the Fourth Week after Easter
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Daily Devotionals
Day by Day Devotional - Year 5 of 5
Zechariah 13:1-9; ; Zechariah 14:1-5
The eyes of Israel (and ours too) have just been directed to the Cross (Zechariah 12:10). The blood of Christ atones for our sins, but from His pierced side there also flows a living stream. It represents the practical cleansing effect which the Word accomplishes in our conscience (Psalms 51:2; Psalms 51:7). In that day the idols will be cut off (Ezekiel 36:25), the lying voices will be silenced. Then God’s Well-beloved will tell out His marvellous story: coming down here as a man, He took the form of a bondman to serve His creature (cf. Zechariah 11:12; Exodus 21:2-6). He was wounded in the house of his friends (cf. John 20:27). He was smitten by the LORD himself.
"Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him . ." continues Philippians 2:9. Yes, soon this same Lord will present Himself to the world in the splendour of His power. Where will this appearing take place? It will be at the very same spot from which He formerly left this earth, on the Mount of Olives, which will cleave under His feet (Zechariah 14:4; Acts 1:11-12).
But He will not come back alone. "And all the saints with thee" is added at the end of v. 5. Like a royal procession, Christ will bring those He will first of all have raptured to heaven to be with Him. The New Testament confirms this soon triumphal "coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints" (1 Thessalonians 3:13; Judges 1:14).
