Living in the Burbs

Hebrews 13:12-1 says, “And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood. Let us, then, go to him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace he bore.”

Paul paints this really cool picture of the fact that when the Law was given, one of the rules was to burn the body of the sacrificed animal outside the city walls because it was unclean and only clean things should be within the walls of the city. He says that Jesus was the final sacrifice and like the unclean animal he too was outside the city walls suffering. But what I really like is when it says, “let us go with him and bear the disgrace he bore.” Essentially what he is saying is that if Jesus was outside the city suffering we too should live a life that is counterculture, requiring us to give up the lavish lifestyle of living within the city walls. (this is not an argument on why you need to sell your positions, I’m talking about figurative concepts).

How does this translate to our personal life? The first thing i think of is how we all want to be in with the “it” crowd. We want to be part of the popular circles, we want to be on the “inside.” I’m not saying that this is a bad thing, but saying that when we associate with Jesus there will be times when we will be left outside to suffer and this is NOT a bad thing. To suffer in any way for the sake of Christ is an honor. We live in a country and a time when we are not suffering much for the sake of the gospel, which is a blessing in it self. But what i know is when those days come be prepared. Maybe you have to stand up for what is right at work you don’t get the promotion or raise. Maybe you loose a friend because you are not willing to compromise your convictions. There are so many modern-day forms of suffering and identifying with Christ. They don’t look like the days of Peter, James and John. These are new days that bring their own new sufferings.

I pray I never become ashamed to live outside the city gates with Jesus.