“And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child.” Zechariah 12:10 (NIV)
Scripture is the only book which we can read the same verses multiple times over a lifetime and receive a different message of inspiration each time. The Holy Spirit can take those scriptures and give new relevance to them. A scripture can have a different meaning to us today than when we read or heard it twenty years ago.
I’ve learned that scripture is more inspirational if I read small amounts at a time, and invite the Holy Spirit to speak to me. The first line of today’s verse says that God pours out a spirit of grace and supplication which is the grace of conversion. It is God, who gives us the grace to seek His forgiveness which leads to wisdom and peace. Jesus also said “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws them.” (John 6:44)
God wants all people to come to Him but there is a time in each person’s life, when He draws them closer. In listening to many personal faith journey stories, it’s pretty obvious that everyone goes through periods when they were less inclined to think about God and other periods when they experience an awakening to God that surpasses a mere head knowledge. Spiritual awakenings are a result of the grace of supplication.
Today’s scripture has a dual meaning, as a day of awakening when people will look on the one who was pierced, as if seeing Jesus for the first time. The scripture serves as a prophesy of things to come, but it’s also an allegorical description of anyone at anytime, who deepens their faith in Christ, through God’s outpouring of the grace of conversion.
Another scripture in Zechariah 14:4 describes a very popular vision of the Messiah, which is cherished in both Christianity and Judaism. It describes the Messiah standing on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem, and the mountain splits in two from east to west. It’s a very dramatic image of an earthquake, erupting at the very touch of the Messiah’s feet upon it. This scripture has significant but different meaning depending on one’s faith background.
It became a topic of conversation a few years ago, between a priest and a devout Jew in Israel. The priest was touring the holy land, and he took a cab one day, which was driven by a devout Jew. During the ride, the two men talked lightly about their faiths, citing the things they had in common and comparing the things that were different.
As they drove by the Mount of Olives, the topic of the Messiah came up as well as the scripture in Zechariah. The priest shared his Christian perspective that the person who will stand on that mountain is Jesus at His second coming. The cab driver shared his Jewish perspective that it will be their Messiah, who his people are still waiting for. The priest politely concluded the discussion by saying, “Well, when He comes, we should ask him, “Have you been here before?”
There are many things that we share in common with people of other faiths, as well as things that differ. It’s not up to us to persuade others, because it is God who pours out a spirit of grace and supplication, drawing all people to Him. Until each person is drawn to God by the grace of conversion, we pray for people and seek understanding, respect and the wisdom to live in peace with each other. Christians wait for the return of Jesus, when His feet touch that mountain, making it quake and split in two.
Lord, we pray for wisdom and peace, knowing you alone are the One who brings the spirit of grace and supplication to all people. Help us to reflect your love to others until you draw all people to yourself. Amen
