The Messiah’s Redeeming Work, Pt. 2

The Messiah’s Redeeming Work, Pt. 2
Zechariah 13:7-9
September 3, 2023

In his book, Rejoicing in Christ, Michael Reeves writes, “On the cross we are given not only the sweet salvation of God but the counterintuitive revelation of God. On the cross we see how humble, how self-giving, how perfectly generous and compassionate the living God is. That is why Luther wanted all thinking about God to be done in the shadow of the cross.” 

The goal of the sermon this morning is to lead you in such a contemplation and delight in the Savior because of His work on the cross for you — to remember the basis of your faith and salvation.  Those basics of the spiritual life often give us some of the greatest hope and confidence in God.  This morning we go back in time to Zechariah, who looked forward to the Messiah and how the Messiah, portrayed in this passage as the Great Shepherd, would preserve the nation of Israel. 

Remember that in Zechariah, the last half of the book is made up of two oracles of God.  The first oracle (burden) is in chapters 9-11 and it is against the nations (though there are elements of hope also).  The second oracle (burden) is in chapters 12-14 and it is for Israel; it is designed to make them hopeful, expectant, and confident that YHWH of hosts would preserve and keep the nation. 

In this oracle for Israel, in chapter 12 we saw that God would save the entire nation of Israel physically (12:1-9) and spiritually because of the nation’s repentance (12:10-14).  Last week, in 13:1-6, we saw the forgiving and cleansing that has been and will be given to Israel.  And this morning, we will see how and why God can forgive Israel.  And the work of God for Israel is hopeful for us as well…

Be hopeful because God cleansed Israel through the Great Shepherd.

This part of the chapter is highly Christological — it anticipates the work of Christ in His two advents and how those two advents will combine to save Israel.  In His first advent, the debt of the sin of His people was paid and in His second advent, the remnant of His people will be regathered as the nation of promise.  So even in Zechariah’s day, Israel could be hopeful because of the work of the Shepherd, who accomplished two primary objectives — He redeemed His people and He preserved a remnant.

1. Be Hopeful Because of the Shepherd’s Redemption (v. 7)

• The suffering of the Shepherd (v. 7a)
• The nature of the Shepherd (v. 7b)
• The scattering of the sheep (v. 7c)

2. Be Hopeful Because of the Shepherd’s Remnant (vv. 8-9)

• There will be a faithful remnant… (v. 8)
• There will be a fiery refining… (v. 9a)
• There will be a familial re-gathering… (v. 9b)

Download the rest of this sermon on Zechariah 13:7-9.

The audio will be posted on the GBC website by tomorrow.

“The Crosses on Good Friday” by 50%ChanceofRain is marked with CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.