Looking and mourning

“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

Those who mourn, mourn not only for the abominations that be done in the land (Ezekiel 9), but also because of what it is that they themselves have done in piercing the Saviour. They realize their own guilty condition and their personal part in the crucifixion of Christ. We have wounded Him by our unbelief in His promises, and a lack of selfless love for those for whom He has died. We have wounded Him by partaking of the spiteful spirit of he who “was a murderer from the beginning.

Nevertheless, Jesus was sent to “to comfort all that mourn” and moreover to “to give unto them…the oil of joy for mourning” (Isaiah 61:1-3). It is to them that “mourn in Zion” that Jesus will send “another Comforter”. It is these that will be filled with the Holy Spirit, they will be anointed with the oil of gladness. “Blessed [are] they that mourn: for they shall be comforted” Matthew 5:4

This act of mourning is caused by looking upon the One whom we have pierced. A thoughtful consideration of the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, and what that sacrifice means personally, brings the sincere believer to realize his own mournful condition. It brings us to the realization of our personal need of Saviour, and the promise is “I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring.”

When men consider the sacrifice of Jesus, as applying personally, the realization of one’s  personal need will fit us to be filled with the Spirit. Looking upon Him who I have pierced will call for a mourning of the individual and corporate condition and thus lead to more earnest pleading for His Spirit. And the promise is then sure, it is they that mourn that shall be comforted.

“The tears of the penitent are only the raindrops that precede the sunshine of holiness.” Desire of Ages p.300.4