What does "Strike the Shepherd" reveal about God's plan for redemption? Setting the Scene: Zechariah 13:7 “Awake, O sword, against My Shepherd, against the Man who is My Companion,” declares the LORD of Hosts. “Strike the Shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered; then I will turn My hand against the little ones.” Context in Zechariah’s Vision • Chapters 12–13 anticipate a day of cleansing for Judah and Jerusalem. • A fountain is opened “to cleanse them from sin and impurity” (13:1). • The striking of the Shepherd sits at the center of that cleansing drama. Identifying the Shepherd • “My Shepherd … the Man who is My Companion” points to One uniquely united with God—fulfilled in Jesus, “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30). • Jesus claims the title: “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep” (John 10:11). • Hebrews 13:20 calls Him “the great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the eternal covenant.” Divine Initiative: God’s Sword • The sword awakens at God’s command; the cross is not an accident but heaven’s design (Acts 2:23). • Isaiah 53:10, “Yet it pleased the LORD to crush Him,” mirrors Zechariah’s wording—God’s justice meets God’s mercy. The Striking Foreshadowed the Cross • Jesus applied Zechariah 13:7 to His arrest: “You will all fall away, for it is written: ‘I will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered’” (Matthew 26:31; cf. Mark 14:27). • Isaiah 53:5, Psalm 22, and 1 Peter 2:24 echo the same substitutionary suffering. Scattered Sheep, Sovereign Shepherd • The disciples fled (Matthew 26:56), fulfilling the prophecy exactly. • Their temporary scattering led to a stronger, Spirit-empowered gathering (John 20:19; Acts 1–2). Redemptive Purposes Revealed • Atonement: the Shepherd bears the sword so the sheep escape eternal judgment. • Covenant blood: His death inaugurates “the new covenant in My blood” (Luke 22:20). • Refinement: Zechariah 13:8-9 shows two-thirds cut off, one-third refined—the cross divides unbelief from faith and purifies the remnant. • Global mission: scattered sheep carry the gospel outward (Acts 8:4), turning loss into harvest. • Divine faithfulness: God “turns His hand” in protection, not abandonment, ultimately regathering every redeemed sheep (John 10:16). Key Takeaways • Redemption is God-initiated: He commands the sword and provides the Shepherd. • Substitution lies at the heart: the Shepherd is struck in place of the flock. • Temporary scattering leads to lasting unity in a cleansed, Spirit-filled people. • The prophecy assures that even suffering and apparent defeat are woven into God’s saving plan. Verses for Further Reflection • Isaiah 53:4-6,10 |
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