- Hebrews 9:28 (KJV, King James Version):
"So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation."
- Hebrews 9:28 (NRS, New Revised Standard):
". . . so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin, but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him."
"Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we , being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed."
"He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that, free from sins, we might live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed."
The Greek word for bear or bore is a transliterated word which can mean a number of things, including offer, offered, bore, led, led up, offering, take away, and taken up.
Here is how biblestudytools summarizes the meanings of bore or bear:
to carry or bring up, to lead up men to a higher place
and
to put upon the altar, to bring to the altar, to offer
and
to lift up one's self, to take upon one's self
and
to place on one's self anything as a load to be carried
and
to sustain, i.e. their punishment
In truth, the Bible could not be clearer that Jesus bore the sins of the world as He hung on the cross. Just as a lamb of old bore symbolically the sins of a single penitent or the entire nation of Israel, Jesus, the Lamb of God, literally bore away the sins of the world (John 1:29).
Furthermore, each detail about Jesus' crucifixion bears witness to the spiritual reality
of what was taking place at Calvary, where the sins of humankind were imputed to Jesus, and where Jesus' righteousness was imputed to humankind. (We know of course that God does not impute that righteousness to a person who does not believe Jesus died for his or her sins. Nevertheless, the potential is there to receive that righteousness by receiving Christ as one's Lord and Savior.)
At Calvary there was
a preternatural darkness from noon until 3PM, as God hid, as it were, His face from His Son, the wrath-bearer, the atonement and expiation for sin
a preternatural earthquake, during which the burial tombs of many holy ones were opened and the dead were raised to life. The earthquake reminds us of creation's groaning in travail because of the curse of sin, but it also reminds us that creation will one day be set free from its slavery to corruption, and then enter the freedom of the glory of the children of God (see Romans 8:19-22).
a torrent of abuse heaped upon Jesus, by many of those who witnessed the travail of His soul, by the religious leaders who had condemned Jesus to death, by the soldiers who crucified Him, by the observers at the cross who witnessed His life and public ministry, and by the two thieves who were crucified next to Him (one of whom repented and was forgiven by Jesus)
an abandonment by ten of His closest disciples
Each of the above details of Jesus' death can be found in prophetic passages in the Old Testament (Tanakh), with Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53 as outstanding examples.
In conclusion, I suggest you mediate on Isaiah 53:10-12, as should we all:
But the LORD was pleased
To crush Him, putting Him to grief;
If He would render Himself as a guilt offering,
He will see His offspring,
He will prolong His days,
And the good pleasure of the LORD will prosper in His hand.
As a result of the anguish of His soul,
He will see it and be satisfied;
By His knowledge the Righteous One,
My Servant , will justify the many,
As He will bear their iniquities.
Therefore, I will allot Him a portion with the great,
And He will divide the booty with the strong;
Because He has poured out Himself to death,
And was numbered with the transgressors;
Yet He Himself bore the sin of many,
And interceded for the transgressors. (my emphasis)