(REFLECTIONS ON Zechariah 12:1-14)

1 The burden of the word of the Lord concerning Israel.

Why a burden? The word of the Lord is a burden, a weighty message concerning Israel. And that weight becomes visible in what happens to Jerusalem. As the nations gather together to attack Jerusalem, they will find that instead of defeating the Holy City, Jerusalem will become a heavy stone for them.

Their attacks will turn into “a heavy stone for all the peoples; all who lift it will be severely injured. Yes the nations will converge on Jerusalem, but the Lord will save His people.” 

8 “In that day the Lord will defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and the one who is feeble among them in that day will be like David, and the house of David will be like God, like the angel of the Lord before them.

Through this deliverance, the Lord will pour out His Spirit of grace and supplication, and the people will look upon the One whom they pierced. 

In John 19:37, we understand this ultimately pointing to Jesus. The writer of the Gospel of John states, “And again another Scripture says, ‘They will look at Him whom they pierced.’” 

This matches with what is written in today’s Scripture, Zechariah 12:10. Their recognition of Jesus Christ, the Messiah, the Son of God, will lead to profound mourning as they realize whom they have pierced. 

When people realize whom they have pierced, there will be mourning. This morning will be corporate, but it will also be deeply personal, as each household mourns by itself.

12 “The land will mourn, every family by itself; the family of the house of David by itself and their wives by themselves; the family of the house of Nathan by itself and their wives by themselves; 13 the family of the house of Levi by itself and their wives by themselves; the family of the Shimeites by itself and their wives by themselves; 14 all the families that remain, every family by itself and their wives by themselves.

What is the significance of all these examples of people mourning by themselves after they recognize whom they have pierced? It reminds us that faith cannot simply be a community tradition, a religion based on culture, or something inherited through our family or bloodline.

Although we may grow up in a Christian household or belong to a Christian community, each person must personally recognize Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Faith is not merely something we inherit from our parents, but it is a personal response to Jesus Christ, whom we have pierced through our sin.

It is for you, for me, and for our households, but each of us must personally recognize Him, turn away from the path of this world, and follow the path of God through Jesus Christ, by the Holy Spirit.

That is why in Zechariah 13:1 we read, “In that day a fountain will be opened for the house of David and for the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for impurity.”

That is a time of refreshing, a time of repentance, a time of cleansing and purity. This word has become a burden, because it will weigh down like a heavy stone on the shoulders of the world, until the world realizes whom it is that they have pierced, and come to Him with their broken hearts and seek after Him for healing.

It will also be a burden because it will be a heaviness that only can be lifted by Christ, when it is no longer we who live, but Christ lives in us.

Let us then weep bitterly for our unbelief, turn to the cross and Jesus Christ, and in Him find healing, restoration, and rest.

Pastor Michael Lu
Enduring Word Bible Commentary: Zechariah 12