Welcome back to our study of Zechariah 12-14 and the prophet’s vision of the Second Coming! If you have not followed, I invite you to review the Intro and Zechariah 12:1-9, the first 2 portions of our study together. Then, join us here for this third study session.

We’re moving now to Zechariah 12:10-14. To regain your bearings and set the context, why not take 2 minutes to read the entire 14-verse chapter?

The passage begins with God’s unrelenting grace as He pours out the Spirit of grace and supplication upon the house of David (God’s covenant people, Israel). It is God’s great pleasure to pour out His Spirit to bring about saving grace and repentant prayer! As a result, something amazing happens.

• They will turn and look upon to Jesus, who was pierced for their transgressions (Isaiah 53:5, John 19:31-37). Every one of us bears responsibility for His piercing because all have sinned.
• In repentance, they will mourn as for an only beloved son.
• The promise of Romans 11:26 will be fulfilled and all Israel will be saved.

Notice this about verse 10: God the Father sends the Spirit so that men will look upon the Son! Amazingly, this is the work of our triune God to fulfill Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement)!  But there is more to Zechariah’s prophecy.

Move on to verses 11-14. Once more there is reference to mourning. Verse 11 mentions the “mourning of Hadad Rimmon,” referring to the mourning of King Josiah’s death (2 Kings 23:28-29 and 2 Chronicles 35:20-25). Josiah was one of only a few kings during the time of the Divided Kingdom who did right in the sight of the Lord. He was a godly king and dearly beloved, and there was bitter weeping at his death.

But in the case of mourning noted in verses 12-15, the land and all the families mourn.  In that great day of repentance, there will be both individual and corporate repentance.  Israel as a whole will turn to Jesus and repent of their rejection of Him.  Imagine if an entire nation repented today.  It is unfathomable. Yet, all Israel will be saved through repentance, just as Zechariah predicts!

Christian friends, at sundown on Monday, the Jewish world will enter into this important fall feast known as Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement).  Observant Jews in Israel will flock to the Western Wall where there will be wailing and earnest yearning for forgiveness.  Yet short of mankind looking upon the Son as the Father sends the Spirit, those fervent Jews will find nothing but another year of waiting for the next round of repentance.

Prayer warriors, the Spirit is stirring and something special is happening in Israel.  Together, let’s pray that what is stirring opens Jewish hearts and eyes, that they might recognize and accept Jesus as the Messiah.  Now is the time!