Our Sin Bearer

"And he bearing his cross . . . " (John 19:17).

This verse, of course refers to the cross-member, the horizontal bar upon which Jesus was crucified. The condemned man carried it on his shoulders to the place of execution. Due to the extreme beating that nearly took the physical life of Jesus in itself, Simon the Cyrene was compelled to bear the cross-member the final distance. Simon was able to take that burden from the Lord, but there was a burden that Simon could never carry.

Only Jesus could bear what Simon could never carry. This heavy burden is the sin of the world. Isaiah says, "the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all" (Is 53:6). Jesus carried our sin to the cross and in his death paid the penalty for it in full. "Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed" (Is 53:4, 5).

This is glorious news. Have you put your faith and trust in the man who died for you? By grace through faith any person who turns from their sin and receives what Christ has done as complete and final payment for their sin is forgiven and saved. This is eternal salvation. It can never be lost because it is a work of God. Jesus says, "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life:" (John 3:36). In Rom 8:1, Paul says, "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus . . ." I pray you will trust Jesus, if you have never done so. God loves you and so do we at First Baptist Church.