A Description Of The Messiah’s Work
Tom Harding

Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy (Dan. 9:24).

In Daniel 9:24, the angel Gabriel was sent to declare and inform Daniel about the certainty of the coming of the Messiah at the appointed time (Gal. 4:4), the glory and sufficiency of His redeeming work that He would accomplish for His people. It was the same message and maybe the same messenger that declared unto Joseph that Mary would bring forth the Son of God to put away the sin of God’s chosen people (Matt. 1:21). We know according to the record of scripture when the Lord Jesus Christ was manifested in the flesh, He perfectly performed all things necessary to accomplish and secure the salvation of God’s elect (Psa. 57:2). Let’s take a close look at the six things mentioned in this scripture.

1). "To finish the transgression," or to restrain and shut it up. Our Lord said on the cross, "It is finished." He has accomplished a complete victory over sin. By His precious blood atonement our sin has been arrested, taken prisoner and confined. Sin is no longer able to exercise dominion and condemnation over God’s sheep (John 10:15; Rom. 5:20).

2). "To make an end of sins," or to seal it up. Our sins and transgression have not only been shut up, but also everlastingly sealed up. God’s infinite justice has been meticulously satisfied by the substitutionary work of Jesus Christ and the blood of Christ has forever cleansed us from all sins (1 John 1:7; Heb. 2:17).

3). "To make reconciliation for iniquity," or to cover it up (Psalm 32:2).

Our sins had separated us from God (Isa. 59:2). But now through Christ putting away our sin by His blood, the cause of separation is removed (1 John 4:10). Therefore the believer is eternally reconciled to God through Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 5:18). Every trace of sin has been removed (Heb. 10:17).

4). "To bring in everlasting righteousness." Christ Jesus has established, provided and imputed perfect righteousness to every one that trusts Him alone for salvation (Rom. 4:6). Jesus Christ is the believer’s righteousness (Rom. 10:1-4; 1Cor. 1:30; Jer. 23:5).

5). "To seal up the vision and prophecy." All things that have been written in the scriptures concerning the Messiah and the blessed, redeeming work He would perform; Jesus Christ has fulfilled (Luke 24:44-48;1 Cor.15:1-4). We have found Him who is the Christ (John 1:41).

6). "To anoint the most Holy." Our Lord and Saviour died at the appointed time as God’s Lamb (Acts 2:23), but He was also the anointed High Priest acting as the representative for His people (Heb. 7:26). Being appointed, anointed and empowered to fulfill all things He did not fail to glorify God and secure our eternal salvation (Isa. 42:4; Isa. 53:10-12). !--[endif]-->