ESTEEMING THE REPROACH OF CHRIST

A. J. Gaskin

Hebrews 11: 24–26; 12: 2; 13: 12–14; 1 Peter 4: 13, 14

I was thinking of this matter of Moses’ choice. The writer of the epistle to the Hebrews is speaking about Moses as though he were actually present because he is talking about the reproach of the Christ, and I sometimes wonder how much we know about the reproach of the Christ. What a marvellous matter that we can actually have part in this; for the reproach of the Christ is something that we can weigh up, so to speak, against the treasures of Egypt.

There are the two sides there, are there not, it says, he esteemed “the reproach of the Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt”? How do we look at these things? Do we really esteem the reproach of the Christ greater riches? How wonderful that is, that we should have a part in this matter of sharing in the sufferings of Christ. Not, of course, His atoning sufferings, those were unique to Himself. It is very wonderful that we, as belonging to Christ, can share in His sufferings in measure, and the reproach of the Christ enters into this. I suppose Peter experienced the reality of it when he was faced with this matter of reproach; sadly he was not able to stand and went so far as to deny his Lord and Master, and yet how he was tested by the reproach of the Christ. What our brother has been referring to in Peter’s further testimony shows how he came through, and was prepared to have his part in the reproach of the Christ.

I felt, in a simple way, beloved, how important these matters are. We often balance things up quite wrongly; do not understand what it is to have a share in these precious things which have to do with our Lord Jesus Christ. How He feels these things too. I believe the Lord looking upon each one of us can estimate how our hearts really react to Him. It is really a heart matter as to whether we are prepared to share in the reproach of the Christ, and, as you see, it is a matter of choice for it says, Esteeming the reproach of the Christ. Then it goes on to say, Choosing rather to suffer affliction. I wonder if I am prepared for that? I wonder if we were really faced with these matters whether we would choose to suffer with Him, the One who suffered for us. That is why I read this passage, “looking stedfastly on Jesus the leader and completer of faith—who, in view of the joy lying before him, endured the cross, having despised the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God”. This is something which the writer is suggesting we should be prepared to share in; we should be prepared to imitate some feature that comes out in Christ Himself—“looking stedfastly”. Our view is often not very steadfast, and we have other things which we look at, and I suppose if we were really steadfastly looking on Christ and seeing the beauty that was there, and all that He went through Himself, we should have quite a different outlook, I believe, day by day. We should be esteeming the reproach of the Christ greater riches than all the treasures of Egypt.

Moses must have known quite a lot about that; he knew what those treasures were like, but he turned his back on the whole thing, and you can think of Moses devoting himself in such a way to God’s purpose for him that he could carry the people of God all through that wilderness journey. It was a marvellous thing that there were two million people, and there was one man that really was entirely with God throughout the whole journey, and yet he could carry them through as he said to God, like a nursing-father. Well, this is a thing, beloved, that should attract our hearts to Christ afresh, being prepared to esteem the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt.

So it says, “looking stedfastly on Jesus the leader and completer of faith—who, in view of the joy lying before him, endured the cross, having despised the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God”. That is where He is now at this very moment, tonight. You know we sometimes do not think too much about where Christ is; there He is, in exaltation at the right hand of God; His Father has raised Him from the dead and He has set Him at His right hand. How glorious it is that we have such a One, that we can look on Jesus “the leader and completer of faith”.

I thought this other little reference in Hebrews 13, it is quite interesting, it says, “therefore let us go forth to him without the camp, bearing his reproach”. Again, the reproach of the Christ is there. Do we know what it is to go out to Him without the camp? I suppose this matter is a matter of separation, and how it tests us sometimes. It may be that we have answered that in some measure, but this is a matter day by day as to whether we are prepared to know what it is to be here as separate from the world for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ who Himself went that way; “bearing his reproach”, that is the reproach of the Christ, and I challenge my heart as to knowing anything very much about the reproach of the Christ.

I thought of that chapter in Peter which is quite interesting too, where it says, “If ye are reproached in the name of Christ, blessed are ye”. What a thing that is, that the Lord would delight to bless us as to our being reproached for Christ’s sake. I do not know much about it, beloved, I do not know how much any of us knows about it; perhaps we have had some little inkling as to the reproach of the Christ, but I believe if we knew more about it there would be more gain in our souls as to our being near to Christ Himself. As our brother had been speaking about how the Lord Himself delights to draw us into his company, and give us something from Himself which just encourages our hearts to go on in His service and for His glory, so that He Himself becomes more and more precious to our hearts. May that be so, beloved, let us be prepared for the reproach of the Christ and being found going on with these things which are far better than all the treasures of Egypt. How glorious these things are going to be, for it is looking on to that moment when we shall be with Him for ever. May the Lord encourage us in these things for His name’s sake.

Word in meeting for ministry, Kirkcaldy
11 April 1995