Church of the Holy Sepulcher, Jerusalem
The Prophetic Echo of Zechariah 12:10 and Christ’s Redemptive Work
We encounter the prophecy of Zechariah (6th century B.C.), where the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, the recognition of the one who was pierced, and the mourning over him align with the events of the crucifixion and the work of redemption fulfilled in Jesus Christ.
We read in Zechariah 12:10: «I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of mercy and supplication, so that when they look on him whom they have thrust through, they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and they will grieve for him as one grieves over a firstborn. »
Zechariah by Jojojoe
Let us see how this passage can be interpreted in messianic terms:
“I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of mercy and supplication”. In this first part, there is an allusion to the outpouring of the Spirit of grace and prayer upon the House of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. This is the divine promise to send the Holy Spirit, an event that finds its fulfillment on the day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit was poured out upon Jesus’ disciples (Acts 2:1-4; cf. John 20:22-23).
The phrase “and they will look upon me whom they have thrust through”, constitutes the very heart of the prophecy and establishes an unbreakable link with the figure of Jesus Christ. Indeed, the prophetic reference to the crucifixion of Jesus, who was pierced by nails on the cross and, ultimately, by the spear in his side (cf. John 19:34-37), is clear.
On the other hand, the expression, « so that when they look on him» suggests a retrospective recognition by those who inflicted the wounds (Acts 2:37: “Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and they asked Peter and the other apostles, ‘What are we to do, my brothers?’”).
And finally: “they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and they will grieve for him as one grieves over a firstborn.” This weeping and mourning, comparable to the pain experienced at the loss of an only son or firstborn, are interpreted as manifestations of repentance and contrite recognition of Jesus Christ’s sacrifice (cf. Acts 2:37-41). But there is more: this sorrow is magnified by the indirect reference to the suffering of Mary, a witness to the agony and death of her beloved—and only—son on the Cross: “Standing by the cross of Jesus [was] his mother” (John 19:25-27).
Our Lady of Sorrows at Calvary Jerusalem
Thus, the passage from Zechariah 12:10 emerges as an eloquent testimony to the depth of Jesus Christ’s sacrifice and the repentance it inspires, establishing an eternal link between divine forgiveness and the redemption of humanity: «the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us» (Romans 5:5).
Together, this journey through these four biblical prophecies (Daniel 9:26, Isaiah 53:7-9, Psalm 22, and Zechariah 12:10) offer us a profound and moving vision of the events surrounding the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The experience of meditating on these prophecies while contemplating the physical site of the crucifixion provides a tangible connection between Scripture, history, faith, and Christian spirituality.
By father Rafael Sanz, priest