The Wounded God Who Opens the Fountain

Zechariah 12:8–10; 13:1

Sometimes we hide from grief, afraid it will swallow us whole. But in Zechariah’s prophecy, we encounter a grief so deep it leads to healing. God promises that a day is coming when His people will look upon “him whom they have pierced”—and mourn.
It’s a strange and holy sorrow. They recognize that the One they wounded is not merely a man, but God’s chosen. And then, from the very place of that wounding, a miracle: “On that day there shall be a fountain opened… to cleanse them from sin and uncleanness.”
This is a window into the cross. Long before Jesus was born, God foretold that His people would wound Him—and He would respond not with revenge, but with redemption. Mourning leads to mercy. Death leads to life. The pierced One becomes the cleansing fountain.

Application
We tend to resist grief, especially the grief of facing our own sin. But Zechariah invites us not to wallow in guilt, but to weep toward grace. Have you looked upon Jesus and wept—not just with shame, but with awe? His wounds are not for condemnation, but for cleansing.
In your vocation—whether student, parent, worker, or friend—this means we stop pretending we’re fine. We live as people washed by the fountain of Christ, able to admit our need, our wrongs, our wounds. That humility makes space for deep compassion. Only the forgiven can forgive freely.

Transform Our Heart Through Prayer
Pierced Savior, we look upon you and mourn—yet not without hope. Thank you for opening a fountain of mercy in the place of our greatest failure. Cleanse us, soften us, and let our grief lead to grace. Let our lives be marked by the joy of those washed clean.
 Amen.