Leave the camp and bear the reproach of Christ

(Audio: Spanish)

SUMMARY: The writer of Hebrews is comparing the altar of Christ to the altar of the tabernacle in the Old Testament, and pointing out that believers have access to something much more significant and real. He goes on to explain that in the Old Testament, the bodies of animals used for sacrifice were burned outside the camp, and Jesus also suffered outside the gate to sanctify the people through his own blood. The writer concludes by urging believers to go out to Jesus without the camp, bearing his reproach. The sacrifice of Christ on the cross is the consummation of everything that the Old Testament foreshadowed, and believers now live in the reality that the Old Testament only pointed towards symbolically.

The passage in Leviticus describes the sacrifices made by the Israelites to atone for their sins with the blood and lives of animals. The sacrifice of Christ is seen as the ultimate sacrifice, as it was able to pay for the sins of all of humanity once and for all, rather than needing to be repeated annually. The writer emphasizes the difference between the Old Testament sacrifices, which required effort and strength, and the grace and healing offered by Christ. He encourages readers to find rest in Christ and not to condemn themselves for their sins, as Christ has already paid the price. The sacrifice of Christ is seen as the culmination of God's plan, which was rehearsed and carried out in the Old Testament sacrifices.

The sacrifice of Christ on the cross is the fulfillment of the Old Testament sacrifices, which were only symbolic and couldn't clear people's consciences. Christ's sacrifice cleanses us inside and out, and we must enter into what it makes possible. The Passover in Exodus is a symbol of Christ as the paschal lamb, and the Lord's Supper is a celebration of the lamb's sacrifice. Christians must live outside the camp, bearing the reproach of Christ and giving God a sacrifice of praise through a worthy life. We must surrender everything for Christ and not get attached to anything in this world because our place is outside the camp, seeking a city not made with the hands of men.

Let's go to Hebrews chapter 13, verse 10, brothers. Let me tell you the origin of this text and why I have chosen it tonight. I was asking the Lord this morning, a text that I could use as a basis for tonight's meditation, which is obviously the time of Good Friday where we remember the crucifixion of Jesus and his sacrifice on the cross, his suffering and the implications that this has for our lives, and again, as sometimes happens, I don't know if it happens to another person who preaches or who teaches but a text immediately came to mind and when that happens I usually pay close attention to it. And although I have never preached on that concept, the only thing that came to me was the word of suffering outside the camp. And so I started looking for that text because I actually know about it, I've heard it before but I've never preached on it, I've never dwelled on that text so much and so I looked for a concordance and found where that text is. And I felt the Lord preaching about it, I didn't have a clear idea of which direction to go, but as I meditated on this passage, other things began to emerge, other connections, and that's what I want to talk about tonight.

And one of the words that comes to my mind is going out, going out. Christ went outside the camp, suffered outside the camp. In a sense, the Bible also speaks to us about leaving the camp and going to see what the camp is. But more than that too, I think the Lord wants us to meditate a little on the connection between the death of Jesus, his sacrifice on the cross, and also the symbolism that exists in the Old Testament with the Passover, with the lamb. paschal, with the shedding of blood, with the blood sacrifices that the Old Testament demanded as an anticipation of what Christ had to consummate completely when he was lifted up on the cross and shed his own blood.