The author of Hebrews exhorts his readers to suffer the shame of being a believer in Jesus Christ. They lived in a culture that would punish, in various ways, anybody who publicly professed their faith. It was tempting for a believer in that environment to deny his faith. The original readers were Jewish and were contemplating returning to worshipping God in the synagogue as Jews. Their lives would have been much easier.
Toward the end of Hebrews, the author gives them wise advice: “Therefore, let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach” (Heb 13:13). The camp he mentions is a reference to Judaism. When the Lord was in Israel, He had been treated with scorn. Believers who want to please Him can expect the same treatment. But believers who bear His reproach will not only be in the kingdom; they will be great in it.
All four Gospels describe the reproach and shame the Lord experienced. The ultimate example of that shame was the cross. I would like to discuss the description of it found in Luke 23:35-39.
The nation’s religious leaders had turned the Lord over to the Romans to be crucified. The Roman soldiers, the enemies of God’s chosen people, joined the religious leaders as they mocked Him at the foot of the cross. Gentiles and Jewish leaders joined forces in ridiculing and killing the Christ.
They treated Him like a common criminal. He was taken “outside the camp”—outside of Jerusalem—because He was considered unworthy to die within the city walls. He had claimed to be the King of Israel, and the soldiers mocked Him for it. When they offered Him wine mixed with gall, they were treating Him as if He were a king at a banquet, to whom his servants would bring the best wine. His cross was the head table at the banquet over which He presided. One can almost hear the soldiers’ laughter as they brought this wine to the king.
The soldiers also picked up on the words of the religious leaders. These leaders told Christ to “save Himself” by coming off the cross. The soldiers did the same.
While on the cross, the soldiers gambled for His clothes. He died while naked. It was a very public place, and many gazed upon Him. The Jews considered public nudity very shameful—akin to being like the immoral Gentiles. The rabbis taught that after Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, God gave mankind clothes as an act of grace to cover man’s shame. To be naked in public was therefore a sign of sin and disgrace (Raymond Brown, The Death of the Messiah, 952-53; this view is expressed in the Jewish book Jubilees, written around 150 years before Christ, Jub. 3:26-31).
The author of Hebrews tells his readers to join Christ in the treatment He received. He does not minimize his readers’ suffering, but he reminds them that they are not suffering as He did.
It is unlikely that any of us will face the circumstances the original readers of Hebrews faced. We do not face the dangers they did. Certainly, we will never have to deal with the shame that Christ did.
But we can bear His reproach. If, as believers, we are faithful to the Lord, the world will take notice. To the degree that it mocks us for our obedience to Him or for our faithful proclamation of the things He taught, we stand with Him outside the camp. It is never easy, but it is a privilege. If we take advantage of that privilege, there will be a great reward in the King’s kingdom (Heb 10:35).
