And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood. Let us, then, go to him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace he bore. For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come. Hebrews 13:12-13
In Old Testament law, when sacrifices were made for atonement of sin, the carcasses were burned outside the camp.
Lepers and others with infectious diseases were sent outside the camp.
Blasphemers and criminals were taken outside the camp to be stoned.
Anything that was considered unclean was done outside the camp.
Anyone who was impure was sent outside the camp.
Jesus suffered outside the camp.
Jesus was an outsider. He shook everything up. He took the old laws and made them new. He made them better. He made them relational rather than ritual. He went outside the camp, and there he made the ultimate sacrifice once and for all.
In Hebrews we are told that we, too, must go outside the camp. Not because we are unclean, but because we are washed by His blood.
Outside the camp it is uncomfortable. It can be dangerous. There are the sick, the poor, the criminals, but mostly there are those who have not heard the good news.
In the Old Testament, God dwelled inside the camp. The good news is that Christ's sacrifice broke those boundaries. The good news is that there is healing for the sick, provision for the poor, redemption for the criminals, and salvation for the lost.
The question is, who will tell them? Who will follow Jesus outside the camp, to the unclean places, and show them the love of God?
Will you bear his disgrace? Will you be an outsider?
In Old Testament law, when sacrifices were made for atonement of sin, the carcasses were burned outside the camp.
Lepers and others with infectious diseases were sent outside the camp.
Blasphemers and criminals were taken outside the camp to be stoned.
Anything that was considered unclean was done outside the camp.
Anyone who was impure was sent outside the camp.
Jesus suffered outside the camp.
Jesus was an outsider. He shook everything up. He took the old laws and made them new. He made them better. He made them relational rather than ritual. He went outside the camp, and there he made the ultimate sacrifice once and for all.
In Hebrews we are told that we, too, must go outside the camp. Not because we are unclean, but because we are washed by His blood.
Outside the camp it is uncomfortable. It can be dangerous. There are the sick, the poor, the criminals, but mostly there are those who have not heard the good news.
In the Old Testament, God dwelled inside the camp. The good news is that Christ's sacrifice broke those boundaries. The good news is that there is healing for the sick, provision for the poor, redemption for the criminals, and salvation for the lost.
The question is, who will tell them? Who will follow Jesus outside the camp, to the unclean places, and show them the love of God?
Will you bear his disgrace? Will you be an outsider?
2 comments:
AMEN!!!!!!!!!!!
Birds have nests...foxes holes...but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head.
But what great comfort, that though this world is not our home, that we may even be homeless for the kingdom's sake....that Jesus and the Father and the gentle Spirit make their home in us!!!!!
Thank you Rebecca for such a perfect, grace drenched articulation of Christ's atonement and for sounding such a clear and galvanizing call for our obedience to be like the one we are named for.
My sister! All blessing, all peace, all mercy, all grace to you in double portion in the precious name of your bridegroom Jesus!!!
Thanks Brother :)
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