Christ in Zechariah -- The Branch Out of Jesse

Zechariah was a prophet who worked alongside the prophet Haggai.  They both came out of the Babylonian captivity to rebuild Jerusalem.  As we studied Haggai last week, we learned that he wrote his prophesy in 520 B.C.  Zechariah wrote between 520 and 470 B.C.  His book is a compilation of several visions and prophecies he was given over a long period of time, in contrast to Haggai’s book of four messages given on three very specific dates within a period of only three months.  Both these prophets were sent to encourage and comfort the people as they came out of captivity into the rubble and devastation that had once been the beautiful city of Jerusalem.

The first purpose of Zechariah’s book was to encourage the Jewish people in the short term as they rebuilt the temple and eventually then entire city of Jerusalem.  Although God had used Babylon to judge His people for their disobedience, He never has and never will give up on them.  He used Zechariah to reassure them that He was still their God, that He still loved them, and that He would be merciful toward them and help them to rebuild His temple, their city and, eventually, their nation.

‘Therefore thus says the Lord:  “I am returning to Jerusalem with mercy; My house shall be built in it,” says the Lord of hosts, “And a surveyor’s line shall be stretched out over Jerusalem.”’  “Again proclaim, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts: “My cities shall again spread out through prosperity; The Lord will again comfort Zion, and will again choose Jerusalem.”’ (Zechariah 1:16-17)

He also encouraged the people by once again promising The Messiah.  Even though Israel no longer had a king, but was ruled by a governor appointed by a foreign power, God’s promise of a Coming King of Israel was still good.  Zechariah reminded God’s people that, before their captivity, Isaiah had spoken of a “Branch” that would come out of Jesse, through the royal line of David, and that Jeremiah had told them about the “righteous Branch.”

There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots. The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord. (Isaiah 11:1-2)

“Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord, “That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; a King shall reign and prosper, and execute judgment and righteousness in the earth. In His days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell safely; now this is His name by which He will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. (Jeremiah 23:5-6)

Hear, O Joshua, the high priest, you and your companions who sit before you, for they are a wondrous sign; for behold, I am bringing forth My Servant the BRANCH. (Zechariah 3:8)

Then speak to him, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, saying: “Behold, the Man whose name is the BRANCH! From His place He shall branch out, and He shall build the temple of the Lord; yes, He shall build the temple of the Lord. He shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule on His throne; so He shall be a priest on His throne, and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.”’ (Zechariah 6:12-13)

The second purpose of the book was to encourage us today!  We can be encouraged as we look back on history, seeing how much of Zechariah’s prophecy has already been fulfilled, specifically prophecies concerning the first coming of Jesus Christ:

Zechariah told us about the humility of Jesus and about His entrance into the city of Jerusalem, just before His crucifixion.

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, lowly and riding on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey. (Zechariah 9:9)

Now when they drew near Jerusalem, and came to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Loose them and bring them to Me. And if anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord has need of them,’ and immediately he will send them.” . . . So the disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them. They brought the donkey and the colt, laid their clothes on them, and set Him on them. (Matthew 21:1-3, 6-7)

Zechariah told us that Jesus would be betrayed.  Read how many details of the betrayal by Judas are recorded here, some 640 years in advance of the events:  Judas making a deal with the priests about the price he would be paid; the amount settled upon (thirty pieces of silver was the price of a slave who had been pierced in his side by an ox); the return of the wages by Judas; the money used to purchase the potter’s field (the potter was considered a lowly laborer).

Then I said to them, “If it is agreeable to you, give me my wages; and if not, refrain.” So they weighed out for my wages thirty pieces of silver. And the Lord said to me, “Throw it to the potter”—that princely price they set on me. So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them into the house of the Lord for the potter. (Zechariah 11:12-13)

Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver Him to you?” And they counted out to him thirty pieces of silver. (Matthew 26:14-15)

Then Judas, His betrayer, seeing that He had been condemned, was remorseful and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.”. . . Then he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed, and went and hanged himself.  But the chief priests took the silver pieces and said, “It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, because they are the price of blood.” And they consulted together and bought with them the potter’s field where strangers would be buried. (Matthew 27:3-4a, 5-7)

Zechariah told us about a Fountain of Salvation that would be for Jew and Gentile, rich and poor.  It is a Fountain that cleanses the defilement or pollution that is the result of sin.

In that day a fountain shall be opened for the house of David and for the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for uncleanness. (Zechariah 13:1)

But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. (1 John 1:7)

And He said to me, “It is done!  I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. (Revelation 21:6)

Zechariah told us that The Shepherd, the only Son of God, would be killed, pierced by a sword.  When Christ was crucified, many in Jerusalem mourned when they realized that they had called for the death of Messiah.  When He returns, all those who have rejected Him will mourn because of their sin and because it will be too late for them to escape His punishment.

And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn. In that day there shall be a great mourning in Jerusalem. (Zechariah 12:10-11a)

But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out. And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you may believe. For these things were done that the Scripture should be fulfilled, “Not one of His bones shall be broken.” And again another Scripture says, “They shall look on Him whom they pierced.” (John 19:34-37)

Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen. (Revelation 1:7)

“Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: . . . And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” (Matthew 25:41, 46)

Zechariah had a lot to say about the second coming of Christ.  As a matter of fact, some people call Zechariah “The Revelation of the Old Testament.”

He told us that Israel would be regathered to the Land of Promise, and he told us about the coming tribulation:

“Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of drunkenness to all the surrounding peoples, when they lay siege against Judah and Jerusalem. And it shall happen in that day that I will make Jerusalem a very heavy stone for all peoples; all who would heave it away will surely be cut in pieces, though all nations of the earth are gathered against it. (Zechariah 12:2-3)

Jerusalem shall be inhabited again in her own place—Jerusalem. (Zechariah 12:6b)

In that day the Lord will defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; the one who is feeble among them in that day shall be like David, and the house of David shall be like God, like the Angel of the Lord before them. It shall be in that day that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. (Zechariah 12:8-9)

And finally, in the last chapter of his book, Zechariah tells us about the battle of Armageddon and The Coming King, Jesus, who will end the bloody war and rule His kingdom in peace from His throne in Jerusalem.

Behold, the day of the Lord is coming, (Zechariah 14:1a)

Then the Lord will go forth and fight against those nations, as He fights in the day of battle. And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which faces Jerusalem on the east. (Zechariah 14:3-4a)

And the Lord shall be King over all the earth. In that day it shall be—“The Lord is one,” and His name one. (Zechariah 14:9)

As I reflect on what Zechariah wrote, and as I anticipate the day Jesus comes again, I pray that I have heard what God is saying to me.  I pray that when I am reprimanded for my sin I will learn from His judgment.  I pray that you and I will be refined by His testing during times of difficulty.  I pray that all through the day, every day I will call on Him for His help and guidance.  I pray that when my life is over, He will call me His faithful servant.  My prayer for you and for me this week is based on Zechariah 13:9 --

I will bring the one–third through the fire,
Will 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, ‘This is My people’;
And each one will say, ‘The Lord is my God.

All scripture references are from the New King James Version.