Reading

• Zech. 1:7-6:15

Devotional

Two months after Haggai’s last prophecy, Zechariah is shown eight visions in a row concerning future events. These visions are similar in nature to those seen by Ezekiel and Daniel in recent years. The consistent message in these visions is assurance from GOD. In the first vision, GOD is assuring Zechariah that He will bless Jerusalem and return prosperity to it. The second vision assures Israel that its oppressors will be punished. The third vision assured Israel that GOD will live among them and be with them.

The fourth vision concerns Jesus, referred to in the vision as “the Branch.” Consider what the Bible says about it:

¹ Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the Angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to oppose him. ² And the LORD said to Satan, “The LORD rebuke you, Satan! The LORD who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is this not a brand plucked from the fire?” ³ Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and was standing before the Angel. ⁴ Then He answered and spoke to those who stood before Him, saying, “Take away the filthy garments from him.” And to him He said, “See, I have removed your iniquity from you, and I will clothe you with rich robes.”

⁵ And I said, “Let them put a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head, and they put the clothes on him. And the Angel of the LORD stood by. ⁶ Then the Angel of the LORD admonished Joshua, saying, ⁷ “Thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘If you will walk in My ways, And if you will keep My command, Then you shall also judge My house, And likewise have charge of My courts; I will give you places to walk Among these who stand here.

⁸ ‘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. ⁹ For behold, the stone That I have laid before Joshua: Upon the stone are seven eyes. Behold, I will engrave its inscription,’ Says the LORD of hosts, ‘And I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day. ¹⁰ In that day,’ says the LORD of hosts, ‘Everyone will invite his neighbor Under his vine and under his fig tree.’”
(Zech. 3:1-10 NKJV)

Jesus would remove the sins of Israel (and the whole world) in one day, for those who are GOD’s children that is. By Jesus’ death it would allow GOD’s children to exchange their filthy sin-stained clothes for rich robes, just as Joshua the high priest did in this vision. Praise GOD for this beautiful picture!

Vision five assured the people that GOD will complete the construction of His temple through His two anointed ones, Zerubbabel and Joshua. The sixth vision assured all that wickedness will be punished. The seventh vision assures us that the wicked nations will be punished. And the eighth vision assures us that GOD will give His people rest at last.

After these things Zechariah is told to make a silver and gold crown and place it upon the head of Joshua, the high priest. These events symbolize the fact that Jesus would ultimately be both high priest and king. GOD told Zechariah to tell Joshua:

¹² Tell him this is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘Here is the man whose name is the Branch, and he will branch out from his place and build the temple of the LORD. ¹³ It is he who will build the temple of the LORD, and he will be clothed with majesty and will sit and rule on his throne. And he will be a priest on his throne. And there will be harmony between the two.’ ¹⁴ The crown will be given to Heldai, Tobijah, Jedaiah and Hen son of Zephaniah as a memorial in the temple of the LORD. ¹⁵ Those who are far away will come and help to build the temple of the LORD, and you will know that the LORD Almighty has sent me to you. This will happen if you diligently obey the LORD your God.”
(Zech. 6:12-15 NIV)

Remember that, according to the Law of Moses, priests could only come from the tribe of Levi, and GOD promised David that he would have an heir sit upon the throne always. David was of the tribe of Judah. Jesus would come from the tribe of Judah and would ultimately become our high priest, not according to the Law of Moses, but a new priesthood according to a new covenant.

In the New Testament—under the new covenant—we are told that Christians are the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 3:16; 6:19), and that we are living stones—each of us stacked upon one another, built upon Jesus the Chief Cornerstone—into the holy house of GOD (1 Pet. 2:4-10). Rejoice in the wonderful promises of GOD and that He has brought these things to pass!