By: Ron Bouchard http://www.theburningheart.com
“For the bodies of those animals, whose blood is brought into the holy place by the high priest as an offering for sin, are burned outside of the camp.
Therefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people through his own blood, suffered outside of the gate.
Let’s therefore go out to him outside of the camp, bearing his reproach.
For we don’t have here an enduring city, but we seek that which is to come.” Hebrews 13:11-14
Pontius Pilate had it right when he nailed the sign to Jesus’ cross proclaiming that here was “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews”. It infuriated the Pharisees and the Priests. It made them gnash their teeth at Him and yell derogatory things in His face. One of the things they yelled at Him was this:
“He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him” Matthew 27:42
What they didn’t understand was that it was precisely because he was the King of Israel that He continued to hang upon the cross. What they couldn’t comprehend was that He was perfectly able to come down from that cross. Only two things held Him there, His obedience to His Father and His love for you and for me.
Even though He told His disciples many times, with great detail, that this would happen to Him, they just could not believe it was of God, and their faith was shattered when they saw Him die upon the cross. Jesus had even prayed for Peter (and in praying for him, He was praying for them all) that:
” . . . I have prayed for you, that your faith fail not: and when you are converted, strengthen your brethren.” Luke 22:32
When we follow Jesus outside the camp we are excited, because we believe we are doing a most noble thing. But, we soon find out that the world believes we are doing an ignoble thing! Just as the religious Jews mocked Jesus and were blind to what He was accomplishing upon the cross, the world mocks us as being fools and weak, and needing a crutch to get through life. They cannot comprehend that following Jesus outside the gate, leaving the security of the approval of family, friends and the world, is indeed, the bravest thing a person can do.
Jesus accomplished the forgiveness of sins for all mankind, and ended our impending punishment, by being punished in our place. He set us free. We become His messengers of the Good News when we choose to follow in His footsteps. We follow Him, not just for ourselves, but for others as well. At times, the suffering that goes along with this calling can discourage us, but we must remember how important it is to bear His reproach and keep our eyes fixed upon the prize that is to come: The new heavens and the new earth, the home of righteousness. It takes time for us, as believers, to truly understand that this world is not our home. We are foreigners, living in a foreign city, and waiting patiently to be brought to our new city which is to come!Jesus accomplished the forgiveness of sins for all mankind, and ended our impending punishment, by being punished in our place. He set us free. We become His messengers of the Good News when we choose to follow in His footsteps. We follow Him, not just for ourselves, but for others as well. At times, the suffering that goes along with this calling can discourage us, but we must remember how important it is to bear His reproach and keep our eyes fixed upon the prize that is to come: The new heavens and the new earth, the home of righteousness. It takes time for us, as believers, to truly understand that this world is not our home. We are foreigners, living in a foreign city, and waiting patiently to be brought to our new city which is to come!
Onward! ~Ron
