December 28

From: December 28, 2014

The prophet Zechariah wrote around 520 BC. This was 500 years before Christ and 2500 years before the present age. His little book is filled with Messianic prophecies. Here, we see a Messianic reference to “an only son,” a “firstborn” who the people of Israel would “look on” and finally acknowledge as the Messiah whom they had “pierced.” Recognizing Him they would “mourn” and “grieve bitterly.” Certainly, the prophecy that they would pierce the Son has already come to pass at Christ’s crucifixion. But that they would acknowledge Him and mourn has only partially come true. A great outpouring of the Spirit took place at Pentecost and thousands of Jews were saved. Yet, most Jews have rejected Christ. Zechariah’s prophecy points to a future time when a great spiritual awakening will take place among the Jews, so that they embrace Christ as their Messiah. This will happen before true peace comes to Jerusalem.

From: December 28, 2013

The prophet Zechariah was a contemporary of Haggai. He wrote during the 5th century BC when the Jews had returned to Israel from Babylonian captivity. His book is filled with Messianic prophecies (30 pieces of silver, riding a donkey…). In this verse, he speaks of the Messiah being “pierced” by his own and how they will mourn for him as for “an only child,” as for a “firstborn.”