Month: June 2015

The Old Testament contains well over 300 prophecies about the Anointed One (Messiah) who was promised. For one person to match all these descriptions — meeting the qualifications to be the Messiah — would be nothing short of miraculous.

What criteria did the Jewish people of Jesus’ time examine to determine whether Jesus was the One they were expecting? Some believed He was the Messiah; others did not. Can these criteria still help people today to decide who Jesus is? And do we have enough evidence to be confident that the prophecies that haven’t been fulfilled yet will actually take place?

Zerubbabel (heir to the throne) and Joshua (high priest) were privileged to be part of these prophecies, as “symbols” of the Anointed One.

“Listen, High Priest Joshua, you and your associates seated before you, who are men symbolic of things to come: I am going to bring my servant, the Branch . . . and I will remove the sin of this land in a single day.” (Zechariah 3:8-9)

“. . . make a crown, and set it on the head of the high priest, Joshua . . . And he will be a priest on his throne. And there will be harmony between the two.” (Zechariah 6:11b-13)

As I continue digging through the king-priest prophecies, it helps to keep in mind:
– the “rules” regarding which families were eligible for kingship or priesthood, and
– the promises specifically about the Anointed One as king and priest.

The next few posts, I will be exploring the King-Priest prophecies about Jesus.

“Now these are the people . . . who came up from the captivity . . . (they returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to their own town, in company with Zerubbabel, Joshua . . .)”
(Ezra 2:1-2a NIV)

The Jewish people are returning from decades of captivity in Babylon. Their two most significant leaders are
1) the heir to the throne, and
2) the high priest.

Recap on these two men:

Zerubbabel was heir to David’s throne. He served as governor of Judah under King Cyrus. He is listed as an ancestor of Jesus.

Joshua was the first high priest in the restored community. His name is the same as Jesus (Greek). It means “YHWH is salvation.”

Later in this story, God will send prophets to Zerubbabel and Joshua to encourage them as they build up the temple. We will go ahead and jump forward a bit in the story (as prophets do) and explore a few of these prophecies.

The prophecies were not intended to tell Joshua and Zerubbabel that they would be famous or significant. The prophecies told them to keep up the work, because all of it was leading to Jesus. What greater significance could any of us want, than to know that our efforts are pointing to Jesus?

One of the prophets, Zechariah, called Jesus “the Branch.”

The Branch would be like Zerubbabel and Joshua.
– He would be both king and priest.
– The two roles would be peaceful “friends” in Him.
– He would build the temple.

“Now listen, Joshua the high priest, you and your friends . . . are a symbol, for behold, I am going to bring in My servant the Branch . . . and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day.” (Zechariah 3:8-9)

“Take silver and gold, make an ornate crown and set it on the head of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Then say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, “Behold, a man whose name is Branch, for He will branch out from where He is; and He will build the temple of the Lord. Yes, it is He who will build the temple of the Lord, and He who will bear the honor and sit and rule on His throne. Thus, He will be a priest on His throne, and the counsel of peace will be between the two offices.”‘” (Zechariah 6:11-13)

Whatever challenges I face in the daily grind and the broken-down “rubble” today, let me keep my eyes open to the ways God wants to use my life as a symbol of Jesus. Let me value this type of significance more than any personally identifying significance. Let me stay encouraged and focused as I build up the other “living stones” in Jesus’ temple.

References:
Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament (1980)
Kiel and Delitzch, Commentary on the Old Testament, Vol. 4, 3rd ed., 2011
Gaelbelein, The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Vol. 4, 1988
www.blueletterbible.org