12:10 spirit of grace and pleas for mercy. This describes God’s gracious Spirit who produces humility in God’s people. The Old Testament prophets emphasize that God’s renewal of the covenant (Jer. 31:31–33) entailed renewal through His Spirit (Is. 59:21; Ezek. 36:26, 27; 39:29; Joel 2:28, 29).

look on me . . . whom they have pierced. Probably this means “look to the Messiah as the source of salvation.” Many passages in John’s Gospel speak of faith in terms of “seeing” (cf. John 6:40). The one looked upon in faith is none other than God Himself, who is pierced in the Person of His incarnate Son, the Messiah (John 1:14 and note; 19:37).