In past lessons, we’ve seen the need to cry out to God—to pray to Him, asking Him to change our hearts. In this lesson, we want to see how He changes them. Please read the following passage of Scripture:
Then I will pour out a spirit of grace and prayer on the family of David and on the people of Jerusalem. They will look on me, whom they have pierced, and mourn for him as for an only son. They will grieve bitterly for him as for a firstborn son who has died.
Zechariah 12:10
Question 1. Why would the people in Zechariah 12:10 be mourning and grieving?
Zechariah 12:10 tells of God stirring people up to pray, to call out to Him, and to seek Him.
Then, in response to their prayers, God showed them His only Son, who died. Jesus Christ was pierced by Roman soldiers as He hung on the cross and died for the sins of the world. Notice exactly why Jesus was pierced:
And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God—a punishment for his own sins! But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed.
Isaiah 53:4-5 NLT
Out of love for us, God gave His only Son to take the punishment for our sins. And Jesus, filled with love for each of us, endured unimaginable pain and suffering on the cross—beatings, whippings, mocking, spitting, and even piercing—all for our sake. Here’s what happened to Him:
Then the governor's soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand. Then they knelt in front of him and mocked him. “Hail, king of the Jews!” they said. They spit on him, and took the staff, and struck him on the head again and again. After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.
Matthew 27:27-31
Imagine the scene: Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, being mocked and beaten, struck, whipped, and finally crucified on a cross, all because of His desire to obey His Father and because He loves us! Three days later, God raised Him from the dead, and He is now alive forever (1 Peter 1:21).
Now God views all Christians as having already received the wages of sin through Jesus’ death on the cross! He counts anyone who believes as completely holy, righteous, and perfect!
“Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation.”
Colossians 1:21-22
This sight of Jesus enduring our punishment breaks our hearts, showing us that Jesus endured what we should have. He suffered for us out of love! Let this scene fill your heart and mind right now: the suffering Savior, wearing a crown of thorns, being beaten and crucified for you because He loves you. Look to Jesus! Isaiah 45:22 says, “Let all the world look to me for salvation! For I am God; there is no other”!
Question 2. Can you see this scene in your mind’s eye right now?