Fountain Of Cleansing

Fountain of Cleansing

Throughout the book of Zechariah, God says over and over and in a variety of ways that he is going to do something good for Jerusalem. In chapter 13, he made what is, perhaps, the most important promise of all: “On that day a fountain will be opened for the dynasty of David and for the people of Jerusalem, a fountain to cleanse them from all their sins and impurity” (Zechariah 13:1).

The prophet Zechariah promised that at some future time, a fountain would be opened that would take away their sin and guilt. In other words, Zechariah was telling them that while the animal sacrifices expressed faith in God’s promise to provide cleansing from sin, the day was coming when that fountain of cleansing would flow freely and abundantly, and the animal sacrifices would no longer be needed.

The writer to the Hebrews explained this fountain and our need for it:

The sacrifices under that system were repeated again and again, year after year, but they were never able to provide perfect cleansing for those who came to worship. If they could have provided perfect cleansing, the sacrifices would have stopped, for the worshipers would have been purified once for all time, and their feelings of guilt would have disappeared.

But instead, those sacrifices actually reminded them of their sins year after year. For it is not possible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. . . . Our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water. (Hebrews 10:1-4, 22)

For anyone to be saved from sin, a fountain of cleansing would have to be opened up. This fountain would not be the neck of a spotless lamb, but the pierced side of the Son of God. Some people resist and refuse this fountain, but it is the only way to be cleansed from the sin that stains our thoughts and motives and deeds.

O Fountain of cleansing, how I need to be washed by you, to be cleansed from the contamination and condemnation of my sin. I see the cost of this fountain that flows from your wounded side, and I worship you.