people die, sin is multiplied, and humanity responds to the pressure with fear and turmoil.

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He carried all the wars, the unrest, the fear, the pressure, everything you and I remain under right now in this tumultous year upon Himself. He endured 2020 and the years past, the years ahead, all of time, upon the cross for us. 

The Christmas gift of endurance has three critical elements: discipline, discernment, and hope.

We can learn to endure from the One who came as a baby at Christmas to one day endure the cross for all of humanity.

Discipline

Endure (hypomenō) hardship as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons (Hebrews 12:7).

Discipline is part of growth, and growth comes through trials.

How dare we presume ourselves to be excused from discipline when the Son of God Himself endured it at the hands of His Father? Jesus trusted His Father. He knew that discipline, although unpleasant at the time, produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it (see Hebrews 12:11). 

Jesus is not asking us to do something He Himself did not first do. He endured discipline because He knew the fruit that would be produced. Therefore, He was filled with joy at what He could not yet see, but was certain lay before Him.

Why did He endure discipline? Because you and I were worth it.

When my sons were younger, often the oldest would get in trouble. Time after time, his younger, doting brother would stand between us and his big brother and ask to receive the discipline instead.

Take away my trains for a hundred years! He would beg. Not my brother’s.

Jesus endured discipline because He loves us. Our restored relationship with God the Father was worth it to Him. 

Discernment

Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then…(Ephesians 6:13, 14a).

Discernment is key to understanding where the battle lies.

The phrase “stand your ground” is from the Greek word histēmi, meaning to continue, endure, persist. To remain under, to continue, persist remaining under, is all part of enduring. In the context of Ephesians 6, we are exhorted to remember that our battle is spiritual. We are urged not only to endure the discipline of hardship, but to endure, or stand our ground, against the devil’s schemes. 

Jesus understood His battle was not against flesh and blood, but against the dark forces that would separate humanity from God, orphaning her from the Father who created her with value and purpose, hope and a future.

The power of God gives us strength to stand our ground against our spiritual enemy (see Ephesians 6:1-2). That same power gave Jesus strength to endure the cross, to rise again on the third day, and redeem every human from eternal separation from God. That same power is now available to you and me because of Jesus’ endurance.

Hope

We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance (hypomonē) inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Thessalonians 1:3). 

Hope is the reason we press on.

Hypomonē, from our earlier word in Hebrews 12 hypomenō, adds one more crucial element to endurance: hope.

Hypomonē is associated with hope and refers to that quality of character that does not allow one to surrender to circumstances or succumb under trial.

This is a tough one. I succumb under trial too often, ranting and raving, complaining and weeping. Wanting to hide. Wishing things would just go back to normal. Or just magically become normal.

I want to be someone with hypomonē character. I want to display the quality of character that does not allow me to surrender to circumstances or succumb under trial. But I can’t do it on my own. Neither can you. Life is hard. Crushing. Disappointing. Burdensome. Especially this year.

We need a helper, one who understands. Jesus understands the burden we are asked to remain under. He understands the difficulty of remaining. Of standing, and when one has done everything, to remain standing. He understands the power of God to help us endure. He secured that power for you and me.

This fills me with hope.

Discipline, discernment, and hope: three keys to understanding and embracing endurance.

It’s okay to open the Christmas gift of endurance early this year. We need it, and with the Savior’s help, we will endure.

Lord, thank you for showing me how to endure. Strengthen me and help me persevere and press on through this difficult season. Amen.

@audreycfrank