What significance does "They will look on the One they have pierced" hold? Setting the Scene Zechariah 12 opens with the LORD defending Jerusalem in the last days. In verse 10 the spotlight narrows to a single, pierced Individual whose appearance brings grief and grace to Israel. The Prophetic Statement in Zechariah 12:10 “Then I will pour out on the house of David and on the residents of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and prayer; and they will look on Me, the One they have pierced. They will mourn for Him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for Him as one grieves for a firstborn son.” A Prophecy Literally Fulfilled in Jesus’ Crucifixion • John twice connects the cross to Zechariah: – “Instead, one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear… Another Scripture says: ‘They will look on the One they have pierced.’” (John 19:34 – 37) • The spear, not a symbolic image, produced blood and water—public, undeniable evidence Jesus really died. • The New Testament treats the prophecy as fact, not poetry: the Messiah was literally pierced. The Pierced Messiah in Earlier Scriptures • Psalm 22:16 – “They have pierced My hands and feet.” • Isaiah 53:5 – “But He was pierced for our transgressions.” • These passages knit together a consistent portrait: the coming Deliverer would suffer bodily injury for sin. Blood and Water: Atonement and Cleansing • Blood satisfies God’s righteous requirement (Leviticus 17:11). • Water pictures cleansing from defilement (Ezekiel 36:25). • Both flow from the crucified Son, meeting humanity’s deepest needs in one moment. Israel’s Future Recognition and Mourning • Zechariah foresees national repentance. The verbs “look” and “mourn” are singular in Hebrew—emphasizing a corporate yet personal encounter with the Pierced One. • Grief “for an only child” signals profound, heartfelt sorrow, not mere regret. • Acts 2 demonstrates a firstfruits fulfillment: many Jews “were pierced to the heart” (Acts 2:37) and believed. The full national realization awaits the end of the age. The Outpouring of Grace and the Holy Spirit • God Himself pours out “a spirit of grace and prayer” —divine enablement to repent. • Salvation remains unearned; grace precedes even the ability to seek God (Ephesians 2:8). • Prayer becomes the reflex of a heart awakened by grace, turning lament into communion. A Preview of the Second Coming • Revelation 1:7 echoes Zechariah: “Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him—even those who pierced Him.” • The same Lord once pierced will return glorified; His wounds remain visible (John 20:27), eternal reminders of redemption. • Worldwide mourning shows the prophecy’s scope: Israel leads, but “all the tribes of the earth” respond. Personal Takeaways for Believers Today • The cross was not accidental; it fulfilled centuries-old prophecy down to specific details. • God’s plan weaves suffering into triumph, turning the most tragic act—piercing the Son—into the fountain of grace. • The unchanging wounds of Jesus beckon continual repentance and faith: – Confidence in forgiveness—His blood has fully paid. – Cleansing from ongoing sin—His water keeps purifying. – Hope for final restoration—His return will complete what began at Calvary. Summing It Up “They will look on the One they have pierced” anchors the gospel in prophecy, history, and future glory. It testifies that Jesus is the promised Messiah, that His literal piercing accomplished atonement, and that a day is coming when Israel and the whole world will recognize Him, mourn, and receive the grace God delights to give. |
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