Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows. Isaiah 53

The Every Day Grace of a Burden Bearer

Posted on by Michele Morin

Sunday Scripture

In the practice of mothering, we become fairly adept at knowing when to step in and help our kids with their struggles. As “The Finder of Lost Things,” the sounding board for pondering important decisions, or even as a baby-sitter of grandchildren for tired parents who need a break, we love our children by coming under their burdens with them at all ages and stages of life.

God’s Father heart is on display in Isaiah 53:4, for 700 years before our Burden-Bearer came to Earth, God commissioned the prophet to begin singing the Servant Song of hope:

Surely he has borne our griefs
and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken,
smitten by God, and afflicted.”  (Isaiah 53:4)

Speaking in the prophetic-perfect tense as if it had already been accomplished, Isaiah predicted that God had a plan for the consequences of our sin to be transferred to a Burden Bearer of his choosing. Sure, it would appear to those nearby that he was the guilty one as he hung on the cross, but an understanding of the narrative arc of Scripture reveals God’s intent from the very beginning to defeat the effects of sin–even death!

Matthew the disciple and Gospel-writer cited Isaiah’s words in connection to Jesus’s healing ministry:  “This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: ‘He took our illnesses and bore our diseases.’”  Healing of sick bodies, forgiveness of sin, and deliverance from guilt build to a crescendo in which one day even the power of death will be broken.

It’s my intention during these weeks leading up to Easter to spend some time every day in confession, repentance, and gratitude for our Burden Bearing Savior.

Will you join me?

Grateful for the Mercy of a Burden Bearer,

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Published by Michele Morin

Michele Morin is a Bible teacher, writer, reader, and gardener committed to the truth that women can become confident Christ-followers and students of God's Word. She has been married to an unreasonably patient husband for thirty-plus years, and together they have four sons, four daughters-in-love, and six adorable grandchildren. Michele loves hot tea and well-crafted sentences, poems that stop her in her tracks, and days at the ocean with the whole family. She laments biblical illiteracy and advocates for the prudent use of “little minutes.” She blogs at Living Our Days, and you can connect with her on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter.

37 thoughts on “The Every Day Grace of a Burden Bearer”

  1. Beautiful post, Michele. He spoke in the past tense as it was His intent from the beginning to defeat the effects of sin. This brings such hope of what is yet to come! Have a blessed Sunday!

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  4. Michele
    I like your intentions leading up to Easter to spend some time each day in confession repentance and gratitude
    I choose to start each day with gratitude even before my feet hit the floor .Then joy and when the sun comes up to say This Is The Day The Lord has made let us rejoice!Wonderful lenten pratices as we all are searching for ones
    to praise God for.

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    1. Great way to begin the day, Linda! And so far, my intention to spend time in prayer each day is going very well. Not perfectly, of course, but I’m seeing growth, and that’s a cause for celebration.

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  8. An attitude of confession, repentance, and gratitude is perfect for Lent. And for the rest of the year. Thank you for the good reminder, Michele. Happy Monday.

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  9. Confession, repentance, and gratitude. What a powerful prayer combination. God bless you and thank you got your encouragement.

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  11. Such a beautiful practice, Michele. I never ended up deciding on a particular path for Lent this year, so I’m enjoying hear about the practices of others and doing them in mini-versions as I read about them.

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  13. I think burden-bearer is one of my favorite ways to describe Jesus. So thankful He comes alongside and lifts burdens off me!

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  14. Love this, Michele! I’ve got an entire chapter devoted to burden bearers in The Heart That Heals. I felt it was an important topic to cover. Love your use of Scripture here. 🙂

    Thank you for linking up at InstaEncouragements!

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  15. So often I forget to confess. I go about my life aware that God already knows my heart and the things I’ve done wrong. But there is something powerful and healing about confessing with our mouths. Great reminder!

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  16. I never noticed it written in the perfect tense, like it had already happened. It makes sense to us reading it now, because it has happened. But back then, long before it had happened, must have been quite a clang to their ears. Making them stop and ponder. Thanks for this.

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  18. Days are feeling heavy at the moment with worry about health issues. We should remember to have faith and love at all times, even in the darkest times. Thannks for linking up with #globalblogging

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