The Mourning of Genuine Faith | Zechariah 12:10-14 | Richard Caldwell

Scripture

• Zechariah 12:10–14

About this sermon

Introduction: The 12th chapter of Zechariah describes two great deliverances that God will perform for Israel at the end of the age. The first is physical deliverance, as His work of empowering them and protecting them against the nations of the earth is described in verses 1-9. That deliverance takes place during the battle of Armageddon. But that is not the greatest deliverance. The greatest deliverance we meet with in verses 10-14. It is a day of spiritual deliverance. It is a day of awakening. It is a day of mass salvation. It is the day when God will gather in the remaining elect from among ethnic Israel, a day when Israel’s salvation is completed. John MacArthur — “God, in His own perfect time and by His own power, will sovereignly act to save Israel. This was prophesied by other prophets (cf. Eze 39:29; Joel 2:28–32), and by the Apostle Paul (cf. Ro 11:25–27)… Israel’s repentance will come because they look to Jesus, the One whom they rejected and crucified (cf. Is 53:5; Jn 19:37), in faith at the Second Advent (Ro 11:25–27). When God says they pierced “Me,” He is certainly affirming the incarnation of deity—Jesus was God. See note on Jn 10:30.” ESV John 10:30 I and the Father are one." God will grant to a mass of Jewish people the heart needed to receive their Messiah. But as we look at this and glory in the grace and faithfulness of God, let us also reflect on God’s grace to us. There has never been one way of salvation for Jewish people and another way of salvation for gentiles. All men have the same problem. All men have the same need. All men are offered the same solution. No one was born with a heart that responds in faith to God’s grace. EVERYONE REQUIRES THE WORK OF THE SPIRIT OF GOD TO RECEIVE JESUS AS LORD. Unless God grants the new birth, no one enters the kingdom of heaven. ESV John 3:1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him." 3 Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." 4 Nicodemus said to him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?" 5 Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit." 9 Nicodemus said to him, "How can these things be?" 10 Jesus answered him, "Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? So that as we see what God promises He will produce in Israel, we see the true nature of God’s saving grace, and we see what God has produced in us. I. GOD’S CONQUEST OVER THE SINNER (vs.10) God defends Israel against nations that would conquer Israel, but He graciously conquers Israel Himself. In verse 10, God says, HE IS GOING TO POUR OUT HIS SPIRIT UPON THEM. He is going to do this from top to bottom. He is going to do this from the ruling class to the common inhabitants of Jerusalem. THE POURING OUT OF HIS SPIRIT WILL PRODUCE THE CHANGES THAT ARE DESCRIBED. God will do for their hearts what they do not deserve and what they could never do for themselves. NOTE: THE REFERENCE TO SPIRIT IN THIS VERSE IS BEST UNDERSTOOD AS THE HOLY SPIRIT, WHEN WE CONSIDER OTHER OLD TESTAMENT PROMISES ABOUT THIS GREAT DAY OF SALVATION.

Topics

• Faith
• Suffering & Trials