“Under the old system, the high priest brought the blood of animals into the Holy Place as a sacrifice for sin, and the bodies of the animals were burned outside the camp. So also Jesus suffered and died outside the city gates to make his people holy by means of his own blood. So let us go out to him, outside the camp, and bear the disgrace he bore. For this world is not our permanent home; we are looking forward to a home yet to come.” Hebrews 13:11-14
He was treated like refuse – disgusting garbage – the leftover carcasses of animals that had been used up and sacrificed on the altar. Rejected. An outsider.
Alone in His sorrow and suffering.
Dear friends, “let us go out to Him…”
Let us leave our comfort and complacency. Our safety. Our faceless anonymity. Let us declare ourselves. Let us choose to identify with Him, personally and publicly.
Let us help Him in some tiny way… standing beside Him, shouldering the cross, helping to bear it like a child “helps” his parents carry a heavy burden.
Wiping His brow, speaking words of love and gratitude from our hearts to His.
Let us suffer together – let us affirm that we are in this together. Even though, truly, all the weight of it falls on Him.
Let us not be ashamed of Him, ashamed of the Gospel of Christ.
May we fix our eyes on our eternal Home, on the everlasting joy and peace, comfort and refuge we will find as we all gather in the arms of the Father.
The peace of the Lord be with you…
