Camping Out

Hebrews 13-Part 4
Wherefore, Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.   Hebrews 13:12-14


LET IT GLOW

During one summer visit to our family, my sister inlaw's family and mine decided to camp out locally. Neither families had a tent nor any camping gear. It was a last minute whelm. They threw a mattress in the back of their truck and we threw  lawn chairs into our car. (It was only a few miles from my in-laws' house.) The guys went up stream fishing while we gals set up camp. Actually, all we did was start a campfire, set up lounge chairs, spread out blankets, and got cozy for our private night on the lake. However, it didn't seem to be the secluded spot to camp that we thought it was. Some guys walked by us after dark, then set off fireworks a short distance down stream. That resulted in us women folk and kids getting nervous. Finally, in the wee hours of the morning, the guys returned to camp. I thought we women were making the sacrifice of comfort so the men could enjoy fishing, but it turned out that they were as cold as we were. (Wind off the lake gets cold at 2am.) And they didn't catch any fish, either, so they actually sacrificed comfort so we could have a good visit. The men's sacrifice was made outside of camp, just as our key verse describes Jesus' sacrifice that was made outside the camp. What does it mean?

First, verse 11 tells about the High Priests who made the sin offering for the people, on the Day of Attonement, mentioned in Leviticus 16 and Exodus 29. They killed the goat, sprinkled its blood on the Mercy Seat, then burned the goat's flesh outside the camp.
Jesus fulfilled that, when He suffered outside the city gates of Jerusalem, where the temple was located, on Golgotha's cross. As our sin offering, Christ has been seperated from the Jewish camp. Those who have turned to Him for redemption must also join Him outside the camp. (We don't hold to Judaism's offerings.)
We do not participate in the sacrificial ritual because Jesus is our Sacrificial Lamb.


LET IT GROW

We have no continuing city, Jerusalem with its temple. We seek our city, which  is to come, the New Jerusalem. Is my faith inside or outside the camp? Because of Jesus, I am a citizen of that  heavenly city.

Figuratively, believers must join Jesus outside the camp of the world, no longer beign a part of its unholy systems and practices (2 Tim. 2:4). This would also depict the departure from the Levitical system. The uncommitted Hebrews needed to take the bold step of leaving that system and being outside the camp of old covenant Israel. (MacArthur)

How bold are my steps? Do I bear Jesus' reproach?

Reproach, according to Webster's Dictionary, is a charge with a fault; shame, disgrace.

Thayer's Lexicon says reproach is such as Christ suffered (for the cause of God, from its enemies).

As a believer and follower of Christ, am I willing to seperate myself from the world, pay the price, and accept the same abuse, mistreatment, or persecution He took upon Himself at Calvary? Grace is worth it all.

Can I be charged with being a follower of Jesus? Am I guilty of living for Him instead of self? Do I act like a citizen of this world or a citizen of heaven?

LET IT GO

Let go of the world and cling to Jesus.

Join Jesus outside the camp.

Act like a citizen of the New Jerusalem.