Mourning The One They Pierced

Zechariah 12:8-10, 13:1

Have you ever, at some earlier point in your life, done something very terribly wrong for which, years later, you truly and sorrowfully regretted? Perhaps as a child you were a terrible bully to some other classmate.  Maybe you shoplifted items from some stores and were never caught. It could be any number of wrong things, and now you realize how terribly wrong you were. In today’s Old Testament Scripture passage we read of a whole nation who at one time did something terribly wrong, and will come at a future time to realize this, and will grieve and mourn their mistake.

Our passage comes from the Old Testament prophet Zechariah, who was from the priestly line.  Zechariah wrote his book of prophecies and messages from the Lord after the Jewish people’s return to the land of Israel following years of exile in Babylon.  This was also during the time of the rebuilding of the Temple and the city of Jerusalem.

As our Scripture passage opens, Zechariah tells the people that the Lord God will defend His people (vs. 8).  Throughout all history, people who have been faithful and true to God have been attacked from His enemies. God is not oblivious to this, and as the prophet says, He promises to defend those who are His faithful children.  The Lord will make the feeble like David, who was Israel’s greatest king and warrior. The “house of David” and “Angel of the Lord” are references to the Messiah, Jesus. He will be the strength of His people.

In verse 10 we read of another prophetic word from the Lord that Zechariah speaks.  One day in the future, the nation of Israel will come to salvation when they accept Jesus as the Messiah and Savior. The Apostle Paul spoke of this day in Romans 11:25-27. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Grace and Supplication that is spoken of here. He brings saving grace. That grace produces sorrow which will result in repentant prayer to God for forgiveness. Israel will repent when they see the physical Jesus before them when He returns.  He is the One they have rejected and crucified (I Corinthians 2:8). At that time they will know the One they rejected truly is the Messiah. They will mourn and grieve that they had rejected Jesus as their Messiah, and that they had him crucified.  They will mourn as strongly as anyone mourns for the death of their only child.

God, in His Word here, speaks of them having pierced “Me”.  This verse is definitely affirming the incarnation of deity in Jesus.  Jesus was the One pierced when He was nailed to the cross. His hands and feet were pierced through with large nails or spikes.  In addition, His side was pierced when the soldier thrust the spear into His side. God says “Me”, thus clearly showing in Scripture that Jesus is God.

Not only will the Jewish people see the Pierced One, but all people throughout the world will, as well.  All those who have opposed Him throughout their lives will see and be forced to acknowledge that He is Lord and King.  Those Jewish people who are alive that day will see and believe.

In chapter 13, verse 1 we read that on the day when the Lord returns, He will open a fountain for cleansing.  This is a cleansing from sin. The cleansing that God brings is for everyone, from royalty (the house of David) down to the commoner (inhabitants of Jerusalem). The fountain symbolizes the cleansing and purification through the atoning death of the Pierced One, Jesus. Jesus is the Fountain of Life (Psalm 36:9) and our source of salvation (John 4:10).  He, alone, can wash us from our sin and impurity.