He Hath Borne Our Griefs and Carried Our Sorrows
Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted (Isa. 53:4 KJV)
Imagine living your entire Christian life carrying what Christ already took from you—this is the tragedy of misunderstood redemption.
What exactly did Jesus bear on the cross?
And why are so many still burdened with what He already carried?
Isaiah’s prophetic words in chapter 53 unveil a mystery of Christ’s suffering that is too often overlooked. The Messiah “bore our griefs” and “carried our sorrows.” These are not just poetic phrases—they describe a divine transaction that took place at Calvary. The verbs to bear and to carry are not passive; they are forceful, intentional acts. Think of a man lifting a crushing load off someone else’s back and taking it upon himself. That is what Jesus did with our griefs and sorrows.
But what exactly are these “griefs” and “sorrows”? Some interpret them narrowly as sins and emotional pain or sadness. Yet the Holy Spirit, through Matthew 8:16–17, gives us the clearest commentary: Isaiah 53:4 refers not only to sin but also to physical sickness and disease. The weight Jesus carried was both spiritual and physical—sin, guilt, shame, condemnation, sickness, and all their consequences.
This means every burden that came with sin—whether in your soul or in your body—was placed upon Christ. He suffered in His flesh and soul for sin and disease so we wouldn’t have to. And here lies the glorious implication: if He carried it, we are not meant to carry it anymore. Yes, we have other battles as Christians, but not to repeat what Christ has already done. To keep holding on to guilt, shame, or disease is to say, perhaps unknowingly, that Christ’s work wasn’t enough.
Someone once asked me, Why then are the majority of Christians still carrying these griefs and burdens? It’s similar to asking, Why are people still going to hell, though Jesus already died for the sins of the whole world? The answer is complex and deeply personal, but Isaiah summarizes it well in the first verse of that chapter: “Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?” (Isaiah 53:1, KJV). It’s as though he knew people would struggle to receive what Jesus has done.
Here’s what we need to do as Christ’s Church: keep growing to maturity, becoming more like Him, and taking full advantage of what He did. We are not there yet, but you can be sure of this—the Church is growing and becoming mature to reign as kings in life through grace.
Meditate
What burdens—whether emotional, spiritual, or physical—are you still carrying today that Jesus has already carried for you?
Act on the Word
Refuse to bear what Christ has already borne. Declare Isaiah 53:4 over your life. Speak it until your heart believes it. Whether it’s guilt, shame, pain, or sickness—lay it down at the cross. Let Christ’s finished work speak louder than your experience.
Pray
Father, open my eyes to see Christ bearing my griefs and sorrows. Help me walk in the freedom and wholeness He purchased for me.
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What does it mean “that Christ would carry/carried/carries our griefs, sickness, and sorrows,” when we are still sick and sad, and we still have sorrows? It sounds like just repeating Scripture, not explaining how or what Scripture means. Please provide examples of HOW Christ does this. Thanks.
Hi Val.
Thank you for this insightful comment. I am sure it will be very helpful to many believers who read this page daily.
Christ bearing or carrying our sorrows and griefs means He suffered for us to be healed, implying there was a due suffering or punishment for us to be healed. Isaiah 53 was a vivid prophetic description of the sufferings of Christ that will bring forgiveness and healing to people.
The meaning is of this passage is straightforward: Christ suffered for us to be healed. The real difficulty is what you have pointed out so clearly: why are we still sick and suffering today from sicknesses?
And the answer to this is also simple.
Let me begin with sins, as that is easier to understand. Sin and disease are two entities that Christ’s suffering paid for in strikingly similar ways. I will explain why we are still suffering from disease in three step while incorporating the parallel idea of sin.
First, Christ suffered and died for the sins of the whole world, sinners and Christians alike.
But only a handful of people are saved from sins. There are many out there who are under sin as and sadly will be lost for eternity, which breaks God’s heart.
Why are people still lost in sin though Jesus has suffered? Everyone has to personally understand, believe and accept to appropriate the salvation He brought.
The second step is us as Christians dealing with sin everyday. Christ has suffered for our sins and broken the power of sin over our lives. Scripture tells us plainly that sin should not have dominion over us.
Our sins are atoned. Sin’s power is broken. Yet there is hardly any of us that can say thry live every day free from some sin. That is why He made provision for abundant forgiveness even for us, His people.
The interesting question is this: why do we still sin even as Christians though Jesus has suffered already?
You can immediately tell the answer is not straightforward here, and it depends on our individual standing with God.
Some have made remarkable strides to enjoy freedom from sin, others are still working on it and still others are under its control daily.
That leads us to the the answer, which is directly related to your question: why are we still sick though Jesus has suffered for us to be healed?
The two questions above should help with this.
Why are people still lost in sin though their sins have been atoned for?
Why do Christians still struggle and even sometimes suffer the consequences of sinful behaviors when Jesus already suffered for their sins?
Salvation from sin as well as healing of our bodies are clear benefits from the scripture pf the suffering and death of Christ. But whether every person will appropriate it is an individual question.
Scripture is plain that all the provisions of Christ are the benefits of grace that we receive by faith.
As a doctor and minister, I have seen Christians suffer and die of diseases and seen others healed. I have heard different teachings on why some Christians are not healed, from healing is no longer for today, to God having special plans to allow some people to be sick.
The Bible is very plain: He has suffered and died for our sins and diseases. If we are struggling with sin or disease, we can be sure it has to do with our understanding, faith or surrender to His Spirit. I cannot explain why some Christians are not healed. God alone knows what is truly in our hearts, what we know, believe and allow to control our lives.
Hope that helps. Please let me know if that answers your question and if there is an aspect of the question I missed.