Sin Laid Upon One Mighty To Save     

Isaiah 53:6

 

     Read the text laying all the weight and emphasis of it upon one word. "The LORD hath laid on HIM the iniquity of us all." This is of infinite importance. That One upon whom sin has been laid must have a back strong enough and shoulders broad enough to carry the horrible load of iniquity, without sinking beneath it. Were it possible for our Surety to fail, we would be utterly without hope. The comfort and hope of the gospel depends entirely upon the ability of Christ to bear our sins, satisfy justice, and execute his gracious will to save. Therefore it is written, "The LORD hath laid on HIM the iniquity of us all." The Lord Jesus Christ, our Savior, that One upon whom sin has been laid, is mighty to save." Then spakest thou in vision to thy holy one, and saidst, I have laid help upon One that is mighty; I have exalted One chosen out of the people" (Psa. 89:19). And of this mighty One it is written, "He shall not fail, nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth" (Isa. 42:4). Who is this great HIM upon whom sin was laid? He is Jehovah's Servant (52:13), the Root out of dry ground (v. 2), the despised and rejected Man of Sorrows (vv. 10-11), the sovereign Lord (v. 12). He is able to save to the uttermost!

     This is the most wonderful, astounding, amazing thing ever performed by our great God. "The LORD hath laid on HIM the iniquity of us all." Sin is the most hateful thing in the world to God, the only thing in the world God abhors. It is horrible, abominable and hideous in his sight. Yet, God made his lovely Son to be sin for us! I am amazed that God made his Son to be a man, a poor man, a suffering man, a crucified man. But when I read that "He hath made HIM to be sin for us," I am altogether astonished! This is too wonderful, too sublime, too mysterious, too Divine for our puny brains to comprehend. But it is true! Believe it, rejoice in it, and give thanks to God for it. Our sins, being laid upon that Man who is God Almighty, have been effectually put away forever.

 

Don Fortner