"For the bodies of those animals, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned outside the camp. Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp bearing His reproach."
Our text is a summation of the difference between the Old and the New Covenants. In the Old, it was, "the bodies of those animals." In the New, it is Jesus Christ. Both, however, were discarded, "outside the camp." Hebrews tells us that the blood of animals could do nothing to purify, cleanse the human conscience of sin. The Blood of Jesus Christ, however, does this, "once for all."
What seeming travesty this is. "Outside the camp," in the Old Covenant was nothing but a garbage heap: so too Golgotha. Also, located nearby was a cemetery--waste and death. It is fitting that Jesus should die in such a place, for He was taking the waste and death of humanity, "in His Own Body on the Tree."
Man does not want to, "bear[] (such) reproach." He wants happy stuff, acceptance, affirmation, told that he is special and have everyone accept him in all his self- centered sin. But to those of us who know Jesus, we take great delight (or do we?) to, "go forth to Jesus, outside the camp, bearing His reproach." To obey such an invitation is, "foolishness to those who are perishing." Ah, "but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." This is, "to the Jews a stumbling block and to the [Gentile Peoples] foolishness, but to those who are the called, bearing the reproach of Jesus in His Cross, "is the power of God and the wisdom of God."
There can be no other command, no other invitation to you and me today than, "Therefore let us go forth to Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach." The reproach of Christ will be with us until we die or the Trumpet announces His return. Everywhere they go, whether they choose it or not, Followers of Jesus, "bear[] His reproach." But there is joy only in the willingly embrace of, "Therefore let us go forth to Him outside the camp...."
Our text is a summation of the difference between the Old and the New Covenants. In the Old, it was, "the bodies of those animals." In the New, it is Jesus Christ. Both, however, were discarded, "outside the camp." Hebrews tells us that the blood of animals could do nothing to purify, cleanse the human conscience of sin. The Blood of Jesus Christ, however, does this, "once for all."
What seeming travesty this is. "Outside the camp," in the Old Covenant was nothing but a garbage heap: so too Golgotha. Also, located nearby was a cemetery--waste and death. It is fitting that Jesus should die in such a place, for He was taking the waste and death of humanity, "in His Own Body on the Tree."
Man does not want to, "bear[] (such) reproach." He wants happy stuff, acceptance, affirmation, told that he is special and have everyone accept him in all his self- centered sin. But to those of us who know Jesus, we take great delight (or do we?) to, "go forth to Jesus, outside the camp, bearing His reproach." To obey such an invitation is, "foolishness to those who are perishing." Ah, "but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." This is, "to the Jews a stumbling block and to the [Gentile Peoples] foolishness, but to those who are the called, bearing the reproach of Jesus in His Cross, "is the power of God and the wisdom of God."
There can be no other command, no other invitation to you and me today than, "Therefore let us go forth to Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach." The reproach of Christ will be with us until we die or the Trumpet announces His return. Everywhere they go, whether they choose it or not, Followers of Jesus, "bear[] His reproach." But there is joy only in the willingly embrace of, "Therefore let us go forth to Him outside the camp...."
Father, in Jesus' Name, I, "go forth to Him outside the camp...." Amen.
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News, Commentary: www.apf327.blogspot.com
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News, Commentary: www.apf327.blogspot.com
Unreached People of the Day: www.apfunreachedpeoples.blogspot.com
When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
