A Crowd of Witnesses – Greg Laurie Devotion – March 14, 2026

Biblical Context

The book of Hebrews is a powerful letter, probably written to Jewish Christians who were tempted to give up their new faith and go back to the familiar ways of Judaism. The writer doesn’t actually name himself, so we’re not sure who it was, but it’s clear he deeply knew the Old Testament and believed Jesus was the answer to everything. This writer wanted to show them that Jesus isn’t just another prophet or priest; He’s better than anything the old covenant offered. The whole point was to help them stay strong, not to shrink back, but to hold on to the hope they had in Christ.

Just before our verses today, in chapter 11, the writer gave us a real ‘Hall of Fame’ of faith. He listed off heroes like Abraham, Sarah, Moses, and Rahab—people who lived by faith even when things were tough. He did this to show his readers (and us!) that walking with God means trusting Him, even when you can’t see the full picture. So, when we get to chapter 12, the call to action isn’t out of nowhere; it’s built right on the examples of these amazing people who lived out their faith story.

Key Word Study

Let’s look at a key word from Hebrews 12:1: “witnesses.” The Greek word used here is μάρτυρες (martyres). This word holds a couple of important meanings that are really helpful for us.

First, martyres can mean someone who has seen or experienced something firsthand and can, therefore, give a credible report or testimony. In this sense, the heroes of faith listed in Hebrews 11 are witnesses *to* the life of faith. They showed us how faith works. Their lives are living proof of what it means to trust God, struggle through challenges, and see His faithfulness. They testified through their actions.

Second, martyres can also mean a spectator in an arena. Imagine a huge stadium packed with people watching a race. In this understanding, the crowd of witnesses isn’t just people who gave a good example, but they’re actively watching *us*. They’re like an audience in the stands, taking in our performance in this race of life. It’s an image that can really make you think, reminding us that we’re not running this race in secret, but with a great crowd of those who’ve gone before us observing.

The Race God Has Set Before Us

Over the past couple of weeks, we’ve thought about many Old Testament characters. We’ve seen their amazing lives, their experiences, their hard struggles, their wonderful victories, and the things they taught us. Hebrews 12:1–2 brings all of that home for us, showing us just how important their lives are for our own faith walk.

The writer of Hebrews spent a whole chapter, Hebrews 11, laying out the stories of these incredible men and women. That chapter is often called the “Faith Hall of Fame,” and it lists people who truly walked by faith. It’s a powerful list of examples for us.

The way Hebrews 12:1–2 begins suggests something wonderful: these “hall of famers,” these true heroes of faith, are really invested in our spiritual race. Think about it: Abraham, Joseph, Moses, Rahab, Gideon, David, Daniel, and so many others who lived by faith. The verse says, “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 trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne” (nlt). This imagery of a crowd watching a race is a strong one.

These people of faith, who lived before us, gave us clear models to follow. They showed us how to live and how to use our faith, just like they did. When we read about the lives of these men and women—how they walked with God, trusted Christ, and stayed strong even when facing really tough trials and persecutions—it can put real steel in our souls. Their stories aren’t just old tales; they’re blueprints for how we can live our own lives of faith today.

But the meaning of this passage goes beyond just giving us good examples. It also seems to suggest that they are observing us and taking note of how we’re doing in our faith. This “crowd of witnesses” might actually be watching us, cheering us on, if you will, as we run our race. Imagine Abraham nodding with approval, or David clapping for you as you push through a tough time.

Of course, we have to remember that this idea of heavenly grandstands where people watch us is just one way to understand this passage. We don’t know for certain that people in heaven are actually monitoring the progress of loved ones living out their lives on earth. The Bible doesn’t give us every detail about what heaven is like in this way. But, honestly, it wouldn’t surprise me if that were true. It’s a comforting thought, isn’t it?

What I do know for sure, and what we all can be certain of, is this: We are in the race of our lives here on earth, and none of us knows how long it will last. This life is a journey with a finish line, and we don’t get to choose when that line appears. So, it’s incredibly important that we make the most of every single day we have. We don’t want to waste a moment.

Our main goal in this race isn’t to please the bystanders, whether they’re earthly observers or heavenly ones. Our deepest desire must be to please the Lord Himself. Every decision we make, every word we speak, every interaction we have with others should be done in ways that honor Him. We want our lives to make others curious about Him, to see something different in us that points directly to Jesus.

As we run this race, we’re also building something. We’re leaving a legacy. We want that legacy to be one that truly inspires other believers—the ones who will come after us, who will pick up the torch and continue their own race of faith. And when our race is over, and we join that great crowd, we’ll be ready to cheer them on, just as we imagine the heroes of faith are cheering us on now. It’s a cycle of faith, encouragement, and lasting impact.