Answers For The Heart
Daniel 9:26
Daniel 9:26
26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.
This is one of the most amazing verses in all of the Bible.
Here is a quote from one of my commentaries concerning this passage in Daniel.
“Daniel’s message of the seventy sevens is one of the greatest prophecies in the Bible. Leupold calls it “the divine program for the ages.” Regardless of disagreement over dates and some matters of interpretation, certain facts seem clear. The passage predicts the coming of the Messiah—Jesus of Nazareth. Messiah will die, and subsequently the city of Jerusalem and the temple will be destroyed. At the end of the age an evil ruler will arise who will persecute God’s people, but his wicked activities will not continue, for the same Messiah who died will come again. He will judge the Antichrist and all those who follow him.”
The world had waited for 4000 years for the Messiah to appear. When he did appear, he was rejected and killed (Acts 2:23; Isaiah 53:8).
There are several things I want you to notice about the death of Jesus Christ.
Let’s first notice the timing of this event - It is after the 69 weeks (or 483 years - See Daniel 9:25-26).
Although there is debate about where these 483 years begin based on the varying historical edicts given about the return to Jerusalem…it is really immaterial, because we know where they ended....with the death of Messiah.
The raging mob cried out against Jesus, “Crucify him! Crucify him!
Daniel describes this event as a “cutting off.”
It would seem that this word (“Cut Off”) would just imply that he was killed, but there is in that word a description of how he would die.
The verb means to literally “cut” (See Exodus 4:25; I Samuel 5:4; Job 14:7).
Concerning Jesus and the death he died, see Matthew 27:26; Isaiah 52:14; Psalm 22:16; John 19:34.
If anything could be said about the death of Jesus, one would have to say that he was “cut” up in a brutal fashion.
The verb can also be used figuratively - (See Leviticus 17:14; 20:18).
This type of “cutting off” was not a literal cutting, but it meant to be separated socially - Put outside of the camp. Sometimes people were “cut off” forever, sometimes temporarily.
Concerning Jesus - Consider the following verses Isaiah 53:3; Psalm 118:22; John 1:11; Matthew 27:46. Jesus was cut off (separated) from those he came to save, by the leadership of Israel, and ultimately by God, His Father. Jesus Cried out on the cross…. “My God, My God, why has thou forsaken me?”
Consider these wise words from a preacher of yesteryear.
“Messiah must be cut off, or man must remain in his sins. He who is to save must suffer — suffer in the room of those whom he saves. Sin must be atoned for, if it is to be forgiven. Justice must be satisfied, if mercy is to bless. The woman's seed must have his heel bruised, if he is to bruise the serpent's head. The Son of God in man's nature must die, if man is to live. The Blessed One must be cut off, if the accursed are to be restored. It is done. God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son. To save the sinner, it pleased the Lord to bruise His Son. Wonder, O heavens, at God's love to man!”
Are you still in your sins? Jesus, the Son of God suffered in your place. He satisfied the justice of God on your behalf. He died so that you might live! He was “cut off” so that you might be restored to the Father! Jesus, on the cross, cried out. “It Is Finished.” Believe on him Now! Look to Him now!
John 3:14–19
14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
Join us next week for some concluding thoughts on this interesting passage in Daniel.