Isaiah 53:11
After he has suffered,
he will see the light of life and be satisfied;
by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many,
and he will bear their iniquities. (NIV)
Today’s Reading: Isaiah 53:10-12
“He will bear their iniquities” is an explanation from God of how our justification will be possible. If you recall, Isaiah 53:4 says that Jesus will bear our suffering. Now God is telling us that His Son will also bear our iniquities.
The Hebrew word for “bear” is sābal which we discussed in verse 4. It conveys the message of forcing someone to carry a heavy load. This isn’t casually carrying something. Sābal requires strenuous effort.
“So Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him” (Hebrews 9:28).
“‘He himself bore our sins’ in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; ‘by his wounds you have been healed’” (1 Peter 2:24).
Jesus bears our iniquities – our sins – so that we can be healed and have salvation. This is another verb in the imperfect tense. However, in Isaiah 53:11 it is in the future imperfect tense meaning that Jesus continues to bear our sins as we continue to sin. So when we confess Jesus as Lord, and then find ourselves guilty of sin, God sees the work of Jesus on the cross and closes the case against us.
Isn’t it good to know that Jesus has sealed your future with him no matter what you do? That doesn’t open the door for us to continue sinning as Paul discusses in Romans 6. But knowing that we as Christ-followers who are seeking to follow God’s will, have the cover of Jesus for the rest of our lives. Our eternity in heaven with him is secured because he bore our iniquities and continues to bear them until our days are done.
Christ in the Old Testament 
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