“Hope For the Future”
Zechariah 12-14
Intro: This morning we remember the death and resurrection of our Lord. And we remember with hope. The words of scripture tell us by partaking of the bread and the cup we do “show the Lord’s death till he comes.” Sometimes it takes memories to give us hope.
Have you ever watched the Rocky movies? It always seems that Rocky is getting the tar beaten out of him, until something happens and he starts to fight. In one of the movies, the trainer is about to throw in the towel, until Rocky’s brother in law Paulie says, He’s not getting beat, he’s just getting mad. And Rocky does get mad enough to come back and win the fight.
What do you do when you’re down, discouraged, defeated. It would be great to say that that never happens to us, we’re Christians. Yet, the truth is that far too often we live defeated Christian lives, giving in to despair and failure.
This morning, I would say that Remembering brings hope!
I. Remembering Our God brings us hope - When we remember that we serve the creator of the universe, we realize that the problems of this life are not too hard for him. He is the God who clothes the lilies of the field. If he clothes them, how much more will he clothe us. He is the God who sends the rain on the just and the unjust. He controls the sunshine and the rain. He is the God of all creation. And he is moved by our problems.
In the book of Zechariah, we are reminded of the greatness of our God. In Zech. 12:1 we see the prophet starting a passage about the deliverance of Jerusalem, and he starts with the reminder of the greatness of God.
This is the word of the LORD concerning Israel. The LORD, who stretches out the heavens, who lays the foundation of the earth, and who forms the spirit of man within him
On this, Worldwide Communion Sunday, we join with Christians all across the world in celebrating the greatness of our God.
II. Remembering our Savior, Jesus Christ, brings us hope
Zechariah talks several places in reference to Jesus.
11:7 - he comes to feed the flock of God -
9:9 - he comes in a triumphal entry into Jerusalem - cf. Matt. 21:5
13:7 - that his disciples would flee after he was taken
11:12-13 - he would be sold for 30 pieces of silver [by Judas]
12:10 - he is pierced by his people (crucifixion)
This morning, we remember Jesus Christ in our communion time. Our salvation is made possible by his death on the cross in our place. We see that there were many prophecies given about him, because God had planned before the creation of the world to place Jesus as our sacrifice for sins.
We remember with hope, when we think that Christ died in our place.
III. Remembering that God’s plan is not done brings us hope.
Much of Zechariah is confusing for us as we read through: yet much truth lies there to be discovered for those who study deeply. And I don’t speak of myself, for I realize I know little about the book.
In chapters 12-14, we see a glimpse into the end days. Join us on Wednesdays as we study these events in more detail as we go through the book of Revelation together.
Just when things look hopeless - that will be the timing for his deliverance of the Jews in the end of the tribulation.
14:2 - All nations will gather against Jerusalem - under the leader of the antichrist - they will seek to destroy the Jews. The Jews will go through great suffering.
13:7-8 - two thirds of the Jews will perish in this great battle. The situation will look hopeless. The Antichrist will see victory in sight. At this time God comes to fight for his people.
12:4-5 - On that day I will strike every horse with panic and its rider with madness," declares the LORD. "I will keep a watchful eye over the house of Judah, but I will blind all the horses of the nations. Then the leaders of Judah will say in their hearts, `The people of Jerusalem are strong, because the LORD Almighty is their God.’
12: 8 - On that day the LORD will shield those who live in Jerusalem, so that the feeblest among them will be like David
God provides protection for his people
13:9 - the one-third remnant will call upon the Lord - This third I will bring into the fire; I will refine them like silver and test them like gold. They will call on my name and I will answer them; I will say, `They are my people,’ and they will say, `The LORD is our God.’"
12:10b - The Lord comes to fight for his people - and they recognize him as their Messiah
And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son.
14:3-5 - The Lord provides deliverance for his people
Then the LORD will go out and fight against those nations, as he fights in the day of battle. On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, forming a great valley, with half of the mountain moving north and half moving south. You will flee by my mountain valley, for it will extend to Azel. You will flee as you fled from the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Then the LORD my God will come, and all the holy ones with him.
14:12,15 - The Lord destroys the armies attacking the Jews -
This is the plague with which the LORD will strike all the nations that fought against Jerusalem: Their flesh will rot while they are still standing on their feet, their eyes will rot in their sockets, and their tongues will rot in their mouths.
13 On that day men will be stricken by the LORD with great panic. Each man will seize the hand of another, and they will attack each other. --15 A similar plague will strike the horses and mules, the camels and donkeys, and all the animals in those camps.
12:10c - 12 - and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son. On that day the weeping in Jerusalem will be great, like the weeping of Hadad Rimmon in the plain of Megiddo. The land will mourn, each clan by itself, with their wives by themselves
I believe that this mourning is the weeping of knowing they had missed their Messiah. Yet, God being a God full of love and forgiveness, we see his forgiveness offered.
13:1 - On that day a fountain will be opened to the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and impurity. "On that day, I will banish the names of the idols from the land, and they will be remembered no more," declares the LORD Almighty. "I will remove both the prophets and the spirit of impurity from the land.
We rejoice when we remember that God’s plan is not done. We serve a God who is still at work in our lives.
Concl: How is your hope this morning? Do you struggle being down? Does Satan steal your joy?
Gain hope this morning remembering the Great God we serve. Gain hope remembering our great Savior and the free salvation he offers. Gain hope knowing that God has a plan for the future. Let’s look for him to work in our lives this week!
