On the Road to Jerusalem: The Sin Bearer

“All we like sheep have gone astray;
we have turned—every one—to his own way;
and the LORD has laid on Him
the iniquity of us all.” 

—Isaiah 53:6

Jesus bore our sins for us. He so identified with us that He became sin for us. He who knew no sin, became sin for us, so that in Him, we might be the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21). We are sinners—without exception—in thought or in deed. Each of us has broken one of the Ten Commandments, and thereby guilty of all of them, as James wrote, “For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it”—James 2:10. Someone has likened keeping the law of God to being held by a chain over a cavern. To cut one of the links, it doesn’t matter which one, caused the person to fall to their death. And the same is true with us. If we disobey one of God’s commands, we perish.

God knew that we were unable to keep His law, which is why He sent His Son. Jesus came to take our sin upon Himself. And He took every sin. Every lie. Every lustful thought, harsh and blasphemous word, unloving action, selfish choice, and murderous intent, He took—and became. He became sin and by becoming sin, and the sin bearer, He took the wrath of God in our place. He experienced our judgment, the pain of God’s wrath, and in perhaps the greatest mystery of the universe—God’s alienation. He experienced God’s alienation when He was hanging on Calvary and cried out, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?"—Matthew 27:46.

He was forsaken, alienated, excluded, and the recipient of God’s wrath, so that we wouldn’t have to be. He freed us. Saved us. And paid the penalty for us. Hallelujah! What a Savior! May we respond to such great love with resounding praise! And may we sing the words of the great song, “Hallelujah! What a Savior!” by Philip P. Bliss,

“Man of Sorrows!” what a name
For the Son of God, who came
Ruined sinners to reclaim.
Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Bearing shame and scoffing rude,
In my place condemned He stood;
Sealed my pardon with His blood.
Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Guilty, vile, and helpless we;
Spotless Lamb of God was He;
“Full atonement!” can it be?
Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Lifted up was He to die;
“It is finished!” was His cry;
Now in Heav’n exalted high.
Hallelujah! What a Savior!

When He comes, our glorious King,
All His ransomed home to bring,
Then anew His song we’ll sing:
Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Amen.