Joel M Bradshaw

36These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken,” 37and, as another scripture says, “They will look on the one they have pierced.”–John 19

The unbroken bones looks back at the original Passover lamb of Exodus 12 which was eaten without breaking a bone. The second Passover in recorded in Numbers 9 repeats the command. Jesus fulfilled David’s words in Psalm 34:20. But what about the verse that speaks of piercing? Here’s the immediate context (with emphasis).

So on that day I will set out to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. Then I will pour out on the house of David and on the people of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and prayer, and they will look on Me, the One they have pierced.They will mourn for Him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for Him as one grieves for a firstborn son. (Zechariah 12:9-10)

Who is the Me? God. Our Jewish friends today call Him HaShem. Jesus called Him Father. Zechariah was quoting Yahweh.

But how would God be pierced? This is the same verb that King Saul used when he asked his armor bearer to ‘run him through’ in 1 Samuel 31. So this was a physical piercing. How would God be pierced unless he had taken flesh and still been God?

Mourn for Him? God changed pronouns here on purpose. He was proclaiming to be the one pierced, but that they would mourn not for Me but for Him. This sounds like God was speaking of one who took flesh and died a shameful death and was still God. This can only fit the Christian understanding of Jesus, the Word made flesh, the Messiah. The only sacrifice that can fully identify with humanity, but also fully satisfy God’s wrath.

Firstborn son? Sounds like the Son of Psalm 2 and proclaimed in John 3:16. This one’s a slam dunk.

Thus, Jesus in John 19 fulfilled the great Messianic prophecy of Zechariah 12. Do you understand? Do you mourn your own sinful state? Are you grateful for Jesus who on the cross took your place?–JMB