Clear yet Difficult Prophesy

Scripture: And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn. Zechariah 12:10

Observation: As Zechariah continues to describe future events, he again brings up this image of one who is wounded. This individual has been mentioned as a good shepherd, and as a humble king, yet every time he is also attacked and rejected. In this case, it is the Lord himself (capital M in 'Me') who is pierced and dying. Through the line of David, God pours out grace, but is pierced and dies, then mourned for as if he is a firstborn son.

There is no stretch to understand the alignment of this prophesy to Jesus, the only son of God, of the line of David, who will die of piercing wounds in Jerusalem, the same place where it was said he will arrive on a donkey's colt just a couple chapters previous. Jesus was, indeed, looked upon when he was pierced and executed, hung in a public venue and scorned, yet grieved over as well.

Application: In a season we try to celebrate the coming of Jesus into the world, we read the prophesy of his death knowing it to be reliable and true. It isn't possible that it isn't true, given the timing of the writing and the accuracy of its images. It is simply fact - ultimate truth - that Jesus is the son of God.

And we try so hard to find a way to tell others this message in a way they can receive here at Christmas time. We don't want it to be a threatening message, though refusing to hear it has consequences. We don't want it to be offensive, though Jesus himself told us the message was in fact offensive. Zechariah describes the death of Jesus, but also ties that to the pouring out of the Holy Spirit and of grace on all people ... the good news is part of the story of death, and that may be difficult to many to understand.

Prophesies are clear to those who believe in the latter events, but difficult and confusing - if even heard at all - by anyone who does not believe. This is why faith, not understanding, must always come first I suspect. Giving someone faith is pretty much impossible. Fortunately, it isn't us who is responsible for giving away faith ... we are just the faithful messengers.

Prayer: Lord, may we all be just this during the holiday season, faithful messengers. May our message be simple, loving, and well received, so we may glorify you and your work in our homes, neighborhoods, communities, towns, cities, regions, and nations. Amen.