The Old Testament people of God knew all about ritual washings. The priests were required to wash themselves before entering the Tabernacle or Temple (Exodus 30:17-21), and that’s why a large bronze laver or sea was located just outside the entrance. But Zechariah saw something much better in his vision: a fountain opened up for the purifying not just of the priests, but of the house of David as well as for all the people of Jerusalem, a fountain that would cleanse them of sin (Zechariah 13:1).

Of course, we know this prophecy was fulfilled in Christ. As Jesus said, “If any man is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being shall flow rivers of living water” (John 7:37-38).

But everyone who saw Jesus’ miracles and who heard His gracious words didn’t believe that He was the long-awaited Messiah. That’s why the religious leaders of the day sent an armed mob to seize Him. But Zechariah also foretold their bitter opposition, in words that Jesus Himself quoted at the time of His arrest: “Awake, O sword, against My Shepherd, And against the man, My Associate,” declares the LORD of hosts. “Strike the Shepherd that the sheep may be scattered” (Zechariah 13:7; Matthew 26:31).

And so we see that the Person and Work of Christ still divides people. Some will deny Him, and thus will be cut off and perish (Zechariah 13:8). On the other hand, those who trust in Him will have the great blessing of having God answer us whenever we call on His name (Zechariah 13:9), the blessing of being filled with the cleansing, renewing rivers of living water.

But if we are to have such a close relationship with Jesus, that means we’ll have to endure the same sort of opposition that He faced, being refined by persecution just as silver or gold is refined in a fire (Zechariah 13:9). For how can we possibly claim to be the people of God, unless we follow Him wherever He goes – even to the cross?

Zechariah 13:7-9 (NASB)

7 “Awake, O sword, against My Shepherd, And against the man, My Associate,” Declares the LORD of hosts. “Strike the Shepherd that the sheep may be scattered; And I will turn My hand against the little ones.
8 “And it will come about in all the land,” Declares the LORD, “That two parts in it will be cut off and perish; But the third will be left in it.
9 “And I will bring the third part through the fire, Refine them as silver is refined, And test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, And I will answer them; I will say, ‘They are My people,’ And they will say, ‘The LORD is my God.'”