Zechariah

[0:00] Seeking the Lord's help, I direct your attention this evening to the prophecy of Zechariah, chapter 13 and verse 6. The prophecy of Zechariah, chapter 13 and verse 6.

[0:19] And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends.

[0:36] And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends.

[0:53] Solomon, sacred revelation of the mind of Christ.

[1:03] I spoke recently from the 22nd Psalm.

[1:15] And I was very struck in that Psalm. That the way there we are listening to the voice of Christ.

[1:28] We have in these scriptures, in Zechariah and in the Psalm 22, The mind of Christ in his suffering.

[1:43] Not revealed in this same way in the Gospels. That which was hidden from us. There are things revealed in the Gospels.

[1:55] That are peculiarly blessed. One is the 17th of John. Where there is recorded. The mind of Christ. In the conclusion of the Last Supper.

[2:09] Before he went to Calvary. And we read there. His prayer. Through his Father. Before his disciples.

[2:20] In their presence. Before he went down into Gethsemane. In these prophetic scriptures. We have the very utterance and mind of Christ.

[2:34] And we are not without. The divine seal of Christ upon them. In the 22nd Psalm.

[2:49] Again and again. We hear the words of Christ. My God. It opens with. My God. Why hast thou forsaken me?

[3:00] I am a worm. And no man. A reproach of men. And despised of the people. They gaped upon me with their mouths. And as a ravening.

[3:11] And a roaring lion. I am poured out. Like water. And all my bones are out of joint. My heart is like wax. It is melted. In the midst of my bowels.

[3:23] My strength is dried up. Like a potsherd. My tongue cleaveth to my jaws. Now has brought me. Into the dust of death. The dogs have compassed me.

[3:35] The assembly of the wicked have enclosed me. They pierced. My hands and my feet. I may tell all my bones. They look. And stare upon me.

[3:47] They part my garments among them. And cast lots upon my vesture. Be not far from me. O Lord. O my strength.

[3:57] Hast thee to help me. Deliver my soul from the sword. For thou my darling. From the power of the dog. And we have there. The heart.

[4:10] And mind. Of Christ. Revealed in his sufferings. On Calvary's cross. Again and again. These precious scriptures.

[4:23] Are brought together. Beautifully together. The apostles. As they wrote their gospels. Brought out the fulfillment of these scriptures.

[4:35] And they said again and again. This was done. That it might be fulfilled. Which was spoken by the prophet. And in Matthew chapter 26. The Lord Jesus Christ says this.

[4:51] To his disciples. All ye shall be offended. Because of me this night. For it is written. I will smite the shepherd. And the sheep shall be scattered abroad.

[5:03] And that is exactly what is here. In the prophecy of Zechariah. It follows our text. Awake. O sword. Against my shepherd.

[5:14] And against the man that is my fellow. Says the Lord of hosts. Smite. The shepherd. And the sheep shall be scattered. Beautifully.

[5:26] As a woven garment. The threads. Blend together. In one whole. Of the heart. And purposes.

[5:37] And will of Christ. In the work. Of salvation. And the scriptures. Form one. Blessed. Composite whole.

[5:48] In the eyes. Of those who have eyes. To see them. And see the beauty of them. One other aspect of our text. We would comment on.

[5:59] Initially. And that is this. The way it is put. In question and answer. It is a way which is used in scripture.

[6:13] Our mind goes to the prophecy of Isaiah. And there we have the exact same way of writing the scriptures in chapter 63.

[6:27] In this. Who is this? That comes from Edom. With dyed garments from Bosra. This that is glorious in his apparel.

[6:38] Traveling in the greatness of his strength. And then this. Wherefore art thou red. In thine apparel. And. Thy garments like him that.

[6:49] Treadeth in the wine fat. And the beautiful answer. I have trodden. I have trodden the wine press alone. I have trodden the wine press alone.

[7:00] And the scriptures in the book of the Revelation. I believe it is in the 19th chapter. He has trodden. The wine press. The wine press.

[7:11] Of the fierceness. And wrath. Of almighty God. And here we have those precious truths.

[7:21] Put in this way. That is here. Before us tonight. What. Are these wounds. In thine hand.

[7:32] And we hear the answer. From Christ. In the 22nd. Psalm. They pierced. My hands and my feet.

[7:44] And the beauty. In this. Prophecy. Which we. Have read here. Tonight. The. Prophecy. Regarding. Christ.

[7:57] I will pour upon the house of David. The inhabitants of Jerusalem. The spirit of grace. And of supplications. And they shall look upon him.

[8:07] Whom they have pierced. And they shall mourn for him. As one mourneth. For his only son. And shall be in bitterness for him. As one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.

[8:20] What are these wounds in thy hand? It is the. Question. That relates. To the whole. Of the. Work of Jesus Christ.

[8:31] Oh how. Lying here. Is the great. Doctrine of redemption. As we said.

[8:42] This morning. Lying here. Is the atonement. Lying here. Is the salvation of the church. Here.

[8:55] Is the great. Question. Why. Why. Did Christ die. What. Was the. Purpose of his death. What.

[9:08] Are these wounds in thine hands. And in the. Prophecy of Isaiah. The. Prophet. Takes up this. Subject. In that.

[9:20] Beautiful. Uh. Fifty third. Chapter. And begins to. Give us. The answer. To this question. What. Are these wounds in thy hands.

[9:34] We see. Initially. The. Word of truth. Here. We did. Esteem him. Stricken. Smitten of God.

[9:47] And afflicted. And the. Answer. Here. In the. Path of God's. Dear people.

[9:57] Yet. He was. Wounded. For our. Transgressions. He was. Bruised. For our. Iniquities. We see. What are these wounds.

[10:08] In thy hands. We did. Esteem him. Stricken. Smitten of God. And afflicted. We see. Here. The first.

[10:21] Fulfillment. In the. Will. Of his. Father. That. Both. Of these.

[10:32] Blessed. Revelations. In Isaiah. Are true. He was. Stricken. Smitten. Smitten of God. And afflicted. Equally.

[10:46] That. Second. Revelation. Surely. He has. Born. Our. Griefs. They're. Both. True. And. Oh. We would look. This evening.

[10:57] What are these. Wounds. In thy hands. The. Holy. Majesty. And. Glory. Of God. Was. Untouchable. There had to be a way.

[11:12] In which. His. Holiness. And majesty. And purity. And in which. His. Holy. Law. Should. Remain. Invitable.

[11:23] Untouchable. Should be maintained. In all. Its glory. glory. And yet. A way. In which.

[11:33] God. Will be just. Just. To himself. Just. To his. Holy. Law. Just. To his. Glorious. Majesty. And yet. Bring.

[11:44] His. Dear. Church. To heaven. God. And so. We see. How.

[11:55] In the maintenance. Of that. Majesty. And justice. That. Purity. And holiness. It was essential. That Christ.

[12:07] Should come here. In his incarnation. Taking into union. With his glorious deity. A holy. Perfect body. That he might be stricken.

[12:20] Smitten of God. And afflicted. The prophet. In this. Chapter. Here. In Isaiah. Sees that. Blessed pathway.

[12:31] In which. The Lord Jesus. Christ. Walked. It pleased. The Lord. To bruise him. He hath. Put him to grief. When thou shalt. Make his soul.

[12:42] An offering. For sin. And it goes on. Regarding. The work of Christ. Poured out his soul.

[12:53] Under death. And made intercession. For the. Transgressors. For what a sight we have. It is. The divine truth.

[13:05] Lying here. What are these wounds. In thy hands. Surely. And we see it.

[13:17] Here in the. Revelation of it. We did esteem him. Stricken. Smitten of God. And afflicted. But what he was doing.

[13:27] What is he doing. Surely. He has borne our griefs. And carried our sorrows. Dear friends. That is. Not. The sorrows. Of time. It is sorrows.

[13:39] Relating to eternity. It is the. Sorrows. Of a. Broken hearted. Sinner. Nothing less. It is.

[13:50] The sorrows. Of one. As we read. In the. 51st Psalm. A broken. And a contrite heart. Of God. That will not. Describe.

[14:03] Those are the sorrows. That Christ carried. On Calvary's cross. It is the. Sorrows. That are spoken of. Here. In the.

[14:14] Prophecy of. Zachariah. In that. Word. They shall look upon him. Whom they pierced. And they shall mourn. As one mourner. Through his only son. A deep.

[14:25] Solemn. Sacred. And. Blessed. Morning. Spoken of. By the. Prophet. In. The 53rd. Of Isaiah. Surely. He hath borne our griefs.

[14:37] And carried our sorrows. And I ask you. What are these wounds. In thy hand? There the paths. He walked. In accordance.

[14:48] With his. Father's. Sacred. Holy. Mind. And will. It was necessary. That one should die.

[14:58] For the people. It was necessary. It was. Essential. And we. See the. Lord Jesus Christ. Here.

[15:09] In this. Blessed truth. All we like sheep. Have gone astray. Turned everyone. To his own way. What's happened? The Lord hath. Laid on him. The iniquity.

[15:22] Of us all. So says the. Church of God. And this is why. What are these wounds. In thy hands. He hath. Laid on him.

[15:34] The iniquity. Of us all. The church. Is brought. To see her. Saviour. Coming down.

[15:46] Under the. Solemn sword. Of divine justice. Which follows our text. Awake. Oh saw. Against my shepherd.

[15:58] And against the. Man that is mine equal. Smite. The shepherd. The man that. Is mine equal. The eternal. Son of God incarnate.

[16:10] Walking here in this earth. Awake. Close thought. The sword of. God's divine justice. And wrath. Against sin. Arose. Awoke. Upon his dear servant.

[16:22] And smote him. Oh how vital. That we are brought. To see what is happening. At Calvary's cross. What are these. Wounds in thy hand.

[16:34] They are the. Full. Satisfaction. Of the. Wrath of God. Wrought out.

[16:45] Upon his dear son. In the maintenance. Of his holy law. As he offered himself. A vicarious sacrifice.

[16:57] On Calvary's cross. For his dear church. And there. Was. Satisfaction. Wrought out.

[17:09] For his dear church. As the near hymn writer says. In the. Simplicity of that. Lovely little hymn. My.

[17:21] Breaches. Of the law. Are his. And his. Obedience. Mine. And here. We have. The.

[17:31] The. Blessed answer. What. Are these wounds. In thy hands. The answer that. Scripture gives us. So clearly. Yet.

[17:44] We did esteem him. Stricken. Smitten of God. And afflicted. Yes. Utterly. True. He was. Stricken. Smitten of God.

[17:55] And afflicted. And I believe this. He knew. What had happened. Himself. In the entirety of it. And scripture reveals.

[18:05] That he knew. My God. My God. Why. Hast thou. Forsaken me. Oh. The. Reason.

[18:16] What. Are these wounds. In thy hands. Why. Hast thou. Forsaken me. It explains. Everything. It explains.

[18:29] The. Blessed nature. Of that word. As a sheep. Dumb before. Its shearer. So. Opened he not. His man.

[18:42] Had he done so. He could have justified himself. As utterly innocent. But why. Was he silent. Because.

[18:55] In his. Holy. Innocence. He was dying. For his dear people. And so. He maintained.

[19:07] An utter silence. For them. And sought not. To justify himself. In his innocence. But bowed down.

[19:17] In submission. To his father's. Holy mind. And will. Setting his face. As a flint. To go to Jerusalem. And to the end.

[19:29] Did nothing. To justify himself. Because. Because. As we read. In the. Epistle of Paul.

[19:41] To the. Hebrews. In the. Twelfth chapter. We. Have there. The. Revelation. Of what. Happened. On Calvary's cross.

[19:52] This man. After he had offered. One. Sacrifice. For sins. Forever. Sat down. On the right hand.

[20:03] Of God. From henceforth. Expecting. That his enemies. Be made his footstool. By one offering. He hath. Perfected. Forever. Them. That are sanctified.

[20:14] And in the earlier part. Of that chapter. Lo. I come. To do thy will. O God. By the which will. We are sanctified.

[20:26] Through the offering. Of the body. Of Jesus Christ. Once. For all. And this verse. How much more. Shall the blood. Of Christ.

[20:37] Who. Through the eternal spirit. Offered himself. Without spot to God. Heard your conscience. From dead works. To serve the. Living God.

[20:49] We have in. These scriptures. The. Blessed testimony. Of God. Regarding his. Dear people. What are these wounds. In thy hands.

[21:01] And now we come. To the second part of it. The church. Speaking. Can you speak. In the way.

[21:12] In which we read. The church. Speaking. In the 53rd of Isaiah. What are these wounds. In thy hands. He was wounded. For our transgression.

[21:26] Oh I ask you. Here tonight. Have you any evidence. Of it. Have you any evidence. Of it. Blessed. Blessed.

[21:38] Blessed. Mercy. If you have a little. Sweet evidence. In your soul. And know something. Of this truth.

[21:49] In your hearts. And the connection. Between Christ. And your soul. We have. Had.

[22:02] Fathers of our own. We have. Loved them. In the bonds.

[22:14] Of the everlasting gospel. And in the ties. Of nature. They have gone. Before the glory. But they're not forgotten. Never.

[22:26] Can they. Ever. Be forgotten. We had. A great tie. With them. No doubt. There are those of you.

[22:36] Who have had the same. A union. In the bonds. Of the. Everlasting gospel. With dear. Parents.

[22:47] Who prayed. For you. From the womb. Onwards. What a. Precious bond. Is that. But.

[22:59] It is a bond. That ends. In time. Though the. Spiritual union. Remain. There is an end.

[23:12] In time. But. I think of these. Words that. Echo through the pages of scripture. And he.

[23:23] Shall be. My. Sons and daughters. Says the Lord God almighty. Oh. That. That. Oh. That. Union.

[23:34] With Christ. And his dear father. Spoken of in the scriptures. As the spirit of adoption. The sacred. Sealing of the spirit.

[23:47] Oh. The Lord. The Lord. Calls his dear people. Out. Of this world. And we read. Of that. Union with Christ. Spoken of in the scriptures.

[23:59] In the figure of the bride. And the bridegroom. Spoken of. In the scriptures. As joint heirs. With Christ. And heirs. Of the. Kingdom.

[24:10] Of heaven. There is an ineffable union. With Christ. And his church. Which will never. Ever. Be broken. And. It begins here.

[24:20] In time. And is known here. In our. In our bodies. In this earth. It is in thee. The Lord. Works. In the hearts.

[24:31] Of his dear children. To bring them into that union. In which he spoke. In his. Prayer. That concluded. The last supper. That they all may be one. As we are one.

[24:43] I in them. And thou in me. That they may be one in us. This. Glorious. Union. That is spoken of here. And the foundation of it.

[24:54] Is this. Are these wounds. In thy hands. These are the wounds. Which. I received. In the house of my friends.

[25:05] And well. May we say. As we know. This scripture. To refer. To his dear disciples. The Lord himself.

[25:16] In the 26th of Matthew. Told the disciples. That it referred to them. They all. Forsook him. And fled. Smite the shepherd.

[25:29] And the sheep. Shall be scattered. But oh. How we see. That. Those wounds. Were for them. And what a.

[25:40] Remarkable word. It is. His friends. Scripture. Refers. To one. To one. Abraham.

[25:51] As the friend. Of God. And you know. He refers. Himself. The Lord Jesus Christ. In the scripture.

[26:02] Before us. Tonight. To his dear. Disciples. As his friends. Dear my friends. They were.

[26:12] His brethren. They were. Loved of him. He said. Of them. I pray not. For the world. But for those. Whom thou.

[26:23] Has given me. They were sinners. When thou art. Converted. He said to Peter. Prior to his fall. Strengthen thy brethren.

[26:33] They were. Beloved of him. In eternity past. They carried. The. Blessing of Jeremiah. Yea. I have.

[26:44] Loved thee. With an everlasting love. And therefore. With. Loving kindness. Have I drawn thee. They were eternally. Loved. As Jeremiah.

[26:55] Before I. Formed thee. In the womb. I knew thee. And ordained thee. A prophet. Nathanael said to Christ. How knowest thou me? Or he knew him.

[27:08] In eternity past. And the. Effect. On Nathanael was. Thou art the son of God.

[27:20] Thou art the king of Israel. That. Was true worship. As a direct result. Of divine revelation. In his dear heart. He worshipped.

[27:30] Worship. His saviour. What. Are these wounds. In thine hands. These are the wounds.

[27:41] Which I received. In the house. Of my friends. He was. Wounded. Says the church of God. In her.

[27:51] Knowledge. Of this. He was. Wounded. For our. Transgressions. He was bruised. For our.

[28:02] Iniquities. The chastisement. Of our peace. Was upon him. With his stripes. We are healed. The Lord hath. Laid on him.

[28:13] Iniquity. Of us all. He is brought. As a lamb. To the. Shorts. Latter. And as a sheep. Before her shearers. Is dumb. So he opened. It not his mouth.

[28:25] For the transgression. Of my. People. Was he. Stricken. Yet. It pleased. The Lord. To bruise him. When he hath put him.

[28:37] To grief. He hath put him. To grief. When they shall make his soul. An offering. For sin. He shall see his seed. He shall prolong his days.

[28:49] And the pleasure of the Lord. Shall prosper in his hand. He shall. See of the travel of his soul. And shall be satisfied. By his knowledge.

[28:59] Shall my righteous servant. Justify many. What. Are these wounds. In thy hands. And then. That verse concludes.

[29:12] Why. How shall he justify them. For he. Shall bear. Their. Iniquity. Oh.

[29:25] God is judge. Christ. And in Christ. He is the justifier. Of him that believes in Jesus.

[29:38] Here. We see. In Christ's obedience. And suffering death. And shed blood. The righteousness. Of the church.

[29:51] Here we see him. As the healer of the breach. And the restorer of the paths. To dwell in. Here we see him. Putting away forever.

[30:02] Wounded. For our transgressions. Bearing. Iniquity. Of his people. And atoning. For it. Paying that.

[30:15] Price. Bringing about that. Divine. Reconciliation. That perfect peace. Between God.

[30:27] And his dear living family. Preparing them. For heaven. Washing them.

[30:38] In the fountain. Of his precious blood. And clothing them. In his. Spotless. Righteousness. What are these wounds.

[30:50] In thy hands. These are the wounds. I received. In the house. Of my friends. The hope.

[31:01] Of the sin. Of the church of God. Born. By him. He hath. Poured out his soul.

[31:12] Unto death. He was numbered. With the transgressors. And he bare. The sin. Of many. And he made. Intercession.

[31:24] For the transgressors. Oh. What a sight. We have. What. Are these wounds. In thy hands. And Christ.

[31:35] Christ. Own answer. These. Are the. Wounds. Which I received. In the house. Of my friends. Oh.

[31:48] I think. Of that hymn. 938. When thou. My righteous judge. Shall come.

[31:59] To call. Thy ransom. People home. Shall I. Among them. Stand. Sell.

[32:10] Such. A worthless. Worm as I. Who. Sometimes. Am afraid. To die. Be found. At thy right hand. I love.

[32:21] To meet. Among them. Now. Before thy. Glorious throne. To bow. Though. Vilest. Of them all. But. Can I bear.

[32:31] The piercing thought. What. If my name. Should be left out. When thou. For them. Shall call.

[32:44] Oh. Dear friend. Does that. Echo. In your heart. I remember. Many years ago. In Manningford Chapel.

[32:55] When Rex Pocock. Gave that hymn out. When I was. When I was. Only a lad. And. I remember. The. Brokenness.

[33:05] And contrition. Of heart. That I felt. That night. I love. To meet. Among them. Now. That. Can I bear. A piercing thought.

[33:16] What if my name. Shall be left out. And then this. Lovely verse. Prevent. Prevent it. By thy grace. Be thou. Dear Lord. My hiding place.

[33:27] And this. The accepted hour. Thy. Pardoning voice. Oh. Let me hear. To still. My unbelieving fear. Nor let me fall.

[33:37] I pray. And the. Concluding verse. Let me. Among thy saints. Be found. Whene'er. The ark.

[33:47] Angels trump. Your sound. To. See thy. Smiling face. Then. Loudest. Of the crowd.

[33:58] I'll sing. While. Heaven's. Resounding. Mansions. Ring. With shouts. Of sovereign grace. What. Are these. Wounds.

[34:08] In thy hands. Oh. Dear friends. Was it. For sins. That I had done. The saviour. Shed his blood.

[34:19] What. Evidence. Have I got. In my soul. Can I. Sing. That lovely hymn. Jesus. Thy blood. God. And righteousness.

[34:32] My. Beauty. Are my. Glorious. Rest. It is the. Rebels. That are brought there. It is.

[34:44] Sinners. That come there. Sinners. Can say. None. But thy. How precious. Is the saviour. Is the words. Of Christ.

[34:55] The sick. Need a physician. Where do you stand. Dear Anne Steele. As she ventured. To the throne. Said this. My God.

[35:06] My father. Blissful name. Oh. May I call thee mine. May I. With sweet assurance. Claim a portion. So divine. A diary.

[35:19] Exists. Of one of her nieces. Which gives. The scene. Of her dying bed. And her last words. And it beautifully.

[35:32] Reveals. Her dying utterance. Was. I know. That my redeemer lives. Oh. To be brought there. To find that.

[35:43] Blessed. Rest. In Christ. And to know. That. We are numbered. Amongst those. That are spoken of here. In our text tonight.

[35:54] That we have an interest. And a knowledge. Of the answer. To this question. What. Are these wounds.

[36:05] In thy hand. Who is this. That cometh from Bosra. From Eden. With dyed garments. From Bosra. Who is this. Do we know him. Is he our redeemer.

[36:17] Is he our God. Is he. Our saviour. Have we. Any evidence. Amen.