Jesus Christ died on the cross in ad 33.  The sacrificial system and the office of the high priest were “… copy and shadow of the heavenly things.”

The sacrificial system, the office of high priest, both pointed to Jesus Christ, the Anointed One of God.  The Lord God gave us a “picture” to better understand His purpose and plan through the life, death and resurrection of Messiah.

The book of Hebrews was written before the destruction of the Jewish temple in Jerusalem in ad 70.  Sacrifices were still being offered and the office of the high priest was still functioning.

Followers of Christ have an altar from which the high priest and priests have no right to eat.  (Hebrews 13:10)

(NASB) Hebrews 13:11 “For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy place by the high priest as an offering for sin, are burned outside the camp.”

  Did you notice, the bodies of the sacrificial animals were burned outside the camp following the exodus from Egypt?  The blood of the sacrificial animal was taken into the holy place of the tabernacle by the high priest as an offering for his own sins and the sins of the nation.

This was the “picture” of Jesus dying on the cross outside the gates of Jerusalem.  He was the sacrificial lamb, His blood was used as an offering for my sins.

(NASB) Hebrews 13:12 “Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people through His own blood, suffered outside the gate.”

  The sacrificial animals, their body and blood, were “pictures” of Messiah Jesus.  Jesus suffered and died outside the gate of Jerusalem.  His dead body did not defile the temple or the city of Jerusalem.

Why did He do this?  He gave His blood as an offering to purify and set apart all whose faith is in Him.  His blood was given as an offering to God for me.  How am I to respond to such an act by the Son of God?  Believe what He did for me!

It is hard to think that someone would give their life for me!  And it is even more difficult to think that the Son of God; the Messiah, the promised Savior, would willingly take my sins as if they were His and die outside the holy city of Jerusalem – for me!

Too many times I think too lightly of what the Son of God, Jesus, did – for me.

~ Take it to heart ~

(NASB) Hebrews 13:13 “So, let us go out to Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach.”

  I am to identify with Jesus – I am to go “outside the camp” to Calvary, the cross where Jesus died.  I am to agree with God that I need to be redeemed; I need to be saved from my sins.  I am to go to Jesus outside the camp and bear the contempt, the shame and abuse of those without faith in Jesus.

The reality of what Jesus did – He did it for me.