< Zechariah 13 >

Prophets here is a reference to false prophets. This is consistent with other references in the Bible to false prophets being referred to as “prophets”. This verse indicates the widespread fear of God over the earth.

When Jesus enters Jerusalem the Jews will look upon him whom their fathers pierced two thousand years previously, and they will mourn for him. Zechariah 13:10-14Zechariah 13:10-14XWaiting for response So that this scripture could be fulfilled, the Roman soldiers pierced Jesus with a spear as he hung upon the cross, John 19:34,37John 19:34,37XWaiting for response and when Jesus returns to Jerusalem it will dawn on the Jews that the Messiah is the one their ancestors conspired to crucify. They will ask him, “What are these wounds in thine hands?” and he will reply: “Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends”.v.6Zechariah 13:6XWaiting for response The Jews were Jesus’ brethren and they should have been persuaded by the works that he did that he was their Messiah, but they rejected him and had him crucified. Even his closest disciples and friends fled from him, like sheep scattering when the shepherd is afflicted.v.7;Zechariah 13:7XWaiting for response Mark 14:27,50Mark 14:27,50XWaiting for response

It is notable that God calls Jesus “the man that is my fellow”.v.7Zechariah 13:7XWaiting for response The explanation of this is that the power of the Holy Spirit came upon Mary to conceive a child who at his birth was the Son of the Highest. Luke 1:32,35Luke 1:32,35XWaiting for response Jesus is not “God the Son” but he is both “Son of God” and “Son of man” by the means of his conception. Jesus also has fellows, for God declared: “Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows”. Hebrews 1:9;Hebrews 1:9XWaiting for response Psalms 45:7Psalms 45:7XWaiting for response This shows that Jesus is the link between the saints and God and that through him we can have fellowship with the Father, as Jesus prayed concerning believers: “That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me”. John 17:21John 17:21XWaiting for response