The book of Hebrews sets out the superiority of 1) Jesus to any priest under the old covenant and 2) his sacrifice to any of those under the former Jewish system of worship. Hebrews 13:10-16 describes it this way: Under the old sacrificial system, the High Priest carried the blood into the Most Holy place (IN HERE) in the tabernacle or the temple for atonement for sins. The carcasses of the animals were burned outside the camp (OUT THERE).
In the case of Jesus, however, and what makes him and his sacrifice superior, he was crucified OUT THERE. Not in the holy place but out where the garbage was dumped, where death happened; outside the camp. Crucified to make us holy through his own blood (Heb 13:12).
Therefore, God's word calls us to join him OUT THERE where life hurts and the stench is strong. And we can do that, the Bible says, because we have another address waiting for us UP THERE, "a city that is to come".
IN HERE where it's clean, fragrant and safe, in the holy place of our churches with our 'holy' friends is not our permanent home. Although we would prefer to stay IN HERE, we dare not get too comfortable and attached to what we have IN HERE. Jesus has called us to join him OUT THERE and it is a sacrifice to go there. But unless we join him OUT THERE we have no rightful claim to what he offers us UP THERE.
It's been a while since I have made any kind of a sacrifice to be OUT THERE with him. I'm going to do something about that. How about you?
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