©Kris Gerbrandt
Chapter 9:26a (ESV) - And after the sixty-two weeks, an anointed one shall be cut off and shall have nothing.
Question to consider: What event marked the beginning of Jesus’ ministry?
In order to provide verifiable proof to Daniel’s generation and beyond that the LORD’s Jubilee promise of an Anointed One who would usher in righteousness and put an end to the transgression, Gabriel gave a prophetic statement that after the decree would go out to rebuild the city of Jerusalem, it would be completed in times of trouble within the first Jubilee (seven sevens or 49 years).
Ezra and Nehemiah served as witnesses to the fulfillment of this statement. There were two decrees that were given to Ezra. The first was from Cyrus in 538 BC to rebuild the temple. However, I believe the promise from Gabriel was in regard to the second decree given by Artaxerxes in 458/457 BC to rebuild the city (see Ezra 7:11-26). The temple was rebuilt in a time of peace during the reign of Zerubbabel and Joshua the high priest. The city was rebuilt in times of trouble just as Gabriel promised it would be.
Some would argue that Ezra was the anointed prince, but I pointed out yesterday that the footnoted translation of verse 25 could have put the anointed prince after the sixty-two weeks. If we consider the footnoted translation and the date of the decree given by Artaxerxes, the seven and sixty-two sevens (483 years) ended with the baptism of Jesus when He was anointed by the Holy Spirit. It makes sense when we consider Gabriel’s statement that the “anointed one shall be cut off and shall have nothing.” Immediately upon His baptism, Jesus was cast out into the wilderness for forty days just as the scapegoat was cast out into the desert on Yom Kippur. For more on this and its meaning, I recommend reading my studies in Matthew chapter 4.
In addition to the witnesses of Ezra and Nehemiah, I think it is important to consider the gospel accounts of Luke and Matthew. The only other place in scripture that mentions the angel Gabriel is Luke who wrote of his announcement of the birth of Christ and His forerunner, John. I do not believe this is a coincidence. Gabriel showed up to give these announcements so that everyone would know that this promise he gave to Daniel was being fulfilled through Jesus. There were some apocryphal books and rabbinical writings that also mentioned Gabriel, but nothing in the canon of scripture. I would argue that those references were merely rabbis trying to lend credence to their writings.
Matthew affirmed the notion that Jesus was the anointed prince through his account of the visit of the Magi (Persian kingmakers). Daniel was chief of the Magi and received this promise from Gabriel during the time of king Darius of the Medo-Persian empire. For more details, I recommend reading my study on Matthew 2:1-8. The Magi were given astronomical signs of when the anointed prince was to come, and they showed up in faith to give Him princely gifts.
Dear heavenly Father, thank You for sending Jesus to be cut off from the majesty of heaven and receive nothing but the burden of our sin. Because He was clothed with our sin on the cross, we have been given the pure vestments of His righteousness. May we receive this gift in gratitude and joy. Amen.