Zechariah Thirteen pictures a cleansing fountain opened for sin and uncleanness. This is another look toward the days of the Messiah. "In that day" refers to the time when, "they shall look upon me whom they have pierced." (Zechariah 12:9-10) The Lord had set before the people coming judgment. Now He gives hope as He described a fountain that is opened for sin and uncleanness. It is not just a little drip that might cleanse a few but rather "a fountain" suggesting an abundant forgiveness for all who are willing to receive it. The fountain is filled with the blood of Emmanuel. Forgiveness of sins is tied directly to the piercing of our Lord Jesus Christ. No sin is to evil to be forgiven. Paul wrote, "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God." (1 Corinthians 6:9-11)

          Not only did Zechariah predict the coming of a fountain opened for sin but he predicted the ending of some things. First, in that day when the fountain was opened for sin Zechariah said that God would get rid of their idols from the land. Where is Molech worshiped today? Where is Baal worshiped today? Where is Asherah worshiped today? He promised that these idols would be forgotten. Second, God also promised the prophets would cease out of the land. Prophets had a part in the establishing of the church. (Ephesians 2:20) There were also false prophets. (1 John 4:1) The false prophets must be identified as such and dealt with even by their own parents. Third, he predicted that unclean spirits would pass out of the land. This should be an eye opener to those that claim demon possession today. Both the unclean spirits and the prophets would be removed from the land when the fountain was opened for cleansing from sin. Today the false prophets are unable to deceive anyone who is willing to compare their words to the teachings of the Bible.

          Jehovah called the Shepherd His fellow or His equal. Jesus was fellow Jehovah. The sword would awaken against Him. The "Shepherd" is a clear reference to Jesus. The prophecy said, "Smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered." Jesus applied this prophecy to Himself and His disciples. (Matthew 26:30-35) All the disciples forsook Jesus and fled when He was arrested in the garden. (Matthew 26:56) Zechariah thirteen closed with a picture of God's judgment. Many would turn away from God but some would stand the test and remain faithful. "Then I will purify them and put them to the test, just as gold and silver are purified and tested. They will pray in my name, and I will answer them. I will say, "You are my people," and they will reply, "You, LORD, are our God!" When we build our lives upon the solid Rock of Ages, Jesus the Christ we will be victorious.

          A fountain opened for sin and uncleanness -- Zechariah 13:1: God promised that a fountain would be opened where people can wash away their sin and guilt. Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. (John 1:29) His death on the cross was the means by which salvation was accomplished. (Hebrews 2:9) John wrote of Jesus, "And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin." (1 John 3:5) "In that day" God's grace was shown in a most vivid way. This fountain is the only source of "Living water." (John 4:10) There is enough power in this fountain to cleanse the ugliest sin and the worst sinner. Whoever is willing may come for cleansing. (Revelation 22:17) This great prophecy predicts that great fountain "filled with blood, drawn from Emanuel's veins." This blood makes it possible for us to be saved from sin and its consequences.

       Idols, prophets and evil spirits cut of -- Zechariah 13:2-3: In that day when the fountain was opened idols and their worship was forgotten. "For I will take away the names of Baalim out of her mouth, and they shall no more be remembered by their name." (Hosea 2:17) After captivity in Babylon the Jews were very much opposed to idolatry. One of the main purposes of Christianity was 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." (Acts 26:18) In that day prophesies would end and evil spirits cease. When the fountain was opened God silenced the prophets, both false and true. It would no longer be the case that false prophets would be tolerated. God has always hated teachings that would draw men away from His truth. Evil spirits ceased in that day also. "When the need for miracles ceased to exist there was no longer any occasion for the people to be afflicted with devils."

          Wounded in the house of my friends -- Zechariah 13:4-6: The false prophets dressed like and acted like true prophets. However, when they were made known they laid aside their religious hypocrisy and admitted the truth that they were not true prophets. They said, "I am no prophet, I am an husbandman; for man taught me to keep cattle from my youth." They had never been called by God to the office of prophet. Amos said, "I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet's son; but I was an herdman, and a gatherer of sycomore fruit." But then he said, "The LORD took me as I followed the flock, and the LORD said unto me, Go, prophesy unto my people Israel." (Amos 7:14-15) These false prophets had never had such a call from God. They were asked, "What are these wounds in thine hands?" Their answer was, "Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends." Their friends gave them these wounds or beat some sense into them so they would stop calming to be a prophet when they knew better. Even though Jesus was wounded in the hands I doubt that these words could apply to Him. He was not wounded in the house of His friends, yet He was betrayed by His friend, Judas. Also these words are never applied to Jesus in The New Testament.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Awake, O sword, against my shepherd -- Zechariah 13:7-9: Zechariah wrote, "Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the LORD of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones." (Zechariah 13:7) Jesus quoted this saying and applied it to Himself as He was smitten and His disciples scattered. "Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad." (Matthew 26:31) Jesus had made His soul an offering for sin. Therefore the sword of justice or the sword of punishment against sin would come upon Him. Isaiah wrote, "Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted." (Isaiah 53:4) Jesus was fellow Jehovah and He was willing to lay down His life for the sheep. (John 10:15)  God "spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all..." (Romans 8:32) When the Shepherd was smitten the disciples were scattered. Jesus said to them, "ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone..." (John 16:32) The destruction of two-thirds of the Jews has reference to the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans in AD 70. Sadly, more people will reject Christ than will accept Him. The destruction of Jerusalem and Temple took away Judaism forever. Before that time the Hebrew writer had written, "In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away." (Hebrews 8:13) The faith of the Christians was tried and the "the one-third" or small part endured faithfully. (1 Peter 1:6-7) These faithful ones trusted God and prayed to Him. As a result God promised, "And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God." (Zechariah 13:9) This is a beautiful picture of the purifying of a peculiar people to God.