"We are Surrounded by so Great a Cloud of Witnesses"

As I was doing my Bible reading today, I read Exodus 27 and Hebrews 12. The title is from Hebrews 12:1. This chapter starts with a therefore. In the proceeding chapter, is the commonly known as the "Faith Chapter" or chapter 11. The writer of Hebrews is making a point about the major characters of the Old Testament. Here is 12:1 & 2.

1Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. (ESV)

There is something to be learned from these two verses. These people are the crowd of witnesses. They ran the race of faith and completed it. The writer wants us to learn from these people and what their goal was. That comes in verse 2. They were looking at Jesus. John tells us that both Abraham was glad to see the day of Jesus in John 8:56. I think it would be wise to understand how strong men and women of the faith endured this life to please God because of their love of him. We have plenty of examples in the Bible.