Sin bearing.
Ezekiel is to bear the sin of his people, doing it indeed symbolically every night, by lying first on one side, with the idea that the sin of Israel is upon him so that he cannot move; and then for a shorter period on the other side, with the idea of the sin of Judah resting on him and holding him down. This shows that a prophet is more than a messenger from God to men. He is one of the people, and his function involves his bearing somewhat of their sin. This must be the case with all servants of God who would be helpful to their brethren. Thus Christ's sin bearing, while it stands alone in its tremendous endurance and its glorious efficacy, is anticipated and followed in a minor degree.
I. SIN BEARING IS VICARIOUS.
1. It is bearing sin for others. Ezekiel took on him the burden of the sin of the guilty nation. Vicarious endurance of sin runs through all life. No man keeps his sin to himself. All who love the sinner bear some of the weight of his sin. Christ the Sinless hears our sin.
2. It is bearing sin for brethren. The prophet was to identify himself with his people, and thus to come to bear their sin. Christ became one of us that he might bear our sin for us. Pharisaical scorn for the sin of others betrays the spirit of Cain.
3. It is bearing sin in true proportion. The guilt of Israel is greater than that of Judah, and its punishment is accordingly of longer duration. These facts are recognized in Ezekiel's symbolical periods of endurance. As all sin is not equal, all sin does not produce the same distress on the sin bearer. The aggravation of the world's sin leads to the aggravation of Christ's sufferings. How much has each added to that awful load?
II. SIN BEARING IS A REAL ENDURANCE. Ezekiel's action was symbolical, but it suggested a true spiritual experience.
1. Sin is borne vicariously in the thought of it. We may refuse to note our brother's ill conduct, and if so we may pass it by with indifference. But the prophet must study the signs of the times; the Christ must take The real state of the world into his thought and heart; the man of Christian sympathy must consider deeply and sadly the great sin of mankind.
2. This is borne in the shame of it. Each man is only guilty of his own misconduct. Yet we are all conscious of the shame of the sin of those who are closely related to us. A child's sin is his father's shame. The Christian spirit makes the shame of the sin of others felt by those who have escaped it.
3. This is borne in the suffering of it. We cannot but suffer for the wickedness of those who are near to us. One who would help and save his brethren must bear the suffering of their sins. Ezekiel in a lower degree anticipated that type of vicarious suffering set forth in Isaiah 53:1-12; which Christ alone fully realized. The Saviour of men must ever be one who sacrifices himself for met, by suffering the hurt of the sin of men.
III. SIN BEARING IS FOR THE PURPOSE OF DELIVERANCE FROM SIN. We cannot see all the deep mystery of this; but we can discern its glorious issue.
1. The sin bearer is a propitiation to God. The Lamb of God who bears away the sin of the world is God's beloved,Son, in whom he is well pleased. God cannot be pleased with mere suffering; but he may well be delighted with the spirit of obedience, holiness, and love that is manifested in vicarious suffering, and may take this as an ample compensation and a glorious intercession.
2. The sin bearing should move the guilty to repentance. The Jews were to learn a lesson from Ezekiel. Christ's cross preaches repentance.