Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, (2) looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who, for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

(3) For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.  (4) You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin.

The author of the letter to the Hebrews is unknown.  This letter was written to first century Jewish Christians to encourage them in striving against the temptation of renouncing their professed faith in Christ Jesus as the Messiah in order to be relieved of their present persecution from religious Jews and any escalating persecution from the Romans.  The author uses the very popular Olympic games as a metaphor for the race of endurance that the Christian must run.

In the first verse of Chapter 12, the author links himself to his audience by using the word we.  He is probably a second generation Jewish Christian and calls attention to the cloud of witnesses or great number of people (saints) who have run their race with endurance and finished, reaching their goal.  The reader is encouraged to keep his/her eye always on Christ, much the same was a runner keeps his/her eye on the goal – to embrace and maintain their faith in Christ.  Just as runners – long distance runners – lay all weights and encumbrances aside, the reader is urged to treat as hindrance anything that deadens the soul.   The circumstances here would be any tendancy of the Jewish Christian to hang on to or compromise with Jewish ritual or the ceremonialism of the law – anything that would hinder the readers from winning their race.  The baggage may not be sin but any distraction that would keep one from running with endurance and winning the race.  We are all judged by how we finish, not how we start.  I had a wonderful dog who loved to chase the ball.  No matter how I would try to distract the dog – loud noises,  fake throws, false starts, anything – that dog always kept his eye on the ball.

The author encourages the reader to keep his/her eye on Jesus as the prize in the race that is set before us.  Adversity builds stamina  through correction.  I read somewhere that if we are not as close to God as we used to be, guess who moved?  Keep your eyes on the prize.