ZECHARIAH 13:7

“‘Awake, sword, against My Shepherd, and against the Man, My Associate,’ declares the LORD of armies. ‘Strike the Shepherd and the sheep will be scattered; and I will turn My hand against the little ones.’”

When I was a boy, there was a television program called To Tell The Truth. On this program, three contestants were presented to a guest panel of four people. All three contestants said they were the same person. Only one was the real person. Questions were asked and finally one was asked to “tell the truth.”

Why am I describing this program? Because in today’s verse we have a “Shepherd” that is not identified. The Lord, through Zechariah, does not come right out and say the person’s name. However, because we have other evidence, we can point out this person’s identity. This Shepherd is none other than God’s only Son, Jesus. He was the one struck. It was His sheep that were scattered. Jesus fulfilled this prophecy through His death on that cruel cross.

APPLICATION

So, how do we apply this verse to our lives today? Can people identify you as a follower of Christ? How do people know what you believe. The Word, Jesus, tells us in John 13:34-35, “‘34 I am giving you a new commandment, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are My disciples: if you have love for one another.’” Don’t you want to be identified with the Shepherd?

Too many believers hold their faith so close to their chest that no one would know they are a child of the King. We need to be shouting it from the rooftops. What is stopping you from being more bold in your witness? Just think of what He did for us. He underwent all the suffering of the cross to rescue us. The least we can do is stand up for Him.

Now, I must warn you. When you do that, we run the risk of being persecuted, just as is described in today’s verse. It says His sheep were scattered. The world will not like the fact that we are identifying with Christ. We can identify with anyone else or with any other group and we will be just fine. But the moment we identify with Jesus, watch for the fiery darts of the evil one to come our way. That’s okay, though. Why? Because any suffering we may endure gives glory to Him. Amen? Amen!

I know I am a sheep of the Shepherd who was pierced for my transgressions. Thank You, Lord.