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Some people teach that Zechariah 12:10 speaks of a national day of salvation for the Jewish people at the end of the age. While true that our God would prefer that none should perish, the fact is, that not every Israelite has a heart for YHVH and His ways. Korah and company serve to prove that, as well as the thousands of others of whom YHVH said, "They will never enter into My rest" (Numbers 16:30; Psalm 95:7-11).
Another problem with this idea is that it seems to breed a certain complacency within non-Jewish Believers. It leads them to think the Jewish people will look upon the Messiah when He returns and then will believe in Him, and thus all of them will be saved. But, Scripture suggests otherwise.
Not all Israelites will be saved (Hebrews 3:11, 18; 4:3-6). But for those who will come to know the Messiah we ask, "Is it a matter of them seeing and then saying, or, are they supposed to 'say and then see'?"
Zechariah wrote of an incredible promise, "I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and of supplication, so that they will look on Me whom they have pierced; and they will mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him like the bitter weeping over a firstborn" (Zechariah 12:10).
In turn, the apostle John saw Yeshua's crucifixion as a fulfillment of this prophecy. John said of the time when Yeshua hung on a tree in Jerusalem for all to see, "And, as another scripture says, 'They will look on the one they have pierced'" (John 19:37).
On that fateful day, the people of Jerusalem literally saw a fulfillment of this promise of the Holy One. Moreover, all who have since "looked to the Messiah for salvation" have likewise looked to that event and received eternal forgiveness.
As for a future fulfillment of the verse, in the Book of Revelation, John speaks of the day when Yeshua will return to this Earth: "He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all peoples on earth will mourn because of him. So shall it be! Amen" (Revelation 1:7).
Does this verse imply that, in that day, all of Judah will look on the Messiah and be saved? Will they see and then say, "Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD"?
Scripture indicates something else.
Zechariah and John both spoke of the inhabitants of Jerusalem seeing this pierced One. Moreover, He who was pierced and wounded for out transgressions had this to say when He lamented over Jerusalem and her inhabitants:
"Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling. 'Behold, your house is being left to you desolate! For I say to you, from now on you will not see Me until you say, "Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!"'" (Matthew 23:37).
Notice the order in this verse: First Jerusalem will "say" that Yeshua is the blessed One and then, they will be able to "see" Him. The order is that they say and then see. Jerusalem will "not" see Him again until they first say, "Baruch Haba b'Shem Adonai," or, "Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the LORD." Judah will not see Yeshua until they first acknowledge Him as the Blessed One. First Judah believes, then they see Yeshua.
Scripture does not support the idea of a national day of salvation for the Jewish people, nor for all Israel. We are instead told that without faith, it is impossible for us to please our God. It is not enough to be descended from the Patriarchs. Like father Abraham, we must have faith in the God of Israel and in His Messiah (Romans 9:8, 23-30; Hebrews 11:6).
Another verse that is often thought to be a companion to the idea of a national day of Jewish salvation is Isaiah 66:8, which speaks of a nation being born in a day:
"Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things? Can a land be born in one day? Can a nation be brought forth all at once?"
Surely our Jewish brothers have been brought back to the Chosen Land by the powerful right hand of the Almighty. As promised, He has again chosen Judah and Jerusalem, once more allowed them to become a "Nation," and, whenever possible, we must stand with our brothers (Zechariah 2:12). However...
There is another fulfillment of this verse that we need to see.
Long ago, in a single day, an Eternal Holy Nation was born - it being Messiah Yeshua's Eternal Kingdom of Israel. That Nation was born when He arose from the grave, when He came forth as the "Firstborn of many brethren." As His brethren, as those who have been born anew in Him, we are called to His "general assembly and ekklesia of the firstborn...to Yeshua, the mediator of a new covenant." We belong to His Commonwealth of Israel. As citizens of that Kingdom, are called to be "a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession" (Romans 8:29; Colossians 1:15,18; Hebrews 1:6; 12:23-24; Ephesians 2:11-22; 1 Peter 1:1; 2:9).
We must keep our eye on our Messiah's high and lofty goal. His Kingdom will be restored to Eternal Israel, will have the "City of Truth" as its Capital, and will be called "The City of the Great King." The Great King, the LORD of Lords, is none other than our Master and Messiah, Yeshua (Psalm 48:2; Zechariah 8:3,7,13; Matthew 2:2; 27:37; 5:35; Acts 1:6; 1 Timothy 6:15; Revelation 19:16).
Since we understand this to be His plan and see that Judah, too, needs salvation in Messiah, does that mean that it is time for us to grab a pack of salvation tracts and head for Israel?
That method has not worked very well in the past and it is foolish to keep doing the same thing and expecting different results. So, how do we get Judah to first call Yeshua the Blessed One?
If we want Judah to share our faith in Messiah, he needs to first see the Messiah at work in us! Judah needs to see us walking like the Messiah. Judah needs to first see the faith of our Messiah being truly demonstrated in us! When Judah sees the Messiah at work in us, he will learn to say that we truly do follow the Blessed One - and thus Judah will begin to call Yeshua the Blessed One before He returns. In short, if we want true results, if we want Judah to share our faith, and to finally see the Kingdom be restored to the whole house of Israel, we first need to be a people who learn how to "demonstrate" the true power of the Messiah.
What did Messiah Yeshua do to demonstrate that power?
He moved in the true "power of the Spirit." With true "authority," He commanded the unclean spirits and they came out of the people. With the undeniable "power of the Lord" He performed miracles, signs, wonders, and acts of healing. And, He gave His disciples that same "power and authority" then He sent them out "to proclaim the kingdom of God and to perform healing" (Luke 4:14,36; 5:17; 6:19; 9:1; 11:20; 24:49).
If we want to see the Kingdom restored to Israel, we need to try to be more like her King.
We are not talking about a smoke and mirrors show that shamefully exalts men, but about humble men who are truly learning to follow after the example of their Messiah, to walk in the true power of the Spirit, even as He walked.
Let us therefore ask the Father to speak a true word to each one of us, to lead and guide each one of us by His Holy Spirit, to empower us from on High, to clothe us with true righteousness, and to bless us with the precious gift of being able to truly demonstrate His Kingdom in the earth.
May it be so, Lord. May Thy Kingdom be shown forth in us. Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on Earth as it is Heaven!
Amen and Amen!
Batya
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