Outside the Camp

by Rocky Fleming

Day 3: The Joy of Reproach

“So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured.”  Hebrews 13:12-13 (ESV)

If someone says that you are above reproach, they have given you a compliment.  It means you are not deserving of blame or criticism for something, especially when they speak of your word and of your character.  On the other hand, reproach means that you are deserving of criticism, and disapproval, and any negative things said about you are justified.  In other words, you have done something that deserves condemnation and rebuke or blame.  When we read the word reproach as mentioned in our scripture reference, it refers to the same meaning.  If we can establish the fact that it is criticism and disapproval that Jesus endured, then we can understand what we are being asked to join with Jesus in outside the camp.  It is to bear the same reproach that Jesus did.  Now with Jesus, He did not deserve this criticism or condemnation.  He was innocent of all charges brought against Him which Pontius Pilate affirmed.  Still he was criticized, condemned, and crucified because His mission was to help others by taking on our reproach.  You deserve this reproach.  Mankind deserves this reproach.  I deserve this reproach.  But Jesus stood in our place and took our reproach on Himself.  He did not deserve this, for if anyone would have been above reproach, it was Jesus.

This foundation of understanding is important, for we need to grasp that we are not being asked to simply be honest with our failures and take ownership of our mistakes, even though good character demands it.  In those cases, we deserve to pay the price of consequence for our poor judgment and bad choices.  What we are being asked to do in going outside the camp is different.  We are being asked to take on underserved criticism, to be misunderstood and judged negatively as Jesus was, and do so because we are disciples of Christ.

I think we tend toward thinking or hoping that following Jesus is an easy road, and prosperity falls on each side of our path as we walk merrily through life.  We hear some pastors preaching this incorrect message and draw large audiences with their encouraging message.  But what they preach is not the Gospel, nor does Jesus promise what they promise.  In fact, Jesus said that His disciples would be thrown out of synagogues.  We are persecuted because we are His disciples.  He said that we would have tribulation.  He said to expect it, if we teach what He taught and live as He lived.  I’m sorry to give some of you this news, for it might cause you some discouragement.  However, bear with me for the good news is still ahead.

The Gospel mean “Good News.”   The pure Gospel, undiluted and un-buffered has some initial frightening implications when we hear it or stand before it.  It is a good news, bad news kind of thing.  We love the thought of salvation and heaven and grace, and no condemnation.  All of that is such good news.  But Jesus also spoke of a kind of living death, which is called a consecrated life for being truly identified with Him.  Consecration is our choice to make, and it frightens us to embrace it.  It takes a lot of faith and courage to make that step.  But the best news in this life is how the Gospel takes us into a life of courage and self-abandonment and delight with sharing in the reproach that Jesus received.  When that happens, we rejoice that we can join Him, and in our future we will be glad we did.

“But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.”
1 Peter 4:13 (NIV)