Why is the smiting of the shepherd essential for salvation?
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The smiting of the shepherd, Jesus, is essential because it fulfills God's justice and secures salvation for His people.
The smiting of the shepherd is central to the Christian understanding of redemption because it satisfies the demands of God's holy law where sin must be punished. According to Zechariah 13:7, God's justice required a sacrifice, and it was against His shepherd that this sacrificial act must occur. This highlights the dual purpose of Christ's death: to honor God by fulfilling His justice and to provide salvation for His people. Without this sacrificial atonement, there would be no reconciliation between God and sinners, making the smiting of the shepherd not just crucial but indispensable for the salvation of all who believe.
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