Zechariah 9:9; 12   Look at the One You Pierced

Rev. David Holwick  L

First Baptist Church

Ledgewood, New Jersey

March 24, 1991

Zechariah 9:9, 12:10-11


LOOK TO THE ONE YOU PIERCED



  I. Background of Zechariah.

      A. Post-exilic.

          1) Contemporary of Haggai, Daniel, Ezra.


      B. Apocalyptic style.

          1) Dramatic visions similar to Daniel and Revelation.

          2) Much-quoted in New Testament, especially in Gospels (passion)

                and Revelation.


II. The prediction of Jesus Christ's passion in Zechariah.

      A. He comes gently, on a donkey:     Palm Sunday prediction.  9:9-10

          1) The Messiah will return on a donkey, not horse.

              a) Donkeys were original animals for kings in early days.

                  1> Judge Jair's 30 sons rode 30 donkeys.       Judg 10:4

                  2> Judge Abdon's 40 sons & 30 grandsons rode

                         70 donkeys.                             Judg 12:14

              b) War-horses later replaced them.

                  1> War-like attitude went with it.

              c) Messiah will come on a lowly donkey.

                  1> Jews must have expected this, in way they greeted

                       Jesus.

              d) All four gospels record Jesus entering Jerusalem on a

                   donkey, with much enthusiasm.

                  1> John 12:12-16 emphasizes Jesus coming as a king.

                        (Mark 11:10 -  Blessed is coming kingdom!)

                  2> Matt 21:5-7 has two donkeys.

                      A> Misunderstanding of parallelism?

                      B> No, the young colt wouldn't move without mother.


          2) He will be a gentle king.               9:9-10

              a) Righteous  - He will do just things.

              b) Saving     - He will bring people back to God.

              c) Humble     - He will not be a publicity seeker like most

                                 politicians.

              d) Peaceful   - He, and he alone, will bring peace to the

                                 earth.

              e) -Fulfillment - Jesus as gentle shepherd, easy yoke.


      B. Rejected shepherd.           11:8-9

          1) Prophet Zechariah plays a role, but shepherd (Messiah) in view.

              a) The people didn't want him as a shepherd.       11:8-9

              b) They valued him at 30 pieces of silver.         11:12-14

                  1> Cost of slave in Exodus 21:32.

                  2> Cost of only female slave in Leviticus 27:2.


          2) Fulfillment is Judas' payment of betrayal.      Matt 26:14-15

                                                             Matt 27:3-10

              a) Judas paid 30 pieces of silver.

              b) When he brings it back, it is given to potters.  Matt 27:7

              c) "Jeremiah" reference:             (Matt 27:9)

                  1> Minor Prophets grouped at end of Jeremiah scroll.

                  2> Or Matthew is quoting Zechariah but also thinking of

                        Jeremiah 19:1-13.


      C. After shepherd struck down, disciples scattered.       13:7

          1) Fulfillment in Matthew 26:31  (Jesus).


      D. Pierced Messiah.                                  12:10-11

          1) "look on me"

              a) Better, "look to me", referring to their turning to him

                    in faith.    (Barker)

              b) A future conversion of Israel is in view.   (Rom 11:25-27)

          2) "pierced"

              a) Cf. Isaiah 53:5

              b) Spiritual cleansing of the land results.     13:1

              c) Fulfillment:    Cross.         John 19:37


      E. Accuracy of fulfillment.

          1) Some believe the apostles scoured the OT looking for anything.

              a) Even John admits they didn't understand the significance

                    immediately.                   John 12:16

          2) But Jesus perfectly solves a dilemma of OT prophecy - two

                types of Messiah are described, suffering and conquering.

              a) A suffering Messiah was so different from what was

                    expected, some Jews thought two Messiahs would come.

              b) (The Babylonian Talmud identifies this one as the Messiah

                     son of Joseph.  (B,684))

              c) The solution is not two Messiahs, but one Messiah coming

                    twice.


III. The Second Coming in glory.     (First coming doesn't fulfill all)

      A. Jews in exile yet again.               14:2


      B. Massive battle in Middle East.

          1) Two-thirds killed.                 13:8

          2) Bodies rot away.                   14:12

              a) Nuclear war?

              b) Self-destructing army.         14:13


      C. Messiah returns to set foot on Mount of Olives.     14:4

          1) (Jesus ascended from this spot.  Angel said, "He will return

                in same way.")              Acts 1:11-12

              a) (Jehovah Witnesses reject this.)

          2) Hal Lindsey says that a geologist friend claims a fault runs

                beneath the spot.

              a) The ultimate Scud shelter.

          3) Jews will turn to the Lord, mourn for Pierced Messiah.  12:10

              a) Fulfillment - Matthew 24:30.


      D. His holy ones come with him.                  14:5

          1) (note NT view of rapture)        Matt 24:31;  1 Thess 4:17


      E. Millennium established.

          1) No light or cold, yet never dark.         14:6-7

          2) Water flows from throne.                  14:8

              a) Spiritual allusion?

          3) God will rule over whole earth.           14:9


IV. What will you do with Jesus?

      A. The people of his day rejected Jesus.

          1) He was popular when people thought he would rule immediately.

          2) When he didn't fit their expectations, they not only rejected

                 him, they killed him.


      B. What about you?

          1) Many expect a might God who will fulfill all their dreams.

          2) First we must mourn over the "one we have pierced."

              a) Our sins drive the nails into Jesus' body.

              b) Are you truly sorry for your sins?

          3) Even Christians, by sin, can nail him to cross again.

                (or apostate hypocrites)               Hebrews 6:6; 10:29

          4) Accept Jesus as your gentle king.



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