December 27, 2017

Outside the Camp

“And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through His own blood.”  Heb. 13:12

In this passage, Jesus is set in comparison to the animal sacrifices that were made by the priesthood in the days of the tabernacle.  The blood of the sacrifice was brought into the camp, but the body was burned outside the camp.  So too, our Jesus was taken outside the camp, up to Golgotha, to be crucified and shed His blood for the atonement of sin. 

Through the gospels, Jesus is working His way toward Jerusalem, yet His crucifixion is outside the city.  Jesus is the substance of the Old Testament shadow of sacrifice and atonement.  So much can be gleaned from this section of Hebrews, yet for today let’s focus on this unchangeable truth:  Jesus suffered so we would be made holy through His blood.  Jesus suffered for a reason and a purpose; part of that purpose was to establish His chosen people as holy, or set apart.  The blood He shed at Calvary made this possible. 

Thank You King Jesus for this great and marvelous gift!  Thank You for shedding Your blood for the remission of sin.  Thank You for suffering outside Jerusalem for us.  Thank You for Your holiness.  We bow down before You, Lord of Lord and King of Kings.