For God had far better things in mind for us that would also benefit them, for they can’t receive the prize at the end of the race until we finish the race. (Hebrews 11:40 NLT)
This is the way Hebrews 11 ends – that great chapter on faith that includes the faith-driven, God-pleasing exploits of Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Rahab, Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and all the prophets, along with all the martyrs who were tortured, whipped, chained in dungeons, stoned, sawed in half, killed with the sword, or went about in sheep and goat skins, hungry, oppressed and mistreated, wandering over deserts and mountains, hiding in caves and holes in the ground. These are those who now make up that great “cloud of witnesses” in Chapter 12: 1. And they are not just politely cheering us on; they have a stake in our faith.
I’ve been wrong about these witnesses. I used to think they were there as spectators cheering from the grandstands of heaven – as if to say, “We did it, so can you,” which would be a great encouragement indeed were that the case, but it’s more than that. They are more than witnesses; they are teammates. They are the first runners in the relay race down on the field, all huddled around the finish line ready to receive us because they want to win, but they can’t win without us. They are the rest of the baseball team surrounding home plate waiting for us to touch home with the game-winning run. They are the first three swimmers on the relay team screaming at us from the side of the pool to give it all we’ve got.
So the next time you feel like slacking; the next time you contemplate that little sin that’s not going to hurt anyone but you; the next time you discover yourself thinking your life doesn’t really make that much difference; the next time you start thinking your most significant days of faith are behind you; the next time you think you’re just waiting for eternity to get here, well… think again, because the likes of Noah, Abraham and Paul, himself, are counting on you. You’ve got the baton now, and they can’t receive the prize they fought so hard for until you finish. So get off your butt, John, and let’s go!
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. (Hebrews 12:1)
John Fischer The Catch 
You are so right. Not only are the heroes of Hebrews 11 “more” than spectators, the concept of “spectator” isn’t even carried in the text. The word “witness” (marturos, from which we get “martyr”) has nothing to do with an arena-audience. The word means “a person who testifies”–not a person who watches (or even cheers for) their favorite athletes. For years, teachers and preachers have reverse-engineered this verse and imposed modern sporting-event ideas. These are the ones who have gone before and the BEAR WITNESS of their faith, God’s faithfulness and the joy that awaits us beyond the cross. Thank you, John.
Reblogged this on Sean Lunsford and commented:
“Reblogging” is something that I haven’t done here yet, that I’ve decided to experiment with—linking on my blog to other great blog posts I read around the web. There’s so much great stuff out there that gets me thinking or impacts me, and rather than reinventing the wheel, it makes sense to just point you to what they’ve already said, better than I can, and add a few comments of my own.
Since I’ve been reading Confessions of a Caffeinated Christian again this past week (by the way, I said I was on track to finish it in a week, and sure enough, I read the last two chapters today) I discovered that John Fischer also has a WordPress blog. I’ve appreciated the things I’ve read there these past several days as I’ve been following it. This one got me really excited, because I agree wholeheartedly. Hebrews 11, up through the first several verses of chapter 12, is among my favorite passages of the Bible. The idea that is painted of a relay race is one that I can relate to from my days on the track team, and one that I have pointed to a lot in discussing our piece of the bigger picture. Here are Fischer’s thoughts on it. Enjoy.
Our fore-father’s rewards are dependent on our performance? Really? I disagree! Think these verses refer to time-frame…all who have died before await the fullness of the Kingdom, just as we do today. Their reward is in Jesus Christ (just as ours is), not in each other’s performance. Yes, we’re all in this together, but thank God we’re not dependent on one another for our salvation or reward.
I didn’t say it. The passage is clear: “God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect” (Hebrews 11:40) or as other translations have it, they can’t be made perfect without us. It’s all about how connected we are. They are very clearly dependent on us finishing the race. It can’t be any clearer: if we don’t finish, they don’t finish.
This isn’t a matter of Abraham’s, Moses’ and David’s reward depending on OUR performance. This is covenant talk–perhaps the major theme of Hebrews. They walked by faith without ever seeing the promise fulfilled–that promise is salvation in Jesus Christ. They are the people of the Old Covenant who lived in anticipation. We, on the other hand, are on the other side of the Cross. We have received the promise. We are “heirs” (not just anticipators) of the promise. Their faith is rewarded in the fulfilled promise, God with us–Emmanuel. Chapter 12 urges us to consider their testimony and endurance, and even more to fix our eyes on Him who endured the most–because God keeps His promises. We can endure because of the joy set before us. The passage doesn’t say anything about the heroes of old cheering us on (“Go, go, go. If you don’t make it, I won’t get my crown and mansion!”). No, the testimony of their endurance is for our encouragement. And for us–especially Gentiles like me–we are proof that God’s covenant with Abraham (a people, a land and a blessing for all nations) is true. It’s much bigger than how well we individually perform.
OK. Lee will be happy to read this because I think it makes clearer her argument against my interpretation. But I still do think there is something to the way we are all connected.
No, sorry, just saying “the verse says so” doesn’t relieve of proper understanding of and statement of the intent of the verse based upon the proper foundation. There are all kinds of wacky religious ideas out there held by people who can quote scripture to “back up” their views. To say that this verse somehow makes someone else’s salvation dependent on another human being’s performance is way off track. It goes against the nature of God and the gospel of inclusive grace. It places a responsibility and burden on people that goes against the plan of God. There is only one human (Jesus)on whom everyone’s salvation depends, and He has already completed all the work necessary to bring all humanity with Him into eternal union with His Father and the Spirit. I am not responsible for my brother’s salvation and he is not responsible for mine. Ultimately, only Jesus is responsible and He has fulfilled His responsibility. To imply otherwise is to speak wrongly of the gospel. John, I appreciate your desire to teach the truth of Scripture and I normally applaud your comments, but you’re off-base on this one.
So tell me what it means then because it very clearly states that they can’t receive their prize until we finish the race. I don’t know how you can disconnect the two. (See my reply to Tim.)
OK, what would I consider a better understanding on this verse, more true to the context of the chapter, the book, the Bible and the nature of God? They (dead saints) receive their prize when we finish our race. It’s a matter of timing, not of dependency. There is a point in the future when all believers will receive the prize. Those previous saints (whether from the Old Testament days or someone who died yesterday) have not yet received their prize. 1 Corinthians 15:20-23 Receiving the prize, being raised in resurrection: It’s a matter of timing. Christ the Firstfruit has been raised first, those in their graves are waiting for the fullness of the Kingdom to be established and will be raised to join any who are alive when Christ returns. Anyone’s receiving their prize is not dependent on someone else’s faithfulness (other than Jesus). The Gospel tells of the grace of God based solely and sufficiently on the completed work of Jesus as sent by the Father and in the Spirit. In Jesus, our Triune God has connected God with man in the Incarnation and has brought all humanity to God—forgiven, reconciled and redeemed—sitting in “heavenly realms” with God. We are saved by grace alone, and if we place any conditions on our salvation or “receiving the prize” (such as dependency on someone else’s faithfulness or lack thereof), we are no longer talking about grace. So while it is possible to interpret Heb 11:40 as speaking of some sort of dependency, that has to be incorrect because it guts the reality of grace (as Heb 12, Eph 2:4-10 and many other scriptures makes plain). Reading Heb 11:39-40 in other translations may help clear up the concept. In the NIV: “These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.” The Message: “Not one of these people, even though their lives of faith were exemplary, got their hands on what was promised. God had a better plan for us: that their faith and our faith would come together to make one completed whole, their lives of faith not complete apart from ours.” Grace, from the Father in Christ by the Spirit, is unconditional, fulfilled in Christ, not in any other person.
Great metaphor, John! While I think Sue is right as to the technical point she made, I doubt you would dispute that point. Without in any way wanting to enter into the Calvinist/Arminian dispute today, I think you’re very much on to something when you point out that our forerunners have an “investment” in us that is more akin to that of a “dependent teammate” than an “interested spectator.” Just like the Father, Himself, these witnesses are “not willing that any should perish” — and an implication of that is that they are “all in” when they cheer us on. They really do have much invested in us finishing the race. Thanks for expanding my viewpoint on that matter.
What a rich heritage we have and what a mandate. I have never considered that Noah, Abraham, etc, are urging me on. Thanks for making me think about this.
Also, I may have missed a column updating us on your house. I would really like to know how you are doing with it. I know how unsettling it is to not know what would be the best steps to take. I am “underwater” with my house and can confirm that it is scary.
Yes, an update is coming soon. Thanks for asking.
First of all John thank you for reminding me that I now have the baton. I accepted it gladly and hope that my relationship with Jesus will grow and be passed on to others as it was passed on from Adam and Eve to Abel, Seth, Noah, Abraham etc. to me. So my plan is to continue the race and build on what my forefathers in the faith established and then pass the baton on myself.
You made the point that this is all connected. You are right. Adam and Eve knew what a relationship with God was like so they knew what they had lost. It is obvious to me that they passed on to their children the reality of sin and what they wished they had never done… disobeyed. It is evident that not all of Adam and Eve’s children listened to their parents. There are today those in the world who have maintained that dynasty of faith and have passed it on. That is the connection I see……a vibrant, satisfying, repenting, faithful relationship with the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. After all God created us for relationship, love God, and neighbour as yourself, and Genesis 1:28 our assignment to rule the world and make it into what the architect had in mind for it.
The metaphor of a race makes it possible to see performance as a prerequisite. The race is a metaphor and all comparisons fall down in some aspects. To me the winning of the race is God’s Kingdom here on earth which is culminated in the second coming. When I have the baton my job is to be one with Christ and to be building the Kingdom in close consultation with God. It is the fathers and mothers of faith who have gone before me that urge me to continue and further solidify the Kingdom and not let it be a splendor in ruins as many cultures and empires have demised to in this world.
Jesus came to earth as the baton carrying King descended from David’s line. This is not an earthly dynasty but has it roots in heaven. This dynasty is not performance based as one might surmise but it is based on love and obedience. That “performance of love and obedience” is about sacrificial love not about “look I won, I did it!”
Our connection is our love for God, and we want to maintain that connection and grow in it right until the race is won.
Would it be too simplistic to say that the trumpets will not sound until the race is completed and all will receive their reward at the same time?