Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.
Jesus suffered disgrace outside the city gate, put to death as the sinless sacrifice whose blood sanctifies the people. The verse therefore calls believers to go to him outside the camp and share the reproach he bore, seeking no lasting home here but the city to come. Going forth means leaving safety, ease, acceptance and comfort, and separating from the world's errors, customs and spirit to follow him through hardship and opposition. Above all it sends workers beyond settled churches and privileged centers to destitute fields, unreached cities and far-off lands, laboring in self-denial to warn and save the lost. Those who willingly bear his shame and self-denial in faithful service will find the cross their hope and exaltation, with suffering for his name increasing final joy and reward, while those who refuse to share it will not share his glory.
Christ Suffered Outside Camp
The verse recalls that Jesus suffered disgrace outside the city gate, put to death outside the city as the sinless sacrifice who sanctified the people by his blood. To go to him outside the camp is to follow him beyond it and share the reproach he suffered, accepting disgrace and hardship for loyalty to him. It is a call to gather with him rather than act from self-interest and scatter others, while seeking the city to come rather than a lasting home here. Dwelling on sorrow and unhappy feelings can cause loss of blessing, so those who bear hardship with him are to persevere and offer continual praise and thanks.
His death outside Jerusalem's gates was for all the world, not Israel alone. As the great antitype, his offering ended the Jewish sacrificial ceremonies. His death did not abolish the moral law but affirmed its unchanging character.
Going outside the camp reflects his leaving the glory of heaven to enter a sin-cursed world and bear sin's reproach to save the lost. His path was one of sorrow and self-denial, given as an example for his followers. Without his coming to save them, they would have been left without hope in God.
Though rich he became poor so that people could receive eternal riches. He endured Satan's fiercest temptations to experience human suffering and become able to help those who are tempted. As Majesty of heaven and King of glory he bore the heavy cross, wore the thorny crown, and drank the bitter cup to redeem souls by his precious blood. Those who suffer justly because they chose a course their Redeemer warned them against should not murmur or complain but strengthen their minds, endure temptation without fainting, and withstand the devil's attacks as he did.
He did not live to please himself in self-pleasing and self-indulgence but left comfort and acceptance to carry shame. Following him may therefore lead along difficult paths rather than smooth ones. Christians must remain firm in faith and faithful instead of sacrificing principle to meet the world's standard, trusting that wherever providence places them God will give strength to stand, and letting nothing come between the soul and God.
He was sinless and blameless yet suffered hatred and crucifixion. His example shows that suffering disgrace for his name is no cause for complaint and may be borne cheerfully. Those who have found him precious will also tell others of him and lead them to understand the way to eternal life.
Meaning of Going Forth
The call is to go out to Jesus outside the camp and share the reproach he suffered when put to death outside the city, accepting disgrace and hardship for loyalty to him while seeking the city to come rather than a lasting home here. Dwelling on sorrow and unhappy feelings can cause loss of blessing, so those who follow him beyond the camp are to persevere and offer continual praise and thanks.
Going without the camp means leaving the safety, acceptance, ease, attractions and comforts that keep people from difficult service. It means being willing to enter hard places and continue laboring through discouragement as Jesus did, rather than avoiding burdens for personal wants or ease. Lingering for comfort can keep a person from a precious experience with God, while going forth to serve may involve sacrifice and suffering. This going forth is humbly presenting Christ to the world through service to others, sharing in the Holy Spirit's teaching and leading. It is applied to young men entering the gospel ministry, who are to give themselves to Christ and humanity in self-sacrificing service despite the cost. Since Christ was sinless and blameless yet suffered hatred and crucifixion, suffering disgrace for his name is no cause for complaint and may be borne cheerfully, and those who have found him precious should tell others of him and lead them to eternal life.
It means separating from the world's service, errors, doctrines, customs, spirit and influences that are at variance with God's truth, and turning with unyielding resolve toward Zion in God's service with divine help. It means going contrary to the world and enduring opposition from the world, the flesh and the devil. Believers face the same prejudice, unbelief and disgrace Jesus faced when he confronted mankind, because the attitude of the world toward the religion of Jesus has not changed.
It means leaving behind dependence on human sympathy and praise, enduring reproach, fighting the good fight of faith, and standing in God's strength through every difficulty. Bearing his reproach means bearing the cross of Christ in shame and degradation for his sake. This is understood when mind, soul and body are brought into subjection to Christ, with thoughts in harmony with his thoughts and will in conformity with God's will. That subjection comes as believers search the Scriptures, appropriate the light given, purify their souls by obeying the truth, and in faith working by love seek to bring others to the marriage supper, becoming fitted for the work and for trial as they draw others.
Being without the camp can also describe perishing without God, without the robe of Christ's righteousness, without love for God and personal experience of the joys of being his children. It is life without peace with God, his approval, and heaven's light revealed in the life. Parents must therefore not leave their children in that place but make it their chief business to labor with them by personal, individual work until they give their hearts to God.
Mission Beyond Settled Churches
Going without the camp means leaving places of superabundance of opportunities and privileges, as in America and settled districts, to go to large, destitute, unwarned foreign fields where multitudes have never been warned. The labor is not to be fitful but after Christ's order, without failing or being discouraged, bearing hardship, opposition and reproach as Jesus bore reproach. The need is for instructed workers who will educate and train more workers, and for devoted Christians with knowledge of the truth, including families settling among the churches who accomplish a good work by precept and example though they never preach a sermon or discourse.
Those who have received increased light must take up the burden for souls perishing without Christ and warn those who do not understand that the Lord is soon coming to punish the inhabitants of the world for iniquity. This means leaving pleasant homes and dear ties of family and relationship and leaving comfort to carry the precious light of truth to far-off and distant lands, still within God's domain. It is done by accepting reproach, sacrifice and hardship, because every day and moment is of terrible significance for those entrusted with truth while men and women in every land and place are fixing their eternal destiny for weal or woe.
The church in Battle Creek and throughout America is to reach a much higher standard in spiritual advancement than yet reached, by awaking out of sleep and working for souls ready to perish. Going without the camp means taking neglected missionary work beyond Battle Creek and established centers and familiar work into other cities and many large cities and regions beyond. Instead of keeping many interests bound up in one place for financial interest and comfort and hiding light under a bushel or under a bed, centers of influence are to be established where experienced workers and secretaries engage personally and come into direct contact with those needing help. Medical missionaries doing this work give the final invitation to the supper God has prepared, and the work is done at cost and reproach.
Young ministers are not to be encouraged to settle into preaching to the churches, for that is not their work. They are to leave established congregations and church settings where truth is already proclaimed and go in the humility and meekness of Christ to places where it has not yet been preached, even the most unpromising places in highways and hedges. Those who go must first be vitalized and strengthened by the Holy Spirit and obtain strength from the Source of all strength, awake in spiritual life with a daily determined purpose to be good and to do good. Those of little experience are not assigned to preach to the churches, but older and younger members who give themselves to God in deed and truth take hold of work where they are and then go forth to teach truth and labor for conversion of souls.
When ministers leave settled churches to labor in new fields, they do the kind of labor that calls forth earnest effort and strong opposition. Depending on God and their own energies rather than leaning heavily on the brethren, they are driven to the Bible and to prayer to answer opponents, exercising the mind in study of the word and in meeting opposition. By varied experience among all classes of people and all varieties of minds and by various kinds of labor to meet many and varied minds, they double talents, master difficulties and overcome obstacles, see their own inefficiency, put away self-esteem and self-importance, put on Christ and draw nearer to God. They thereby gain efficiency and ability as good soldiers of the cross, give full proof of ministry in willingness to wear the yoke of Christ, and become strong in God and qualified to work wherever help is most needed and for responsible positions, while both churches left to labor for themselves and ministers advance in spirituality and knowledge of the truth.
Christian families and individuals who know the truth are to leave familiar and comfortable surroundings and home comforts and settled districts for Christ's sake, accepting reproach. They are to relocate into communities in darkness and error, including foreign fields, unenlightened communities, regions beyond, neighborhoods in darkness, and unfamiliar social settings, to work wisely and steadily for Christ. Answering the call requires personal effort, self-sacrifice, and willingness to endure reproach, awakening interest, ministering, and letting light shine in good works following Christ's example.
Christ's workers are to leave ease, pleasure and familiar surroundings to go among people in places where error, superstition and darkness prevail. Going without the camp means accepting the cost of serving Christ beyond the safety of the established community, bearing reproach for his sake through the Holy Spirit's power. They open the Scriptures, speak the truth, pray, and call people to repentance, and those who do so receive blessing from on high. Disciples are to go beyond the bounds of their own community and beyond Jewish bounds to people who do not know God or the truth, carrying the message of the Saviour's love throughout the world. Christ set this example by ministering beyond Israel to serve humanity at large and free people from slavery of sin, and after his ascension his witnesses, filled with the Spirit, preached the Word beyond Jerusalem and nearby cities seeking the lost to bring them to the fold, with Christ and the Father working with them.
Leaving the safety of the camp includes going to serve people whom others despise, accepting hardship or shame for their sake. This means helping rescue and restore those burdened by poverty, ignorance and degradation, so that through the Holy Spirit and divine grace people are freed from sin, awakened and changed. God's people are to leave ease and familiar institutions, go out to places still in darkness, and bear reproach while following Christ's path of self-denial through active missionary work in fulfillment of his commission. Lay members reach beyond the church working with God for salvation, those clothed in Christ's righteousness go out to tell others of the living Saviour and win them to truth by willingness to deny self, and workers carry the warning message to great cities and stir believers who are at ease into labor. Going forth unto Christ without the camp bearing his reproach means working not only for time but for eternity, laying up treasure in heaven rather than on earth that will pass away, giving means into God's treasury to sustain his cause and prepare the way for souls to receive truth, with contentment for food and raiment and trust that the heavenly Father will supply needful things.
Character of Faithful Workers
Following Christ means willingly enduring hardship and reproach in his service as he did, doing duty faithfully rather than letting personal feelings, ease, or wishes excuse neglect. This calls for denying self, setting aside selfishness and worldly honor, enduring hardship as faithful soldiers, and laboring unselfishly with God to seek and save the lost. Going outside the camp for his sake may bring disgrace, yet it belongs to following him.
Those who have the mind of Christ go outside the camp accepting reproach and enduring hardship as faithful soldiers. They stand for truth even where the conflict is most difficult and labor in sympathy with his work of seeking and saving the lost.
The verse calls for sanctified, self-sacrificing servants who give themselves wholly to God and courageously undertake the work. It means leaving the safety and acceptance of the camp to go with him, accepting reproach and disgrace for his cause rather than seeking honor or ease. This requires making a covenant with God by sacrifice, where wholehearted consecration matters more than learning and ability.
In these last days it calls for earnest, awake men and women of zeal, hope, faith, courage, fidelity, and unshaken trust like Caleb and Joshua, who love truth and labor at sacrifice to advance God's cause and save precious souls. Such workers do not murmur, complain, or draw back when God bids go forward, but bear burdens as good soldiers and bear the cross without complaint, murmuring, or fretfulness, patient in tribulation. They are strong and valiant for worthy enterprises, willing to labor even to the death, for suffering reproach, hardship, and the cross is part of the legacy Jesus left his followers.
God's messengers must expect criticism and censure when they go outside the camp and bear reproach for his sake. Remembering that Christ bore still more for them, they move forward with courage, faith, and cheerfulness without weakening testimony or changing the message to please hearers merely to avoid criticism.
Remembering what Jesus suffered outside the camp to save sinners rebukes self-importance and wounded dignity when receiving warnings and reproofs, and makes personal suffering seem nothing. It calls for meekness bowing at the foot of the cross, cherishing his spirit continually, being hid in him when difficulties arise, giving up self-pity over misuse, and feeling sincere sorrow and pity for souls who do not know what is for their best good. His example also calls followers to lay pride at his feet with sharpened minds, to stop acting like quarrelsome children and act as brave soldiers who leave ease behind and accept shame for his sake, remaining broad in love, forgiving and faithful to one another instead of rejecting people for faults.
The verse applies as a call to gather with Christ rather than act from self-interest and scatter others away from him. It means going out to work in the vineyard where workers are greatly needed, taking up the burden for souls and laboring for others rather than sitting at home and calling the church to oneself. This requires giving oneself wholly to God, keeping step with his people and work, gathering experience in the cause, and accepting reproach in self-denying service instead of seeking ease, self-esteem, ambition, or followers.
Going forth requires leaving settled comfort to break up fallow ground, putting away self-importance, self-esteem, and self-pleasing indulgence, seeing one's inefficiency, putting on Christ, drawing near God, and depending wholly on him. Duty to him will not always lead in smooth paths, and Christians must remain firm in faith and principle rather than sacrificing principle to meet the world's standard. Trusting that wherever providence places them God will give strength to stand, they let nothing come between the soul and God, knowing that those who avoid exertion through self-indulgence may become unable to endure trials and toil.
Sharing the trials, humiliation, burden-bearing, and reproach of Jesus as Master means wearing his yoke, denying self, growing skillful in the Scriptures by study and prayer, and sympathizing with fellow workers in trials, heartaches, and disappointments by suffering with them and with Christ. Following him may require overcoming natural faults through daily self-denial even at cost of reputation, for he endured humiliation to make salvation available to every soul. Leaving settled comfort for new fields drives the laborer to God and the Bible for light, strength, and knowledge, gains efficiency by mastering difficulties and overcoming obstacles, and gives full proof of ministry in willingness to wear his yoke.
Looking to his sacrifice and humiliation prepares followers to endure the cross, shame, trials, and discouragement in ministry. Through his merits and the Holy Spirit they are made one with Christ and equipped for their work, sharing in the Spirit's teaching and leading as they humbly present him to the world through service to others. Since he was sinless and blameless yet suffered hatred and crucifixion, suffering disgrace for his name is no cause for complaint and may be borne cheerfully, and those who have found him precious will also tell others of him and lead them to eternal life.
Endurance Reward and Warning
The cross with all its shame and stigma is the hope of life and exaltation, and to follow Christ is to accept the reproach attached to that cross rather than be ashamed to bear it. Those ashamed to bear it cannot understand the mystery of godliness nor discern and appreciate the blessings purchased at infinite cost. Every self-denial and sacrifice made for Christ enriches the giver, and every suffering and reproach endured for his dear name increases final joy and immortal reward in the kingdom of glory.
To become his follower is to sacrifice earthly treasures willingly and joyfully through self-denial and sacrifice. Dwelling on sorrow and unhappy feelings can cause loss of blessing, so those who go beyond the camp to him are to persevere while seeking the city to come and to offer continual praise and thanks to God. As co-laborers with him in the salvation of men they suffer without fainting the reproach he endured and press without faltering the battle to the gates.
They must not recline at ease and glorify themselves forgetful of souls, but do with their strength, work while it is day, and devote themselves to the service of God in order to have his approbation and at last receive his reward. For he, the Majesty of heaven and King of glory, bore the heavy cross, wore the thorny crown, and drank the bitter cup to redeem souls by his precious blood. Lingering for comfort can keep a person from a precious experience with God, for going forth to serve may involve sacrifice and suffering in leaving the safety and ease of home to go where his work requires.
Going without the camp and bearing his reproach means accepting the self-denial and hardship involved in laboring for God and for the salvation of others, sharing his trials, humiliation, burden-bearing and reproach as Master by wearing his yoke, denying self, growing skillful in the Scriptures by study and prayer, and sympathizing with fellow workers in their trials, heartaches and disappointments by suffering with them and with him. Those who refuse to go forth stay home, misrepresent him, and weaken and misjudge the workers who bear the heavy burdens by inconsistent conduct, knowing nothing of being meek and lowly of heart. By failing to share in his sufferings and those of his workers they will not share in his glory nor enter into the joy of the Lord in seeing souls saved in his eternal kingdom as the fruit of self-sacrificing labor together with God.
Though rich he became poor so that men might receive eternal riches, and he endured Satan's fiercest temptations to experience human suffering and become able to help those who are tempted. Those who suffer justly because they chose a course their Redeemer warned them against should not murmur or complain. They should strengthen their minds, endure temptation without fainting, and withstand the devil's attacks as he did.
Jesus suffered disgrace outside the city gate, put to death as the sinless sacrifice whose blood sanctifies the people. The verse therefore calls believers to go to him outside the camp and share the reproach he bore, seeking no lasting home here but the city to come. Going forth means leaving safety, ease, acceptance and comfort, and separating from the world's errors, customs and spirit to follow him through hardship and opposition. Above all it sends workers beyond settled churches and privileged centers to destitute fields, unreached cities and far-off lands, laboring in self-denial to warn and save the lost. Those who willingly bear his shame and self-denial in faithful service will find the cross their hope and exaltation, with suffering for his name increasing final joy and reward, while those who refuse to share it will not share his glory.
Christ Suffered Outside Camp
The verse recalls that Jesus suffered disgrace outside the city gate, put to death outside the city as the sinless sacrifice who sanctified the people by his blood. To go to him outside the camp is to follow him beyond it and share the reproach he suffered, accepting disgrace and hardship for loyalty to him. It is a call to gather with him rather than act from self-interest and scatter others, while seeking the city to come rather than a lasting home here. Dwelling on sorrow and unhappy feelings can cause loss of blessing, so those who bear hardship with him are to persevere and offer continual praise and thanks.
His death outside Jerusalem's gates was for all the world, not Israel alone. As the great antitype, his offering ended the Jewish sacrificial ceremonies. His death did not abolish the moral law but affirmed its unchanging character.
Going outside the camp reflects his leaving the glory of heaven to enter a sin-cursed world and bear sin's reproach to save the lost. His path was one of sorrow and self-denial, given as an example for his followers. Without his coming to save them, they would have been left without hope in God.
Though rich he became poor so that people could receive eternal riches. He endured Satan's fiercest temptations to experience human suffering and become able to help those who are tempted. As Majesty of heaven and King of glory he bore the heavy cross, wore the thorny crown, and drank the bitter cup to redeem souls by his precious blood. Those who suffer justly because they chose a course their Redeemer warned them against should not murmur or complain but strengthen their minds, endure temptation without fainting, and withstand the devil's attacks as he did.
He did not live to please himself in self-pleasing and self-indulgence but left comfort and acceptance to carry shame. Following him may therefore lead along difficult paths rather than smooth ones. Christians must remain firm in faith and faithful instead of sacrificing principle to meet the world's standard, trusting that wherever providence places them God will give strength to stand, and letting nothing come between the soul and God.
He was sinless and blameless yet suffered hatred and crucifixion. His example shows that suffering disgrace for his name is no cause for complaint and may be borne cheerfully. Those who have found him precious will also tell others of him and lead them to understand the way to eternal life.
Meaning of Going Forth
The call is to go out to Jesus outside the camp and share the reproach he suffered when put to death outside the city, accepting disgrace and hardship for loyalty to him while seeking the city to come rather than a lasting home here. Dwelling on sorrow and unhappy feelings can cause loss of blessing, so those who follow him beyond the camp are to persevere and offer continual praise and thanks.
Going without the camp means leaving the safety, acceptance, ease, attractions and comforts that keep people from difficult service. It means being willing to enter hard places and continue laboring through discouragement as Jesus did, rather than avoiding burdens for personal wants or ease. Lingering for comfort can keep a person from a precious experience with God, while going forth to serve may involve sacrifice and suffering. This going forth is humbly presenting Christ to the world through service to others, sharing in the Holy Spirit's teaching and leading. It is applied to young men entering the gospel ministry, who are to give themselves to Christ and humanity in self-sacrificing service despite the cost. Since Christ was sinless and blameless yet suffered hatred and crucifixion, suffering disgrace for his name is no cause for complaint and may be borne cheerfully, and those who have found him precious should tell others of him and lead them to eternal life.
It means separating from the world's service, errors, doctrines, customs, spirit and influences that are at variance with God's truth, and turning with unyielding resolve toward Zion in God's service with divine help. It means going contrary to the world and enduring opposition from the world, the flesh and the devil. Believers face the same prejudice, unbelief and disgrace Jesus faced when he confronted mankind, because the attitude of the world toward the religion of Jesus has not changed.
It means leaving behind dependence on human sympathy and praise, enduring reproach, fighting the good fight of faith, and standing in God's strength through every difficulty. Bearing his reproach means bearing the cross of Christ in shame and degradation for his sake. This is understood when mind, soul and body are brought into subjection to Christ, with thoughts in harmony with his thoughts and will in conformity with God's will. That subjection comes as believers search the Scriptures, appropriate the light given, purify their souls by obeying the truth, and in faith working by love seek to bring others to the marriage supper, becoming fitted for the work and for trial as they draw others.
Being without the camp can also describe perishing without God, without the robe of Christ's righteousness, without love for God and personal experience of the joys of being his children. It is life without peace with God, his approval, and heaven's light revealed in the life. Parents must therefore not leave their children in that place but make it their chief business to labor with them by personal, individual work until they give their hearts to God.
Mission Beyond Settled Churches
Going without the camp means leaving places of superabundance of opportunities and privileges, as in America and settled districts, to go to large, destitute, unwarned foreign fields where multitudes have never been warned. The labor is not to be fitful but after Christ's order, without failing or being discouraged, bearing hardship, opposition and reproach as Jesus bore reproach. The need is for instructed workers who will educate and train more workers, and for devoted Christians with knowledge of the truth, including families settling among the churches who accomplish a good work by precept and example though they never preach a sermon or discourse.
Those who have received increased light must take up the burden for souls perishing without Christ and warn those who do not understand that the Lord is soon coming to punish the inhabitants of the world for iniquity. This means leaving pleasant homes and dear ties of family and relationship and leaving comfort to carry the precious light of truth to far-off and distant lands, still within God's domain. It is done by accepting reproach, sacrifice and hardship, because every day and moment is of terrible significance for those entrusted with truth while men and women in every land and place are fixing their eternal destiny for weal or woe.
The church in Battle Creek and throughout America is to reach a much higher standard in spiritual advancement than yet reached, by awaking out of sleep and working for souls ready to perish. Going without the camp means taking neglected missionary work beyond Battle Creek and established centers and familiar work into other cities and many large cities and regions beyond. Instead of keeping many interests bound up in one place for financial interest and comfort and hiding light under a bushel or under a bed, centers of influence are to be established where experienced workers and secretaries engage personally and come into direct contact with those needing help. Medical missionaries doing this work give the final invitation to the supper God has prepared, and the work is done at cost and reproach.
Young ministers are not to be encouraged to settle into preaching to the churches, for that is not their work. They are to leave established congregations and church settings where truth is already proclaimed and go in the humility and meekness of Christ to places where it has not yet been preached, even the most unpromising places in highways and hedges. Those who go must first be vitalized and strengthened by the Holy Spirit and obtain strength from the Source of all strength, awake in spiritual life with a daily determined purpose to be good and to do good. Those of little experience are not assigned to preach to the churches, but older and younger members who give themselves to God in deed and truth take hold of work where they are and then go forth to teach truth and labor for conversion of souls.
When ministers leave settled churches to labor in new fields, they do the kind of labor that calls forth earnest effort and strong opposition. Depending on God and their own energies rather than leaning heavily on the brethren, they are driven to the Bible and to prayer to answer opponents, exercising the mind in study of the word and in meeting opposition. By varied experience among all classes of people and all varieties of minds and by various kinds of labor to meet many and varied minds, they double talents, master difficulties and overcome obstacles, see their own inefficiency, put away self-esteem and self-importance, put on Christ and draw nearer to God. They thereby gain efficiency and ability as good soldiers of the cross, give full proof of ministry in willingness to wear the yoke of Christ, and become strong in God and qualified to work wherever help is most needed and for responsible positions, while both churches left to labor for themselves and ministers advance in spirituality and knowledge of the truth.
Christian families and individuals who know the truth are to leave familiar and comfortable surroundings and home comforts and settled districts for Christ's sake, accepting reproach. They are to relocate into communities in darkness and error, including foreign fields, unenlightened communities, regions beyond, neighborhoods in darkness, and unfamiliar social settings, to work wisely and steadily for Christ. Answering the call requires personal effort, self-sacrifice, and willingness to endure reproach, awakening interest, ministering, and letting light shine in good works following Christ's example.
Christ's workers are to leave ease, pleasure and familiar surroundings to go among people in places where error, superstition and darkness prevail. Going without the camp means accepting the cost of serving Christ beyond the safety of the established community, bearing reproach for his sake through the Holy Spirit's power. They open the Scriptures, speak the truth, pray, and call people to repentance, and those who do so receive blessing from on high. Disciples are to go beyond the bounds of their own community and beyond Jewish bounds to people who do not know God or the truth, carrying the message of the Saviour's love throughout the world. Christ set this example by ministering beyond Israel to serve humanity at large and free people from slavery of sin, and after his ascension his witnesses, filled with the Spirit, preached the Word beyond Jerusalem and nearby cities seeking the lost to bring them to the fold, with Christ and the Father working with them.
Leaving the safety of the camp includes going to serve people whom others despise, accepting hardship or shame for their sake. This means helping rescue and restore those burdened by poverty, ignorance and degradation, so that through the Holy Spirit and divine grace people are freed from sin, awakened and changed. God's people are to leave ease and familiar institutions, go out to places still in darkness, and bear reproach while following Christ's path of self-denial through active missionary work in fulfillment of his commission. Lay members reach beyond the church working with God for salvation, those clothed in Christ's righteousness go out to tell others of the living Saviour and win them to truth by willingness to deny self, and workers carry the warning message to great cities and stir believers who are at ease into labor. Going forth unto Christ without the camp bearing his reproach means working not only for time but for eternity, laying up treasure in heaven rather than on earth that will pass away, giving means into God's treasury to sustain his cause and prepare the way for souls to receive truth, with contentment for food and raiment and trust that the heavenly Father will supply needful things.
Character of Faithful Workers
Following Christ means willingly enduring hardship and reproach in his service as he did, doing duty faithfully rather than letting personal feelings, ease, or wishes excuse neglect. This calls for denying self, setting aside selfishness and worldly honor, enduring hardship as faithful soldiers, and laboring unselfishly with God to seek and save the lost. Going outside the camp for his sake may bring disgrace, yet it belongs to following him.
Those who have the mind of Christ go outside the camp accepting reproach and enduring hardship as faithful soldiers. They stand for truth even where the conflict is most difficult and labor in sympathy with his work of seeking and saving the lost.
The verse calls for sanctified, self-sacrificing servants who give themselves wholly to God and courageously undertake the work. It means leaving the safety and acceptance of the camp to go with him, accepting reproach and disgrace for his cause rather than seeking honor or ease. This requires making a covenant with God by sacrifice, where wholehearted consecration matters more than learning and ability.
In these last days it calls for earnest, awake men and women of zeal, hope, faith, courage, fidelity, and unshaken trust like Caleb and Joshua, who love truth and labor at sacrifice to advance God's cause and save precious souls. Such workers do not murmur, complain, or draw back when God bids go forward, but bear burdens as good soldiers and bear the cross without complaint, murmuring, or fretfulness, patient in tribulation. They are strong and valiant for worthy enterprises, willing to labor even to the death, for suffering reproach, hardship, and the cross is part of the legacy Jesus left his followers.
God's messengers must expect criticism and censure when they go outside the camp and bear reproach for his sake. Remembering that Christ bore still more for them, they move forward with courage, faith, and cheerfulness without weakening testimony or changing the message to please hearers merely to avoid criticism.
Remembering what Jesus suffered outside the camp to save sinners rebukes self-importance and wounded dignity when receiving warnings and reproofs, and makes personal suffering seem nothing. It calls for meekness bowing at the foot of the cross, cherishing his spirit continually, being hid in him when difficulties arise, giving up self-pity over misuse, and feeling sincere sorrow and pity for souls who do not know what is for their best good. His example also calls followers to lay pride at his feet with sharpened minds, to stop acting like quarrelsome children and act as brave soldiers who leave ease behind and accept shame for his sake, remaining broad in love, forgiving and faithful to one another instead of rejecting people for faults.
The verse applies as a call to gather with Christ rather than act from self-interest and scatter others away from him. It means going out to work in the vineyard where workers are greatly needed, taking up the burden for souls and laboring for others rather than sitting at home and calling the church to oneself. This requires giving oneself wholly to God, keeping step with his people and work, gathering experience in the cause, and accepting reproach in self-denying service instead of seeking ease, self-esteem, ambition, or followers.
Going forth requires leaving settled comfort to break up fallow ground, putting away self-importance, self-esteem, and self-pleasing indulgence, seeing one's inefficiency, putting on Christ, drawing near God, and depending wholly on him. Duty to him will not always lead in smooth paths, and Christians must remain firm in faith and principle rather than sacrificing principle to meet the world's standard. Trusting that wherever providence places them God will give strength to stand, they let nothing come between the soul and God, knowing that those who avoid exertion through self-indulgence may become unable to endure trials and toil.
Sharing the trials, humiliation, burden-bearing, and reproach of Jesus as Master means wearing his yoke, denying self, growing skillful in the Scriptures by study and prayer, and sympathizing with fellow workers in trials, heartaches, and disappointments by suffering with them and with Christ. Following him may require overcoming natural faults through daily self-denial even at cost of reputation, for he endured humiliation to make salvation available to every soul. Leaving settled comfort for new fields drives the laborer to God and the Bible for light, strength, and knowledge, gains efficiency by mastering difficulties and overcoming obstacles, and gives full proof of ministry in willingness to wear his yoke.
Looking to his sacrifice and humiliation prepares followers to endure the cross, shame, trials, and discouragement in ministry. Through his merits and the Holy Spirit they are made one with Christ and equipped for their work, sharing in the Spirit's teaching and leading as they humbly present him to the world through service to others. Since he was sinless and blameless yet suffered hatred and crucifixion, suffering disgrace for his name is no cause for complaint and may be borne cheerfully, and those who have found him precious will also tell others of him and lead them to eternal life.
Endurance Reward and Warning
The cross with all its shame and stigma is the hope of life and exaltation, and to follow Christ is to accept the reproach attached to that cross rather than be ashamed to bear it. Those ashamed to bear it cannot understand the mystery of godliness nor discern and appreciate the blessings purchased at infinite cost. Every self-denial and sacrifice made for Christ enriches the giver, and every suffering and reproach endured for his dear name increases final joy and immortal reward in the kingdom of glory.
To become his follower is to sacrifice earthly treasures willingly and joyfully through self-denial and sacrifice. Dwelling on sorrow and unhappy feelings can cause loss of blessing, so those who go beyond the camp to him are to persevere while seeking the city to come and to offer continual praise and thanks to God. As co-laborers with him in the salvation of men they suffer without fainting the reproach he endured and press without faltering the battle to the gates.
They must not recline at ease and glorify themselves forgetful of souls, but do with their strength, work while it is day, and devote themselves to the service of God in order to have his approbation and at last receive his reward. For he, the Majesty of heaven and King of glory, bore the heavy cross, wore the thorny crown, and drank the bitter cup to redeem souls by his precious blood. Lingering for comfort can keep a person from a precious experience with God, for going forth to serve may involve sacrifice and suffering in leaving the safety and ease of home to go where his work requires.
Going without the camp and bearing his reproach means accepting the self-denial and hardship involved in laboring for God and for the salvation of others, sharing his trials, humiliation, burden-bearing and reproach as Master by wearing his yoke, denying self, growing skillful in the Scriptures by study and prayer, and sympathizing with fellow workers in their trials, heartaches and disappointments by suffering with them and with him. Those who refuse to go forth stay home, misrepresent him, and weaken and misjudge the workers who bear the heavy burdens by inconsistent conduct, knowing nothing of being meek and lowly of heart. By failing to share in his sufferings and those of his workers they will not share in his glory nor enter into the joy of the Lord in seeing souls saved in his eternal kingdom as the fruit of self-sacrificing labor together with God.
Though rich he became poor so that men might receive eternal riches, and he endured Satan's fiercest temptations to experience human suffering and become able to help those who are tempted. Those who suffer justly because they chose a course their Redeemer warned them against should not murmur or complain. They should strengthen their minds, endure temptation without fainting, and withstand the devil's attacks as he did.