Profiles Of Jesus In The Book Of Zecharia: Part 3
by David T. Battler
God’s Great Mercy
“Zecharia”, in Hebrew, means: “Yahweh remembers.” God remembers. His people were in exile for 70 years, (1:12), and God remembered them, as He promised, with mercy. (1:13, 16).
It is exciting to see in an Old Testament book, the same wonderful profiles of Jesus, as what you would see in a New Testament book.
The book of Zecharia contains a lot of prophetic allusions to the person, work, and future glory of Jesus Christ - it is all wrapped in symbolic and figurative language. A survey of all the minor prophets reveals that Zecharia has more to say on Christ than any other of the “minor prophets.” Important Messianic Predictions in this book are as follows:
1) The Branch: chapt. 3 & 6, (compare Isa.4:2, Jer.23:5)
2) Christ As King-Priest: 6:13
3) Christ’s Triumphant Entry Into Jerusalem and His Coming Glory: 9:9-10
4) Christ As Shepherd Betrayed: 11:12-13
5) Christ Crucified: 12:10
6) The Sufferings Of Christ: 13:7
7) The Second Coming Of Christ: chapter 14
God’s theme of “Return to Me,” (1:3), obviously took the priority in Zecharia’s ministry.
Can you see how God would want to restore His covenant relationship with His children, before He went ahead with the restoration of Jerusalem and the temple? Well, OK. So you see that. You’re well on your way to being a great theologian; but what about NOW? What would this have to do with us NOW?
I know that many of us struggle with being mistreated in various ways, within the church, as well as without. When I am mistreated, I will often hold a great grudge, or develop an enormous chip on the shoulder! I will often act defensively, and in some cases, even go on the attack, because “I have a right to.” And, after I have done my dirty work, I have the nerve to sit on my “high horse” expecting the guilty party to take the initiative towards me; and make some amends. But, still, as sad experience will bear testimony to; the situation may never be restored completely.
Praise the Lord that His ways are not our ways! Christ Himself has come to us, as one of us, that we might come to Him, and become one of Him, so to speak...He wants to give us faith, repentance, and forgiveness.
The book of Zecharia can teach us about God’s return to His people; and Israel’s return to their God.
Why do you think God would have to, or want to return to us? What does the Bible mean, when it tells us about God “returning” to us?
God’s Return:
1/ “I have returned to Jerusalem” (1:16)
2/ God’s Words of comfort: (1:13)
3/ God’s jealousy: (1:14)
4/ God’s anger: (1:15)
5/ God’s great compassion: (1:16)
Israel’s Return:
1/ God’s earnest appeal: “Return to Me,” (1:3)
2/ God’s concerned exhortation: “Be not like your fathers.” (1:4)
3/ Israel’s spiritual returning: (1:6).
How is it possible that God returns to us? Did He go away some where for a while? Let us see if we can stick to the book of Zecharia for our answers, as much as possible.
------------------
"The joy of the Lord will be your strength." (Neh.8:10).
Your brother in Christ
David T. Battler