By the Blood
By the Blood
Zechariah 9:9-13 “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.” 10 “And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem, and the battle bow shall be cut off: and he shall speak peace unto the heathen: and his dominion shall be from sea even to sea, and from the river even to the ends of the earth.” 11 “As for thee also, by the blood of thy covenant I have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit wherein is no water.” 12 “Turn you to the strong hold, ye prisoners of hope: even to day do I declare that I will render double unto thee;” 13 “When I have bent Judah for me, filled the bow with Ephraim, and raised up thy sons, O Zion, against thy sons, O Greece, and made thee as the sword of a mighty man.”
Intro:
The battle bow shall be cut off: Zec 9:9 belongs to the first coming of Jesus, but Zec 9:10 belongs to the Second Coming of Jesus, when He comes in power and glory to reign over this earth for 1,000 years. In that day there will be an enforced righteousness, and He will no longer allow war (Isa 2:4).
Because of the blood of your covenant: This is probably God acting towards Israel in light of the blood of the Covenant of Moses (Exo 24:1-8).
· In the previous verse (Exo 24:3), Israel verbally agreed to a covenant-relationship with God;
1) First, the word of God must be written.
2) Second, covenant is only made in the context of sacrifice. Sacrifice admits our own sin and failing before God, and addressing that need through the death of a substitute.
3) Third, covenant is made when God’s word is heard and responded to. Our covenant with God is based on His words, His terms, not our own words and terms.
4) Fourth, covenant is made with the application of blood ( upon the people). As the nation “received” the blood of the covenant, the covenant was sealed.
As Israel turns to God, He will turn to them and rescue them as if they were trapped in a dry cistern (I will set your prisoners free from the waterless pit... water represents the word Eph 5:26).
Ephesians 2:13 “But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.”
· Many people suggest different ways to come near to God. Some think you can come by keeping the law, or by belonging to a group (such as Israel or even the church). But the only way to be brought near to God is by the blood of Christ. What Jesus did on the cross, suffering as a guilty sinner in the place of guilty sinners, brings us near to God.
· Isaiah 11:10 “And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.”
· Acts 26:18 “To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.”
Hebrews 9:12 “Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.”
· The blood of goats and calves was sufficient for a temporary covering of sin; but only a perfect sacrifice could obtain eternal redemption. Jesus’ sacrifice was superior in that it was perfect, voluntary, rational, and motivated by love.
· Hebrews 9:13-14 “For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:” 14 “How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?“
· 1st Peter 1:19 “But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:”
Hebrews 10:19 “Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,”
· We can have boldness because we enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus. If we entered as the Old Testament high priest did, with the blood of animals, we wouldn’t have boldness. But with the blood of Jesus providing a new and living way which He consecrated with us, we really can come into the presence of God with boldness.
· Ephesians 3:12 “In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.”
· Hebrews 4:16 “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”
Revelation 12:11 “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
· Romans 16:20 “And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.”
· 1st John 4:4 “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.“