The eulogy at the Lord’s Supper is often composed of a scripture reading and a song. Two of the most common that are related in thought are Isaiah 53 and “He Bore it All.”
Prophetically Isaiah paints a picture of the suffering Servant as “a man of sorrows.” “Acquainted with grief.” “Despised and rejected by men.” The suffering and shame that the Savior endured touches our hearts. Weighs heavy on our minds. And reaches down into the depths of our souls. It reminds us that we are the reason Jesus died.
Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.
Jesus bore the burden of my sins on the cross. And your sins too! He bore our guilt. Our transgressions. Our Iniquities. Our sorrows. And He suffered the consequences in our place.
We know the burden of guilt and sin is demoralizing. Debilitating. Destructive. And in the eternal sense damning. But Jesus bore so that I don’t have to.
Now combine that feeling with the song “He Bore it All” by J. R. “Pap” Baxter and Virgil Stamps. Can you hear it? If by chance you don’t know it, the song is typical of so many of the Stamps-Baxter songs. It’s an upbeat, fast tempo, almost foot-stomping kind of song!
Its celebratory style seems incongruous with the ignominious execution of Christ. Verse one states,“My precious Savior suffered pain and agony.” Verse two reminds me “they place a crown of thorns upon my Savior’s Head” “With spear His side was pierced and bled.” And verse three speaks of the shame. The suffering. The disgrace of crucifixion. How can that be reconciled with the buoyant music of “He Bore It All”?
I think the answer is simple.
Jesus said his death was necessary. He urged the apostles not to sorrow. He promised, “I will come again….I will rise the third day.” Peter penned, “(Jesus) bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness —“ (2 Pet 2:24). Live. That’s the key word.
Friday didn’t end it all. Jesus’ death was final. It was not fatal. It was not a failure. Sunday’s glorious resurrection rendered Jesus alive. To rule. To reign. To live forevermore.
The Chorus of “He Bore It All” exclaims…
He bore it all (Jesus bore it all) that I might see His shining face
He bore it all (Freely bore it all)
That I might live (I with Him might live)
I stood condemned to die but Jesus took my place
He bore it all that I might live (in His presence live)
Someone has remarked that this song might be aptly entitled, “That I Might Live.”
Friday’s death on the cross reminds me of my sins. My need for Jesus’ sacrifice. My utter dependence upon Him. But Sunday’s resurrection offers hope. Encourages me to live for my risen Savior. And provides a promise that one day, I can be resurrected to live with Him forever.
No guilt. No condemnation. No more. Because Jesus bore it all.
–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman
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