"A SPIRIT OF GRACE AND PLEAS FOR MERCY"
Zechariah’s remarkable prophecy (12 v.10) is quoted in today’s reading
in John Ch. 19. John is completing his intimate account of the final
hours of Jesus. The dying commission that was given to John by Jesus was
to look after his mother. John and Jesus’ mother stood near the cross.
John “the disciple whom he loved … took her to his own home”
[v.26,27]. As to the others “they all left him and fled” [Mark 14
v.50], apart from Peter – and we know well the tragedy of his denial.
Let’s consider the two Old Testament prophecies that John quotes as
being fulfilled at this time. The first is that “not one of his bones
will be broken.” This is an unexpected application of the Divine
command to Moses that they were not to break the bones of the Passover
lamb (Exodus 12 v.46, reaffirmed in Numbers 9 v.12). Should we conclude
that the purpose of the Passover had been fulfilled after the sacrifice
of Jesus? Maybe not, the religious Jews still celebrate the Passover
today. We believe the final awakening of its meaning for natural
Israelites will happen and that could be very soon.
We note the other prophecy that John refers to in this
chapter; “they will look on him whom they have pierced” [Zech.12 v.10].
This prediction of their looking “on him” surely applies to when Jesus
returns. The complete prophecy is, “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 …”
At Christ’s return, those who caused him to be pierced will
need to be there. At the resurrection some of these will receive the “spirit of grace” as they make “pleas for mercy”!
We serve a merciful God, but tragically there will be anguish for
some, for Jesus had warned, “when once the Master of the house has risen
and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock … you
will begin to say, We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in
our streets. But he will say … Depart from me … there will be
weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and
all the prophets in the kingdom of God but you yourselves cast out”
[Luke 13 v.25-28].
Today God’s Word and its wondrous Gospel is there for the entire world
to read! Will some say, ‘We had a Bible in our home and we did read it
sometimes’, as they seek that “spirit of grace” and make their “pleas for mercy”
- for not only natural Jews will be involved on that day – but all who
claim a relationship to him – and all he sees – as being accountable for
judgement! In John 12 we read, “The word that I have spoken
will judge him on the last day” – especially those who “do not receive
my words” [v.48] Today it is the word that has been written! What
will Christ see – as to your real reaction to that word? Are we
whole-heartedly receiving it – as we see many did - in the book of
Acts? As the hymn puts it – ‘We make the answer now’
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