The One Pierced

In Zechariah, God speaks of a future time when the people will look upon “Me whom they have pierced,” linking divine identity with the pierced figure. This theme is later connected directly to Jesus Christ in the Gospel accounts of the crucifixion and echoed again in Revelation, where He is seen as the One who was pierced and yet comes in glory.

God: On that day, declares the LORD, I will strike every horse with panic, and every rider with madness. I will keep a watchful eye on the house of Judah, but I will strike with blindness all the horses of the nations.‍ Then the leaders of Judah will say in their hearts: “The people of Jerusalem are my strength, for the LORD of Hosts is their God.’ ‍On that day the LORD will defend the people of Jerusalem, so that the weakest among them will be like David, and the house of David will be like God, like the angel of the LORD going before them. So on that day I will set out to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. Then I will pour out on the house of David and on the people of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and prayer, and they will look on Me, the One they have pierced. They will mourn for Him as one mourns for an only child and grieve bitterly for Him as one grieves for a firstborn son.   (Zech. 12:4-10)

Many Christian interpreters see a distinction in the divine identity of who is speaking in the entire passage of (Zech. 12). There are different views here: 1) It is all the LORD speaking in first person, and “the LORD” in third person is still the same God referred to in narrative style, no distinction of persons in God—just shifts in literary style. 2) The Trinitarian view is that the first person speaking. “I” and “Me” is taken as a direct divine self-reference that finds fulfillment in Christ.

Jesus: But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. (Isa. 53:5)

Jesus: But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. Instead, one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water flowed out. And, as another Scripture says: “They will look on the One they have pierced." (John 19:33-34, and 37) This is the revelation of Jesus Christ, Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him—even those who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. So shall it be!  Amen.  (Rev. 1:1, 7)

The One Pierced is a title that brings together prophecy, fulfillment and revelation across scripture. It explores both the physical suffering of the cross and how the Messiah’s wounds bring redemption.