Today's reading takes us down the via dolorosa where Christ carries the weight of the cross on his back, down this street all the way through the gates to the outside of the city and onto the hill of Golgatha. It is at this place where He will be nailed to the cross and suffer the wrath of God for the sin of His people. Its shame and reproach He will bare.
"To be thus hanged on a tree was considered the greatest possible disgrace and the most shameful end for any man, being publicly proclaimed to be under God's curse."
He was driven outside the city, in the same manner as the Old Testament scapegoat was driven outside of the camp. Not only as a sacrifice, but also as a reminder of the removal of sin.
"So Christ in his own person and work actually offered himself as a sacrifice for the sins of his people, sins that the Father had laid on him, thereby removing them for ever out of sight, but the cost was incalculable, the burden crushing and the curse as bitter as hell."
So He was cast out onto unholy ground. He was cast out into the place that was considered to be the filth and scum of the earth. But it's here on this unholy ground that Christ would actually sanctify and consecrate His people. It's here on this unholy ground that He would make the holiest of all offerings. It is here where the greatest sacrifice was offered to God for the greatest of sinners--you and me!
"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 for him."
~ Hebrews 13.12-13
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