Mixed Emotions

Mixed Emotions

Series: The Minor Prophets

Text: Zech 12; Jn 19:36-37

Introduction: (What?)

Often a baby will mix laughter and tears and vice versa. Sometimes we will have an experience that leaves us with “mixed emotions” meaning that we are both sad and glad at the same time. One instance would be the death of a loved one who, as one who has surrendered to Christ, suffered physically for a long time. We are sad because they are no longer with us, but we are glad that they are no longer suffering and we know that we will see them again. In our text today, Zechariah shows the mixed emotions of Israel in the last days.

Examination: (Why?)

1. Why We Rejoice

Zechariah 12:1–9 “A pronouncement: The word of the Lord concerning Israel. A declaration of the Lord, who stretched out the heavens, laid the foundation of the earth, and formed the spirit of man within him. “Look, I will make Jerusalem a cup that causes staggering for the peoples who surround the city. The siege against Jerusalem will also involve Judah. On that day I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples; all who try to lift it will injure themselves severely when all the nations of the earth gather against her. On that day”—this is the Lord’s declaration—“I will strike every horse with panic and its rider with madness. I will keep a watchful eye on the house of Judah but strike all the horses of the nations with blindness. Then each of the leaders of Judah will think to himself: The residents of Jerusalem are my strength through the Lord of Armies, their God. On that day I will make the leaders of Judah like a firepot in a woodpile, like a flaming torch among sheaves; they will consume all the peoples around them on the right and the left, while Jerusalem continues to be inhabited on its site, ion Jerusalem. The Lord will save the tents of Judah first, so that the glory of David’s house and the glory of Jerusalem’s residents may not be greater than that of Judah. On that day the Lord will defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that on that day the one who is weakest among them will be like David on that day, and the house of David will be like God; like the angel of the Lord, before them. On that I day I will set out to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.”

God pledged to deliver Israel from all its attackers. He reminds them that He had created everything, and thus was completely capable of restoring Israel and even making her greater than before. The repeated phrase “on that day” is referring to the coming Millennial Kingdom when Christ will reign on earth from His throne in Jerusalem. Through Zechariah God described how He is going to make this happen. He will make Jerusalem a “cup of staggering”. What that means is the the enemies who come against Jerusalem may think that they are being triumphant, only to find out that they are staggering around like drunks. Another metaphor He used was that He would make Jerusalem “a heavy stone”. In other words He said that those who come against Jerusalem would get a hernia from trying to gain victory over her.

Note that God did not say that there would be enemies who would over run Israel. Rather He said that there would be a time when He would turn the tables on the attackers and restore Israel. He would thwart their military might by empowering Israel and Judah against their enemies. It would happen quickly, like a firepot on a woodpile or a torch thrust into a pile of dry sheaves. This is like the Rocky movies. The hero is getting pummeled for most of the fight until, suddenly, Rocky comes back furiously and defeats Creed. The deliverance of Israel will be an amazing reversal of their circumstances.

For us today this means that When Jesus comes to reign on the earth, there will be no more persecution of the righteous. This is the reason we rejoice. It is like reading the last page of a suspense novel. We know how everything ends. We can rejoice because we have an iron clad promise that we win.

2. Why We Mourn

`Zechariah 12:10–14 ““Then I will pour out a spirit of grace and prayer on the house of David and the residents of Jerusalem, and they will look at me (God) whom they pierced. They will mourn for him (Jesus) as one mourns for an only child and weep bitterly for him as one weeps for a firstborn. On that day the mourning in Jerusalem will be as great as the mourning of Hadad-rimmon in the plain of Megiddo. The land will mourn, every family by itself: the family of David’s house by itself and their women by themselves; the family of Nathan’s house by itself and their women by themselves; the family of Levi’s house by itself and their women by themselves; the family of Shimei by itself and their women by themselves; all the remaining families, every family by itself, and their women by themselves.”

When God pours out (or sheds) His grace on Jerusalem and Judah, they will suddenly see how they have pierced God by their rebellion. Also, prophetically, they will mourn for Jesus, God’s Son whom they rejected as Messiah, and gave over to the Romans for crucifixion. This will bring repentance and mourning. Zechariah used terminology that the Israelites would understand when he referred to the “mourning at Hadad-rimmon in the plain of Megiddo.” This is the mourning for the death of righteous King Josiah. Every family in Israel mourned deeply when this happened. In the same way, when we see that our sin has pierced the heart of God and cause the suffering and death of Jesus, we are stricken with remorse. I would venture to say that without remorse there is no salvation.

When our oldest daughter was about in 3rd grade, the pastor of our church preached a message entitled “Who killed Jesus?” He mentioned the Jews, and then said “The Jews didn’t kill Jesus.” Then he mentioned the Romans and said, “The Romans didn’t kill Jesus.” And finally he said, “You killed Jesus.” Our little 7 y/o was distraught. she said to Rae, “Mom, I didn’t kill Jesus.” That is often our response, but until we own our responsibility for the crucifixion of Jesus we will not be remorseful and repentant. And without repentance and remorse, we cannot be saved.

John 19:36–37 “For these things happened so that the Scripture would be fulfilled: Not one of his bones will be broken. Also, another Scripture says: They will look at the one they pierced.” When John penned these words he was referring to everyone who ever sinned. He was referring to …us.

Application: (How does this impact my life today?)