Zechariah 13:7, "Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the LORD of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones."  

Jesus paid the penalty for our sins on the cross of Calvary.  This prophetic utterance by the LORD God concerns the payment Jesus would make for us.  The sword is a symbol of judgment and as we all know Jesus Christ is the Shepherd. God and Christ are One, and function as partners (notice the phrase "my fellow" in the text). The Trinity is indeed a tri-unity. One God manifested in three persons.   

Jesus quoted the text found in Zechariah in Mark 14:27, "And Jesus saith unto them, 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."  

I'm glad for the Word of God and the many prophecies which point to our Savior and His death on the cross.  1 Peter 2:24-25 makes it clear, "Who his own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. For ye were as sheep going astray, but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls." What Satan intended was to destroy Jesus, God used His death to pay the penalty for our sins.

Your Friend and HIS,

Pastor Abbott

MEDITATIONS

1. Is it possible for you to pay for your own redemption? Explain.

2. How do prophecies concerning Jesus strengthen your faith?

3. How are you impacted whenever you consider the fact that Jesus bore your sins on the cross?