THE PIERCING GAZE OF GRACE
“And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.”
— Zechariah 12:10
This powerful prophecy from Zechariah reaches beyond its immediate historical setting and unfolds a profound spiritual reality fulfilled in Jesus Christ. It is not a message of condemnation, but of a love so deep it wounds in order to heal. Here, grace pierces spiritual blindness and awakens the heart to truly see the Saviour.
I. The Divine Initiative: “I will pour out…”
Salvation always begins with God. We do not generate repentance, faith, or longing for Him by our own strength. The “spirit of grace and of supplications” is a divine gift God Himself softening hardened hearts, awakening holy desire, and enabling genuine prayer. Redemption starts not with human effort, but with heaven’s outpouring.
The Holy Spirit confirms this fulfilment through the Gospel record:
“And again another scripture saith, They shall look on him whom they pierced.” John 19:37
John unmistakably applies Zechariah’s prophecy to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
II. The Startling Sight “They shall look upon Me, whom they pierced…”
This moment marks the turning point. It is not a passing glance, but a Spirit-illuminated gaze a deep seeing. In that revelation, two realities collide: our guilt and His innocence. We recognize that our sin placed Him on the cross. We are no longer spectators; we are participants. We are the ones who wielded the spear.
This prophecy also points forward to its universal fulfilment:
“Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him.” Revelation 1:7
What grace reveals privately now, glory will reveal publicly then.
III. The Godly Sorrow “And they shall mourn for Him…”
True sight produces true sorrow but not the sorrow of despair. This is godly sorrow, the kind that leads to repentance and life. It is grief born from love the realization of the cost of sin and the depth of Christ’s sacrifice. Mourning an “only son” describes the most personal and devastating loss imaginable.
The Apostle Paul explains this distinction clearly:
“For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.” 2 Corinthians 7:10
The mourning Zechariah describes is not destructive it is life-giving.
IV. The Gracious Result: Cleansing and New Life
This mourning is not the end; it is the doorway. Immediately following this prophecy, God declares:
“In that day there shall be a fountain opened… for sin and for uncleanness.” Zechariah 13:1
Grace leads from brokenness to cleansing. A heart pierced by repentance becomes a heart prepared for healing. The One we pierced becomes the Fountain that washes us whole.
The Apostle John confirms this ongoing promise:
“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7
The fountain is open still flowing with mercy, still cleansing all who come.
Today, the Spirit of grace is being poured out. You are invited to look truly look upon Jesus Christ, pierced for you. Do not turn away. Let the revelation of His love and your need break your heart, so He may make it whole. The fountain is open. Come, and be cleansed.
PRAYER & DECLARATION
Father, I thank You for the Spirit of grace and supplication. I choose to look upon Jesus Christ, the One pierced for my sin. Let godly sorrow work deep repentance in my heart, and wash me completely in the fountain of His blood. I declare that my heart is softened, my eyes are opened, and my life is cleansed. I receive forgiveness, restoration, and new life through the cross. I walk in the light, and I am made whole by grace. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
