Today is Good Friday. The day that Jesus suffered and died on the cross, fulfilling the very purpose for which He came to earth. Jesus took on the full wrath (anger) of God that was meant for us. He did not deserve the punishment. We did. Yet He bore it willingly. He suffered outside the camp (Hebrews 13:11-3) – away from the comforts and prestige of Jerusalem. And He calls His followers to join Him there (outside the camp). According to John Piper, this means leaving our comfortable lives to live in radical obedience to Christ. Relating to those who are different from us, going somewhere we have never gone and doing things we have never done for the sake of Christ are all ways to go “outside the camp.” Jesus did not call His followers to huddle together in isolation from the rest of the world. In fact, He prayed that the Father would not take them out of the world (John 17:5). The footnote on John 17:5 in the ESV study bible puts it like this:
The place of believers during this lifetime is not to withdraw from the world but to remain in the world and influence it continually for good, as difficult as that may be.
So the call to us who follow Christ is to go.
And Jesus said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. Matthew 28:18-20
Go to Jesus outside the camp. Go to the nations. Go and make disciples. Go. This does not necessarily mean that you have to pack your bag and move overseas (though it can mean that), but that you are always willing to be about the Father’s business – wheverever and whatever that means. This going looks differently in each of our lives. For me, it means going to the internationals that God has brought to Louisville and building relationships with them. It also means going to clubs to serve women who sell their bodies to make ends meet. For all of us it means that we are willing to give ourselves completely to Christ and His cause the way He gave Himself completely for us. While Jesus was on earth, He was constantly moving from place to place, putting aside Himself in order to meet the needs of others. Then He gave Himself in the ultimate sense by giving His life. The sermon I heard last week talked about this fact and really got me thinking: how much do I hold back from those I am serving? I need to give myself more fully to those around me – whether in ministry to nonbelievers or in fellowship with believers. It is not about just getting to know those I am serving, but allowing them to get to know me as well.
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. For here we have no lasting city but we seek the city that is to come. Through Him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge His name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.
– Rachel H.
