He Came to Bear Our Sins

Isaiah 53:1-6

Jesus has come to take away our burden by dying for us.

The Nativity scene points to Jesus' death.

The Manger: A feeding trough, often made of stone, and the many used caves for their stables. Like the tomb, where Jesus was laid on a stone slab, buried in a cave.

The swaddling cloths: Possibly the burial garment worn by Joseph, Jewish men wore these when they traveled.

The Gifts of the Magi: Frankincense and myrrh were perfumes and spices used in burials.

Shepherds of Bethlehem: Bethlehem was the pastureland for the sacrificial lambs in the temple.

Purpose of today’s passage: To unburden a weary people.

God has given a servant who would suffer in our place, bear our burden, carry our sins, in order that we would be counted as righteous in God’s sight.

Does Christmas come as a burden?

This season weighs us down - the burden of getting Christmas right, finding perfect gifts, staying within budget, year-end meetings, busy schedules, families separated by physical, and emotional, distance.

What is our real burden?

Sickness, death, loss - the sorrow and grief we bear

Separation from God because of sin - our need for salvation and peace with God.

Our text shows us that Christ has come to bear our burden, to set us free, that we might live in joy and in peace. I’d like to explore what that means, and how we can find it anew.

How Can A Substitute Save?

We normally think of the substitute as the back up, in case the main can’t be there. But God designed our salvation to come through a substitute from the very beginning.

Substitution is God’s Plan A.

The sacrificial lamb of Leviticus 16. The goat was offered in the place of the people, to make atonement for their sins.

Abraham and Isaac in Gen 22. God was testing Abraham’s faith, but Isaac was the one through whom the promise would be fulfilled. God kept Abraham from sacrificing his son by providing a ram caught in the thicket.

In the Fall in Gen 3; the shame of Adam and Eve was covered, as they were clothed in garments of skin, a sacrifice was made for them, a substitute was offered to hide their sin.

In the first Gospel, Gen 3:15: A son is promised who will bruise the serpent’s head, while his heel is crushed. He would bring victory, but only through his suffering.

All of these symbols were pointing to what Christ would do.

How He Suffered for Us

He was rejected by man. Nothing about him that was attractive by man’s standards.

Rejected in his ministry - “he eats with sinners”

Rejected for his teaching - “he contradicts Moses”

Rejected for his miracles - “he has a demon”

Rejected in his dying. Even on the cross, “save yourself”

He was a man of sorrow and grief.

Contrary to the blessed nature of God, from the moment of his incarnation Jesus was familiar with limitation, suffering, and sorrow.

He wept over death, was moved over the suffering of the people, angered over the abuse of the place of worship.

He was stricken, smitten and afflicted - by God

Upon the cross, as he wore a crown of thorns, was scourged and pierced, Jesus was considered cursed: everyone who hangs on a tree is cursed by God

The Divine Exchange:

He was pierced for our transgression, crushed for our iniquity; upon his was the chastisement that brought us peace, by his stripes we are healed…

What do we bring to the exchange, what is ours in the deal?

Our grief, our Sorrow - the state of misery due to sin

Transgression - disobeying God’s law

Iniquity - twisting God’s law, refusing to repent

What does Christ offer in return?

Healing, to mend or cure, he healed the sick, gave sight to the blind, made the deaf to hear, he raised the dead

Peace, wellness, shalom, restoration - he has taken down the hostility that lay between us and God, by enduring the fullness of God’s wrath for our sins.

We went astray, God laid on him all our iniquity. Paul translates it “He made him to be sin who knew no sin in order that we might be the righteousness of God” (2 Cor 5:21).

How to Receive the Gift?

Rejoice in Christ the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

Bookends of this prophecy

Isaiah 52:9 Break forth together into singing… for the Lord has comforted his people; he has redeemed Jerusalem.

Isaiah 54:1 “Sing, O barren one… break forth into singing and cry aloud

When God brings salvation, setting us free from that which weighs us down, we rejoice!!!

Good news of great joy, unto you is born this day a savior…

Don't try to carry what Jesus has already taken away

Don't go back to your sin

God has tread our iniquities underfoot, cast all our sin into the depths of the sea (Micah 7:19). Don’t go fishing.

Don’t try to repay -

“That’s too much… let me give you something back…”

“I don’t want to be indebted to anyone…”

But, understanding the cost and precious value of the gift, live with gratitude, sharing the gift with others.

Realize that following the suffering servant will involved suffering and rejection

John 15:19–20 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.

If we are to be like Him, and He was acquainted with suffering and grief, if He was rejected by this world, then we shall be also

Value the treasure of Christ above all things

Hebrews 10:34 For you… joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one.

Thinking on His glory, His majesty, His power, and how he laid it aside that he could come to save us - does this not help us to glory in Him all the more