Look Upon the One You Pierced

Not wanting to break the Sabbath and leave the bodies on the cross, Pilate commanded that their legs be broken to speed up their deaths. Our Lord had been on the cross for several hours when the soldiers came. Seeing that he was already dead, one of the soldiers took a spear and pierced his side, and then blood and water flowed.

The gospel of John explains: “These things took place that the Scripture might be fulfilled: ‘Not one of his bones will be broken.’ And again another Scripture says, ‘They will look on him whom they have pierced’” (John 19:36-37).

While none of us physically put the spear into the side of Christ, it was our sin that brought about the need for him to go to the cross. He faced such brutality for our sin. So, in that sense, we drove the nails in his hands and we pierced his side.

You are guilty, and so am I. Each one of us will look on the one to whom we have pierced.

But when we look to the one we pierced, and in what manner we look to him, makes an eternal difference. There are two different options.

Looking On The One You Pierced For Salvation

First, we must ask ourselves why the sinless Christ was being pierced at all. Isaiah 53:5 makes it clear: “But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.”

It was our sin he was bearing on the cross. He was pierced for our iniquities. At the cross, Christ provides a worthy substitutionary sacrifice for our sins. Until our sin is rightly and justly dealt with, we cannot have peace with God.

Zechariah 12 says that some will look to the one whom we pierced and mourn. Why would we mourn? Because in that passage, God has poured out a spirit of grace. As he does so, we recognize our sin and mourn. This is a mourning of repentance. It’s not a superficial, bad feeling for getting caught. Instead, it’s true grieving that we have offended a holy God. “For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret” (2 Cor. 7:10).

Salvation isn’t merely repeating a prayer; it’s having a broken heart over our sin and calling out to Christ for salvation. It’s looking to the one we pierced as we recognize our sin and believe that only his atoning work can truly provide forgiveness.

Fountain of Forgiveness

The passage in Zechariah goes on to say: “On that day there shall be a fountain opened for the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and uncleanness” (13:1).

God provides a fountain so that those who are broken, those who recognize they’re dirty, can be cleansed from sin and uncleanness.

Many people feel inadequate or guilty. Some won’t go to church because it brings about more feelings of unworthiness. There is something deep within us, a conscience, that bears witness that we are sinners. However, that conscience can lead us to utter despair if we don’t find a cure for our sin. That’s why this promise of a fountain is so refreshing, because it provides the cleansing we long for when we recognize our sin.

We celebrate Good Friday even though it’s a weighty, solemn day. Thinking of our Lord on the cross is almost too much to bear, but it’s the reason we have hope today.

You can try to clean yourself, but you can’t do it. Jesus prayed, “If there is any other way, let this cup pass from me…” But there was no other way. Jesus had to die. He had to be pierced for our transgressions. The hymn “There is a Fountain Filled with Blood” comes from Zechariah 13:1. You are likely familiar with the lyrics:

“There is a fountain filled with blood, Drawn from Immanuel’s veins; And sinners, plunged beneath that flood, Lose all their guilty stains.

The dying thief rejoiced to see That fountain in his day; And there have I, as vile as he, Washed all my sins away.”

Those who look to him in faith will find a fountain of forgiveness waiting for them. However, not everyone will look to the pierced one for forgiveness of sin...some will only look upon him when it is too late.

Looking On The One You Pierced Who Comes In Judgment

Speaking of Christ’s return, the Apostle John wrote: “Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen” (Rev. 1:7).

In this life, those who look on the one they pierced with godly sorrow will be redeemed and washed in the fountain. However, Revelation warns that one day every eye will look upon him—even those who rejected him will see the one they pierced—yet it will be too late for salvation.

When the Son of Man returns, those who are not cleansed will face the righteous judgment of the God they have rejected. Because of this, all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. This is a warning of judgment for those who don’t look, in this life, to Christ.

Everyone will bow their knee to him. Everyone will look to the one they have pierced. We can look to him now for salvation and forgiveness, or we can look to him after our death, where we will only receive judgment.

Look now to the one you have pierced and be washed in the fountain he has provided for cleansing and forgiveness!