"For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds." –Hebrews 12:3
When the Spirit of God tells us to consider Christ, he is telling us to ever remember and bear in mind who he is. Nothing more inspires faith, confidence, and a sense of security in this world like the blessed knowledge of Christ. He is the mighty God (Isa. 9:6). He is the infinitely Holy God-man, our Mediator (1 Tim. 3:16). Our Lord Jesus Christ is both our omnipotent Savior and our sympathizing Savior, able and willing to save us (Heb. 7:25).
The Spirit of God would have us constantly consider our Savior's mediatorial offices. He ever speaks of Christ and teaches all who are taught of him ever to consider Christ. He is our everlasting Surety. He is our Prophet, Priest, and King. The Lord Jesus Christ is our mighty Advocate in heaven.
We should constantly consider our Savior's mission, that for which he came into this world in human flesh. He came into this world for the singular purpose of saving his people from their sins for the glory of God (Matt. 1:21; John 12:28). He had no other aim, no other purpose, no other motive, no other goal.
When we are called of God to endure trials and afflictions for his name's sake, then we should especially remember and consider the patience with which our blessed Savior endured all that he suffered for us. What relentless contradiction, what never-ceasing opposition he suffered from sinners and for sinners! He was opposed by his own kinsmen after the flesh (John 7:5). He was opposed by those very sinners for whom he suffered.
When he was born at Bethlehem, there was no room for him in the inn. He was not wanted. When he was just a small baby, Herod tried to kill him. His parents were forced to flee with him into Egypt that the Scriptures might be fulfilled. Our Savior declares in Psalm 88:15, "I was afflicted and ready to die from my youth up: while I suffer thy terrors I am distracted!"
From the commencement of his ministry until its end he endured the unbroken, relentless, "contradiction of sinners against himself." He endured Satan's temptations, the slanders of men, the unbelief of his own disciples, the betrayal of his friend, mockery and shame, and all the horror of Calvary in our room and stead. And in his hour of greatest sorrow he was abandoned by the very sinners he came to save, and abandoned by his Father, because he was made to be sin for us!
Our Lord Jesus Christ felt keenly that contradiction. Let us never imagine otherwise. He was the man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. He cried, "Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none" (Psa. 69:20).
In the midst of all that our blessed Savior suffered any man might be expected to collapse, but the God-man set his face as a flint, until the work was finished (Lk. 9:51; Isa. 50:7). He would not turn back. He came here to redeem us, knowing full well the price by which we must be redeemed; and he voluntarily determined to pay it because of his great love for us. Whenever we are tempted to murmur against his providence, give up the race set before us, and find ourselves becoming weary and faint, "CONSIDER HIM!"
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