Sinless Became Sin

God made him who had no sin to be sin for us,

so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

2 Cor 5.21

I found this a really moving picture of what Jesus suffered on the cross. It's the kind of thing which needs to be read over a few times to properly appreciate it:

Kent Hughes:

We must realize that Jesus remained sinless when he became sin for us. 

How did God make Jesus, who never ceased being sinless, sin?

Though all analogies or explanations of what happened fall short, they provide a glimpse. For example, think back to the magnifying glass you played with as a child. If held under the sun’s rays, it could start a fire. Remember how if you focused the white spot of its concentrated light on a leaf or a bug, it would begin to burn. Our sins were focused on Christ on the cross, and he suffered the fiery wrath of God. On the cross Christ was robed in all that is heinous and hateful as the mass of our corruption poured over him. Wave after wave of our sin was poured over Christ’s sinless soul. Again and again during those three hours his soul recoiled and convulsed as all our lies, hatreds, jealousies, and pride were poured upon his purity. “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us — for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree’” (Galatians 3:13). Jesus was cursed as he became sin for us! Can you see him writhing like a serpent in the gloom (cf. John 3:14, 15)? Jesus in full, lucid consciousness took on your sins and mine and bore them with a unity of understanding and pain that none can fathom. And he did it willingly.