Looking to Jesus

Daily Devotional: Read Zechariah 12:1–14

Have you ever had your perspective on someone completely shift? In seminary, I had a teacher who seemed to enjoy finding fault. Nothing we did as his students was quite good enough. Yet looking back, I realize he was simply trying to bring out the best in us.

Zechariah 12 takes us to future Tribulation at the battle of Armageddon (Rev. 16:12–16). All the nations will fight against the Lord and Israel. The Lord promises that He will protect Israel (v. 4). As He did with the Egyptians at the Red Sea, the attacking armies will be thrown into panic and defeated. This victory will cause Israel to look to the Lord in a new way, “Then the clans of Judah will say in their hearts, ‘The people of Jerusalem are strong, because the LORD Almighty is their God’” (v. 5).

Armageddon?

It will be as if their eyes are opened to the Lord for the first time. In this passage we are treading on holy ground: “And I will pour out on the house of David…a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child” (v. 10). In some way, the victory and repentance of Israel will require that God Himself be pierced by His own people. The New Testament clarifies that this was fulfilled when Jesus was crucified (John 19:34, 37). One day, there will be widespread repentance among Israel and recognition that Jesus is the Messiah, and they will turn to Him.

No one needs to wait until these end times to turn to Jesus. Right now, “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Rom. 10:9).

Go Deeper

When were your eyes opened to the truth of the gospel? Whom do you know who needs to hear the message of salvation?

Pray with Us

Jesus, thank You for suffering in our place. May this truth pierce our hearts and compel us to follow You. We pray that those who hear the message of salvation will give their lives to You.

They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child.

Zechariah 12:10