Join Him As An Outsider

Jesus was the original outcast. The Apostle John summarizes a good portion of Jesus’s ministry when he
writes, “He came to His own, and His own people did not receive Him.” But Jesus’s rejection was 7
intended, for it was by His suffering outside the gate (i.e. outside of Jerusalem, where the worst
criminals were killed) that His people have been once-and-for-all sanctified. It is in this place - rejected
by the sinful current world - that we still meet Jesus today, who stands ready to welcome His people.
We are called to go to Christ and give Him all that we have and all that we are, knowing full well that we
have a better, eternal city guaranteed in our future. We can leave comfort, approval, entertainment,
success, and applause, and join Jesus in His rejection, for our sacrifices are never worthless, even if our
worship costs us all the world’s treasures. When we face reproach for following Jesus, we can be certain
that He remains with us, and our relationship with Him is far better than anything else in the universe.