Evening, January 16

Charles Spurgeon · Morning and Evening: Daily Readings

"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 forever.
   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.