Resources/Articles
Christ Centerism
“Christ Centerism” is not just another “ism” along with Humanism, Modernism, or Postmodernism. “Christ Centerism” means Christ is the focal point of enabling us to know about God, Holy Spirit, redemption, spirituality, and hope. Christ helps us best understand the worldview of life. He is at the center.
Zechariah is one of the most Christ-centered books of the Old Testament. This book speaks of Christ’s humanity (6:12), His humility and His entrance into Jerusalem (9:9), His betrayal (11:12), His deity (12:8), His crucifixion (12:10), and being forsaken by His disciples (13:7).
One especially meaningful passage is Zechariah 12:10, which says, “Then they will look on Me whom they pierced.” The piercing refers to the Jews’ historic rejection of Jesus as Messiah, resulting in His crucifixion. Some believe this refers to a future generation of Jews who will recognize Jesus at the second coming as the crucified one and accept Him as their new Messiah and turn to Him in faith.
The reference in Zechariah 12:10 does not fit the second coming of Christ. This passage bears the markings of fulfillment in John 19:37. The Jews who blasphemed, mocked, and rejected God the Father did the same thing to His Son Jesus. Because of what they had done to Christ in crucifying Him, there would be a great mourning by the Jews. Their guilt would be intensified by the preaching of the apostles in Acts 2:36.: “Let all the house of Israel therefore know assuredly, that God hath made Him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom ye crucified.”
The Christ, who became the center of their redemption, the Jews had slain. The Lord needed to raise them from the dead (Ephesians 2:1-2) and be made the center of who they were called to be - “And will be to you a Father, and ye shall be as sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty” (2 Corinthians 6:18). Making Christ the center of life is what Paul, a Jew, showed other Jews all men should do. Paul used the crucifixion of Christ as the parallel to what he did in order to make Christ the center of his life. He stated in Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I that live, but Christ liveth in me: and that life which I now live in the flesh I live in faith, the faith which is in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” This all Jews must do. This is what every man must do. Make Christ the center and stop following other “isms.”
