Just as a picture is worth a thousand words so “A great story is worth a thousand theories”. This is why spin doctors enjoy such influence—they know how to get stories across. It may also be the reason the author of the letter to the Hebrews (to whom I shall now refer as ‘The Author’) seeks to encourage his readers by reminding them of stories of faith. Chapter 11 names many characters from Scripture (Noah, Abraham, Moses, Rahab and the many others) each of whom has a powerful and memorable story attached to him/her which would instantly come to mind when their name was mentioned. Each person named in Chapter 11 stands in relation to faith as Bobby Moore and the rest of the 1966 squad stand in relation to world cup football. You don’t have to have been alive in England in 1966 to know their claim to fame. Thinking of them reminds you of the possibilities of what footballing talent can accomplish. Each name in Chapter 11 would have brought to mind the possibilities of what a life of faith in God can do.
Chapter 12 refers back to the heroes of faith of Chapter 11
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus…
Hebrews 12:1–2
I used to think that this was likening us to athletes who are being cheered on by Abraham, Moses and the others named in Chapter 11 who witness our efforts. I recently learned that this interpretation is very unlikely to be correct. Rather the Author lists people in Chapter 11 who by their loyalty and endurance have borne witness to the possibilities of the life of faith. We are being invited to gain inspiration from those who have come before us: those whose lives of faith witness to us of the possibilities of a life of faith.
If you were invited to update the list of the faithful in chapter 11 who would you choose to add? I suggest three characters to inspire and encourage you. It’s very likely that most of us will soon find ourselves with 7 days’ or more isolation to fill and the first two nominations are therefore people you can read about (or download the books I shall mention on ‘Audible’ and have them read to you).
The first nomination you can read about in the prize-winning auto biography “Hillbilly Elegy” by James Vance. My nominee is James’ grandmother who provides the constant love and encouragement that allowed her grandson to survive and then flourish notwithstanding multiple social problems, including growing up surrounded by drug addiction, alcoholism and poverty. In her own quiet way, her day by day prayerful and loving support for her grandson made all the difference to his life.
My second nomination is Patricia, the mother of Trevor Noah who you can read about in his autobiography “Born a Crime.” She is a woman of rare wisdom whose faith in Jesus is inspirational. If you consider her example, the book will not only make you laugh it will also encourage you.
My third nomination is this unpromising looking man: Martin Rinckart. In 1637 he was Archdeacon of the small town of Eilenburg in Germany. It was overcrowded with people seeking shelter from war which was raging all about. Already poor, he and his family were forced to share their crowded home with soldiers billeted upon him by occupying Swedish forces. Then plague and famine struck. The town had three clergymen. The plague killed one and caused another to flee the town. Martin was left and he, together with the Mayor and one other citizen organised what relief they could for the desperate inhabitants of the town. By then Martin was living in poverty having given away everything to help his flock (his wife had died from the plague). He continued to visit the sick and dying, though the plague took a frightful toll. He buried over 4,000. Martin survived and died aged 63 in 1649. Today, if he is remembered at all, it is for writing this Hymn:
Now thank we all our God
with heart and hands and voices,
who wondrous things has done,
in whom this world rejoices;
who from our mothers’ arms
has blessed us on our way
with countless gifts of love,
and still is ours today.
O may this bounteous God
through all our life be near us,
with ever joyful hearts
and blessed peace to cheer us,
and keep us in his grace,
and guide us when perplexed,
and free us from all ills
in this world in the next.
That’s what keeping your eyes fixed on Jesus can do. How else could one emerge from war, famine, bereavement and plague with a thankful heart and a mind directed to worship? Martin remained eager to listen to God and be guided by Him — hence the prayer that God would ‘guide us when perplexed’.
In the space of a few weeks Corona Virus has suspended our normal way of life. Until the virus struck it was easy to live with the illusion that we are in control of our own destinies. In recent years, many commentators have been observing a drift away from what one might call a ‘we society’—that is a society where communities look after each other and support each other, to a ‘me society’ (where the right of the individual to choose for him or herself trumps everything else)[1]. In such a society individual ‘autonomy’ is elevated to the status of a right and the community assumes a subordinate position. Parallel with this there is a fashion for looking inwards to answer the question ‘How can I find a fulfilled life?’
Coronavirus challenges these trends. It reminds us that we need each other and can only survive by cooperating with each other. (The policy of self isolation relies on people acting for the common good rather than continuing as normal). It reminds us that there are some things that are bigger than individual rights and that we are not in control. Ultimately it pointedly reminds each of us that we are mortal.
To suddenly find oneself helpless in the face of such a virus is frightening. To see yards of empty supermarket shelving because of panic-buying reinforces fear. To be fed incessant news coverage of Coronavirus tends to warp one’s perspective and further ramps up fear. Best to limit one’s exposure to the news cycle.
“Coronavirus” gets its name from the Latin ‘Corona’ meaning Crown. The name’s already been taken. James writes
12 Blessed is the one who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.
James 1:12
Every time I hear someone mention Coronavirus or read about it, I now deliberately bring to mind the Crown of Life. The Holy Spirit tells the Church at Smryna “Be faithful unto death and I will give you the Crown of Life”. Rev 2:10. Why not bring to mind the Crown of Life that is promised to you whenever you see or hear Coronavirus mentioned. It’s a small way to turn the mention of an epidemic into a blessing.
In Heb 13:14 the Author writes “14 For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come.” Death is but the entry to that City.
40 For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” John 6:40 (ESV)[2]
This virus may bring havoc yet unseen and cancel events we thought were fixtures, but there is one fixture that will never be erased: Easter Day can’t be unwritten. Death is not the end. Jesus has seen to that. Death could not hold Him.
It is very likely that some of us will find ourselves with 7 days or more of isolation to cope with. For many, this will be a very strange and possibly lonely experience. Why not make a decision now that you will devote part of that period of isolation to listening to what God might be saying to you. You might try using the app “Pray As You Go” or “Lectio 365” according to your taste. You might try praying for others, particularly those who live in countries with no health service, or those in financial difficulty because of the virus. The wise time to start mentally preparing yourself for isolation is before you need to be isolated and whilst you are feeling well. Why not ask your friends what podcasts or talks they find encouraging and useful? Get them to send them to you so that you have a back catalogue to listen to—7 days could feel like a long time.
A second derivation for the word ‘Corona’ is the Greek word “Korone” meaning the garland or wreath associated with the prize given to athletes at the end of a race.
When the Author tells us to ‘run with perseverance the race marked out for us’[3] I doubt it is an individual pursuit that he necessarily has in mind. Isn’t it much more likely that what he has in mind is something akin to this[4]:-
This is Matthew Rees in the T-shirt with green stripes choosing to forfeit a personal best time by slowing down to assist a stranger from a rival running club, David Wyeth. Rees told Wyeth, “Come on, we can do this” and together they crossed the finishing line.
Coronavirus is an opportunity to make a small shift away from the “I society” towards a “We Society”. It is an opportunity to “Bear one another’s burdens and so fulfil the law of Christ” (Gal 6:2). This is an opportunity to show our neighbours what the love of Jesus looks: like by serving them and each other. It might mean making supportive phone calls to someone to ensure that they have the basic supplies they need at home. It might mean shopping for them. How are people to experience the love of Jesus if we keep it to ourselves?
- See for e.g. Robert D Putnam: “Bowling Alone” and Jonathan Sacks ‘morality: Restoring The Common Good In Divided Times’ ↑
- See also John 11:25, John 3:16-17 and John 5:24 ↑
- “Therefore, …, let us …run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus” Hebrews 12:1–2 see above for full verse. ↑
- See Hebrews 12:12–14 (ESV) 12 Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed. This suggests a cooperative effort rather than ‘everyone for themselves’. ↑
- This blog is adapted from a sermon on Hebrews given at St Stephen’s Church, Twickenham on 15/03/2020
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