The Dawn of Redeeming Grace (Zechariah 12:1 – 13:1)

Our text from Zechariah on the fourth Sunday of Advent builds on the picture of restoration and hope we saw in Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Amos. Like all the prophets before him, Zechariah saw a day that was coming when God would return to Jerusalem, rebuild David’s house, restore his people, and deal with their sin. If we want to understand Christmas we must understand the prophets, because it is in these texts we find the promises Jesus came to fulfill, the story of Israel he came to complete, and the hope for a weary world in sin and error pining. In this sermon, pastor Mitch helps us realize that the day of hope, which that the prophets envisioned and Israel longed for, has dawned with the advent of Jesus and the establishment of his church, the Israel of God.