Christian Reflection and Prayer

Read Zechariah 12:1-13:1.

TEXT: They have pierced my hands and feet
(see Psalm 22:16).

King David knew nothing of crucifixion in his day, but
he prophesied it in exacting detail in Psalm 22. In
yesterday's devotion he compared Jesus' enemies to
a pack of wild dogs, encircling its prey. It paints a vivid
picture of Jesus' crucifixion. His hands and feet are
pierced as the Roman soldiers nail Him to the cross.
His enemies encircle Him to taunt and ridicule Him,
as if they were barking loudly against Him. No wonder
He cries out, "My God, My God, why have You
forsaken Me?"

Aside from the Gospel accounts where Jesus is
nailed to the cross, this nail piercing of our Savior is
mentioned in two other places in Scripture. The first is
in the prophet Zechariah, "And I will pour out on the
house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit
of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look
on Me, on Him whom they have pierced, they shall
mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only child, and
weep bitterly over Him, as one weeps over a firstborn"
(Zechariah 12:10).

The last book of the New Testament, Revelation,
includes these words in its first chapter, "Behold, He
is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him,
even those who pierced Him, and all tribes of the earth
will wail on account of Him. Even so. Amen."
(Revelation 1:7).
 
Today is the day to recognize it was our sins that led
Him to the cross, our curse He took upon Himself.
Today is the day to weep and mourn for how we
contributed to His sufferings. Today is the day to trust
in Him and rejoice that He willingly humbled Himself
and endured such suffering to save us from eternal death.

THE PRAYER:

Lord Jesus Christ, our sins are serious indeed. Thank
You for taking their terrible punishment upon Yourself to
save us all. Amen.

(Lenten Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries)