Outside the Camp

Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people through His own blood, suffered outside the gate.

Hence, let us go out to Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach.

For here we do not have a lasting city, but we are seeking the city which is to come. (Hebrews 13:12-14)

This world is “outside the camp”. Inside the camp is the “city which is to come”.

We wonder why this world is so tough and difficult. It’s unsafe. “Where is God?” we often ask.

Well, outside the camp wasn’t safe. It’s where the refuse went. It was away from the community.

Hebrews 13
Hebrews 13

It served an important purpose, but it wasn’t a resting place.

This earth is outside the camp, outside the heavenly city.

This earth is not our home. It’s not our resting place.

This earth is where our sin burns away. It’s where we leave our carnal bodies. It’s where we get rid of refuse.

And that can be tough and difficult. It can feel unsafe and that God isn’t here.

But He is here. Jesus is here. We go out to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach. He suffered. We suffer with Him (2 Corinthians 12:10). This world didn’t understand Him (John 1:10). We should not expect to be understood by this world. He endured the cross (Hebrews 12:2). We endure our cross, dying daily with Him (1 Corinthians 15:31).

He laid down His life, poured out His blood. We are cleansed — outside the camp — by His blood.

And by that, we enter a resting place. Our resting place is Jesus.

And by Him one day, we will enter our ultimate rest inside the camp, inside the heavenly city.

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