10I will pour on David’s house and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the spirit of grace and of supplication. They will look to me whom they have pierced; and they shall mourn for him as one mourns for his only son, and will grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for his firstborn. 11In that day there will be a great mourning in Jerusalem, like the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddo. 12The land will mourn, every family apart; the family of David’s house apart, and their wives apart; the family of the house of Nathan apart, and their wives apart; 13the family of the house of Levi apart, and their wives apart; the family of the Shimeites apart, and their wives apart; 14all the families who remain, every family apart, and their wives apart.
1“In that day there will be a fountain opened to David’s house and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for uncleanness.
In today’s reading from Zechariah 12, the Lord God of Israel is speaking, and the Lord describes himself as “the one they have pierced.” This phrase is quoted later in a description of Jesus’ death on the cross, saying, “These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled: ‘Not one of his bones will be broken,’ and . . . ‘They will look on the one they have pierced’” (John 19:36-37). Through the prophet Zechariah, God was describing the thrust of a Roman spear into Jesus’ side.
Another prophet, Isaiah, also described Jesus’ suffering: “He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5).
When God pours out his Spirit, our sins are exposed and look to the Saviour, pierced on the cross for our sake—and we are washed clean. No ordinary shower with soap and water can wash away sin. Only the blood of Jesus Christ shed on the cross can do that.
Have you felt remorse for your sin? Have you looked upon the one who was pierced? By faith in Jesus, whose shed blood washes our sin away, you can be forgiven and saved.