Jesus - The Sin-Bearer

“...and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed. For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.
1 Peter 2:24-25

A teammate of a partially paralyzed football player tearfully told a national television audience that he would gladly take his injured friend’s place. What a noble gesture! But, of course, it only could be a well-intentioned desire, for despite his empathy, he could not assume his friend’s painful condition.

Yet the miracle of the incarnation was not just that infinite God became finite flesh, but that He did so in order to bear all our sin on the cross. In God’s magnificent mercy, our sin was heaped onto Jesus’ sinless deity at Calvary’s holy tree. Jesus did not merely sympathize with our helpless plight; He bore the penalty of our sin - spiritual and physical death - so we might be unshackled from death’s horrible irons.

He did this through the substitutionary sacrifice of His Son. Jesus was punished in your place and died for your sins, bearing the full wrath of the Father. Your sin debt has been paid. Jesus became sin for you so you might be restored to a right relationship with Him by faith in His glorious work.

The Sin-Bearer has finished His task. Have you trusted Him for the gift of eternal life? Have you thanked Him for going to the tree on your behalf and dying your death?

“...But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him.” Isaiah 53:6