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Key Verse:
Zechariah 12:10 (ESV)
Him Whom They Have Pierced
“And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn.
The Gifts of Grace and Prayer Are for Believers. These great gifts are bestowed on all who believe. The Regrets of Rejection Are for Unbelievers. So Why All This Mourning over the Pierced One?
I. These Mourners Realize Who They Have Rejected.
Matthew 27:54 (ESV)
When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!”
They had rejected the gift of God’s love. Christ had come as the Savior for sinners. He had come to offer forgiveness and eternal life. Yet they had chosen rebellion instead of redemption.
They Realized God had sent His only Son to justify sinners.
Romans 5:8-9 (ESV)
8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.
Yet they had despised and rejected Him.
Isaiah 53:3 (ESV)
He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
They had persecuted the Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6 (ESV)
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
II. These Mourners Remember Their Response.
Luke 7:30 (ESV)
but the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected the purpose of God for themselves,
Christ had come to reconcile them to God. While they were guilty, He had offered them grace. While they deserved death, He had died for them. He had wept over their sins and sorrows. Even on the cross, He had prayed for their forgiveness:
Luke 23:34 (ESV)
And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
III. Mourners often Repent.
Isaiah 6:5 (ESV)
And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!”
Tears are often part of repentance.
2 Corinthians 7:10 (ESV)
For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.
Tears reveal repentance in the heart. Repentance is turning around, and doing an about-face. Mourning leads to conviction and conviction leads to confession of sins. Finally we face the pierced Prince and cry out for forgiveness. What is your response to the love of Christ revealed at the cross? Are YOU resisting the pleading Prince? Will you turn from your rejection to receiving Him as Savior?