The Crucified Messiah

"Messiah shall be cut off,

but not for Himself."

Daniel 9:26

Two men were working together. As they were riding down the interstate highway, they noticed a billboard with a picture of Christ crucified on it. The words read, "This Is How Much God Loves You." One man said, "Now that doesn't make sense to me. What does a crucifix painted on a billboard have to do with love?" The other man said, "Everything if you have read John 3:16." The man replied, "What is John 3:16?" The other man said, "You mean you don't know? It's in the Bible." He then quoted the verse. The other man said, "Gee, it's hard for me to believe that God could love me that much." He later became a believer in Jesus Christ.

There are many prophecies in the Old Testament that point toward the crucifixion of Christ. Daniel prophesied that "Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself." The word Messiah in the Old Testament means the same thing as Christ in the New Testament --- "anointed one." When Jesus came into this world, most of the religious leaders of Israel were looking for a military Messiah to overthrow the domination of the Roman army and return the nation to the golden years. Even though Christ crucified was prophesied in the Old Testament, they were offended by His cross.

What does Christ crucified mean to you? That is an important question, because it determines the eternal destiny of each person according to the Bible. "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God" (1 Corinthians 1:18). Unbelief looks at the cross of Jesus and says, "What does that have to do with me?" Faith looks at the cross of Jesus and says, "How could God love me that much?"

Prayer: Father, we receive Your great love for us at the cross of Jesus the Messiah. Amen.