Finding The Messiah In Zechariah

INTRO

These chapters address Israel mourning the death of the One who was pierced. They also talk about the end of the age and how Jesus was the branch. In prophetic language, Zechariah may have been writing about the natural, current context, and then shift to what was supernatural. Arrogance and ignorance were frequently the attitudes of the people receiving the prophecy. The laws and the prophets all point to Jesus as the Messiah and His return. But the people did not understand. The Dutch Proverb, “Too soon old and too late smart,” fit the mentality of the people.

TEACHING

Zechariah 13:1-4: A time would come when the Jewish people would know exactly who Christ was. The Jews would be washed clean when they recognized who the Messiah was.

Cleansing of the land, prophets and unclean spirits would be removed is prophesied in verse 2. In Romans 11, Paul talked about the hardening of the heart of the Jewish people. But the time would come when the liberator would take away their sin.

In verse 3, the Lord of Host would erase the idols of the land. The idols were false and offered empty comfort. Idols offered something tangible that the people could see. Idols represented some kind of a reminder of the presence of God. People longed for what was lost. 2 Kings 18:3-4 state that Hezekiah destroyed the idols of the people of Israel. The people began to worship the things that brought the Israelites comfort and healing but they did not worship God. The people had remembered the moments of God’s presence in their lives but they did not remember God.

In chapter 5, Zechariah talked about those that swear falsely being removed (vv. 1-4). These were the false prophets. The false prophets and the unclean would be removed.

Zechariah 13:5-8: Zechariah continued to announce the consequences of false prophets. The parents of the false prophets would remove them. These false prophets were trying to get a blessing, but not a blessing that came from God. In verse 5 God was erasing the false prophet issues.

Verse 6 and verse 7 are linked. Zechariah was talking about false prophets but switched to talking about the Messiah. In Verse 8, Zechariah proclaimed that two-thirds of the people would die but one-third would survive. This one-third represented the remnant that would survive. Zechariah explained that if the shepherd was removed, the sheep would scatter. These verses addressed the image of the people and the Messiah. The words of Christ in Mathew 26:3 talk about the disciples being scattered and were taken from Zechariah.

God preserved the remnant of Israel repeatedly. The references in Zechariah address the current context but also address what was to come at a time of judgement.

Zechariah 14:1-15: Zechariah began to address the tribulation time that was to come. God promised to avenge His people. God has compassion and mercy for His people. Zechariah stated that God would land on the Mount of Olives and split the mountain to create a valley. The people would flee by the mountain valley (vv. 1-5).

In Revelation 1:4-8, God promised that Christ would return and every eye would see Him. All the families of the earth would mourn for Him. These verses were taken from Zechariah. The Day of the Lord would come and it will be a day known only to Yahweh (vv. 6-7). In verse 8, Zechariah explained that water would flow from Jerusalem, half of it going to the Dead Sea and half of it going to the Mediterranean Sea. Yahweh would become king over all the earth. Ezekiel said that even the Dead Sea would become a place teaming with life.

Things would not be okay until Christ comes back. When Christ comes, things would be set right.

CLOSING

In Zechariah 14:16-21, the Scripture states that the nations would all worship God after a great battle takes place. The bottom line is that Christ would be the King, the Lord of Hosts. The people would go up to the Festival of Tabernacles. The words of “Holy to the Lord” would be even on the bells of the horses.

On that day, there would be no Canaanite in the house of the Lord. Everything would be as it should be when Christ comes again.