“I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and of supplication, so that they will look on Me whom they have pierced; and they will mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him like the bitter weeping over a firstborn. (Zechariah 12:10)
Hundreds of years before Christ, the prophet Zechariah prophesied with Divine precision of what would happen one day in Jerusalem. It is a prophecy that describes what occurred and how it affects all of us who have become believers in Jesus Christ.
GOD’S WORK OF GRACE
The inhabitants of Jerusalem (and all who would follow) would be given by God a “Spirit of grace and supplication” (prayer). In other words, they would receive favor to be a part of the most extraordinary moment in human history—the death of Christ. Now, we receive favor to be recipients of what that death accomplished.
This would also lead to prayer, for those who come to know Christ now have the access to God and burden for prayer that others do not have. The Puritan, Matthew Henry, in commenting on this verse said, “When God intends great mercy for his people the first thing he does is to set them a praying.”
True Christians PRAY! And this spirit of prayer is a gift from God and an indication that His Spirit is now dwelling in them, driving them to commune with the Father.
“Wherever the Spirit is given as a Spirit of grace, he is given as a Spirit of sanctification. Wherever he is the Spirit of adoption, he teaches us to cry ‘Abba, Father.’ As soon as ever Paul was converted, ‘Behold, he prays’ (Acts 9:11). You may as soon find a living man without breath as a living saint without prayer.” (Matthew Henry, Commentary on Zechariah 12:10)
A MOURNING FOR THE SAVIOR
Zechariah speaks of those in Jerusalem who will “look on Me whom they have pierced, and they will mourn for Him.” Christ was pierced in His side by a Roman spear during His crucifixion. Water and blood flowed out indicating His completed death. This moment indicated the fullness of His sacrifice for us. This was quoted by John, both in His gospel and in his Revelation from God.
For these things came to pass to fulfill the Scripture, “Not a bone of Him shall be broken.” And again another Scripture says, “They shall look on Him whom they pierced.” (John 19:36-37)
Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him (Revelation 1:7)
Every true believer has mourned for the death of Christ, knowing that the sinless One became sin for us. We pierced His side. Our sins placed Him there, and this should grieve us, while also bringing us the bittersweet joy that His suffering brought us eternal life. Our hearts should be continually broken for our Elder Brother, the only begotten Son of God who suffered so greatly on our behalf.
Others treat His death lightly, or do not give it a moment’s thought. But this continual mourning is one of the marks of a true Christian. The Lord’s Table, faithfully observed, sobers us with this reality and brings us back continually to humble repentance.
OUR RESPONSE
… to this prophecy should be humble praise. Notice that it is God, not man, who brings this about. He has poured out upon believers the “Spirit of grace and of prayer.” He has let us “look upon” the One who was pierced for our transgressions. He has made us mourn for what occurred.
But in the grace, and the prayer, and the mourning, He has brought us His salvation for all eternity. And for all of that and more, we will be praising Him for all eternity!
Father, thank You for pouring out Your grace on us. Thank You for leading us to pray, for You are the source of our prayers—even our cry to You for salvation. And thank you for sending Your Son to die in our place. We mourn for the loss on Calvary, but we rejoice for Your matchless love and our eternal forgiveness and salvation.
As a pastor for the last 55 years, I have had the joy of being encouraged and blessed and prayed for by so many people. It is what carries you in your task of shepherding people. As I look back over five decades of ministry, their love has dramatically enriched my life.
But also, a pastor leads. And when anyone leads, there are almost always some who disagree.
