Evening
Time: 10:47 PM PST
"The Messiah shall be cut off, but not for himself." --Daniel 9:26
Blessed be His name, there was no cause of death in Him. Neither original nor
actual sin had defiled Him, and therefore death had no claim upon Him. No man
could have taken His life from Him justly, for He had done no man wrong, and no
man could even have lain Him by force unless He had been pleased to yield
Himself to die. But lo, one sins and another suffers. Justice was offended by
us, but found its satisfaction in Him. Rivers of tears, mountains of offerings,
seas of the blood of bullocks, and hills of frankincense, could not have availed
for the removal of sin; but Jesus was cut off for us, and the cause of wrath was
cut off at once, for sin was put away for ever. Herein is wisdom, whereby
substitution, the sure and speedy way of atonement, was devised! Herein is
condescension, which brought Messiah, the Prince, to wear a crown of thorns, and
die upon the cross! Herein is love, which led the Redeemer to lay down His life
for His enemies!
It is not enough, however, to admire the spectacle of the innocent bleeding
for the guilty, we must make sure of our interest therein. The special object of
the Messiah's death was the salvation of His church; have we a part and a lot
among those for whom He gave His life a ransom? Did the Lord Jesus stand as our
representative? Are we healed by His stripes? It will be a terrible thing indeed
if we should come short of a portion in His sacrifice; it were better for us
that we had never been born. Solemn as the question is, it is a joyful
circumstance that it is one which may be answered clearly and without mistake.
To all who believe on Him the Lord Jesus is a present Saviour, and upon them all
the blood of reconciliation has been sprinkled. Let all who trust in the merit
of Messiah's death be joyful at every remembrance of Him, and let their holy
gratitude lead them to the fullest consecration to His cause.