Welcome back. You all feel like old friends. I don’t know your faces, may never even know your names, but I want you to know how much I appreciate the time you’ve spent on this journey with me. We still have two days in the Old Testament. Today, we read Zechariah 10–14.
These chapters are rich in messianic prophecy and end-times imagery. The way Jesus fulfilled the prophecies of this book gives us confidence that Zechariah was truly a prophet of God—and that we can trust the promises still to come.
What Is the Value
For me, all of this led to one basic question: What is the value of our relationship with Jesus?
I’ve shared before that the first time I watched The Passion of the Christ, I was working in Chicago. I was alone—my family was still in Tucson—and as I watched the torment and suffering Jesus endured; it crushed me (Zechariah 12:9–10). At night, I would wake up because I could hear the hammers hitting the nails. Every time I sinned, I heard those hammers echoing in my mind.
We can’t—and should never—attempt to put Jesus back on the cross. He paid the price once and for all (Heb 10:10). When He died, He said, “It is finished” (John 19:30), and it was. He had no sins to atone for. He was paying for ours.
It is over. But we must never forget what those “little white lies” or petty mistakes cost our Savior.
The Wall We Build
Before we even count the cost Jesus paid, we must realize what it would have cost us. Then, we need to understand that when we sin, we put a wall between us and Jesus. He cannot dwell in the trash heap of a heart that clings to sin.
I’m not saying we can lose our salvation. But we can lose fellowship. We still have heaven—but out here in the world, where we need Him daily, He may feel distant. Not because of any weakness in Him, but because of our love of sin.
Destined for Slaughter
We read we were sheep destined for slaughter (Zechariah 11:4). When we hold on to sin, we risk losing His favor (Zechariah 11:7). The problem is we do this so casually. Each sin should break our hearts.
In Zechariah 11:12–14, we’re reminded that they betrayed and sold Jesus for thirty pieces of silver—the price the Pharisees paid Judas to turn Him over (Matthew 26:15). But we must remember: it cost Jesus everything, and He paid it:
“No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord.” — John 10:18
That was why He came the first time.
Night into Day
And He is coming back.
He will be the light that turns our night into day (Zechariah 14:7, Revelation 21:23). He will save His people from the wrath to come (Zechariah 12:7). But for those who are not His, it will be more horrific than we can imagine (Zechariah 14:12).
When it’s over, every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord (Zechariah 14:9–10, Philippians 2:10). There will be no spiritually impure left standing (Zechariah 14:21).
The Time Is Short
This is not a fate I would wish on the worst people in our world. We must all realize how short the time is.
We must be diligent in reaching everyone with the gospel—before it’s too late.
Tomorrow, we will read Malachi.
Footnote
The Passion of the Christ. Directed by Mel Gibson. Icon Productions, 2004. Distributed by Newmarket Films.
BibleHub. “Zechariah 11:14 Commentaries.” BibleHub. Accessed September 19, 2025. https://biblehub.com/commentaries/zechariah/11-14.htm
Christianity Path. “Zechariah 11:14 Meaning & Explanation.” Christianity Path. Accessed September 19, 2025. https://christianitypath.com/zechariah-11-14/