Today, we see a high priest given a crown. At first, you may think that this crown is one that has religious significance. But this is the kind of crown that goes to royalty. In this passage, Joshua is crowned “the Branch.” All of this this points us to Jesus. He is the Branch (John 15: 1-8). He is prophet, priest, and king. He speaks the Word of the Lord, He is our high priest, and He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Today, in this passage, we see everything pointing us to Jesus.

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Good morning! It’s wonderful to be with you on this Wednesday as we continue our journey through Zechariah. Before we dive in, just a bit of housekeeping: this will be our last session for this week due to a busy schedule with the annual conference. We’ll resume on Monday with chapter 7. Please keep us in your prayers as we gather at Millsaps, and especially for the ordination service where Reverend Beth Feisal from our church will be ordained. It’s an exciting time for our church!

This passage is referred to as an oracle rather than a vision, indicating a direct word from the Lord rather than a symbolic or dreamlike vision. The oracle describes the crowning of Joshua, the high priest, with a crown made from silver and gold collected from the exiles.

Several key points emerge from this passage:

The crown described here is not a typical priestly crown but rather a royal crown, indicating a type of political authority. This suggests a merging of priestly and royal roles, which is significant for understanding the Messianic prophecy embedded in this oracle.

Joshua is called “the Branch,” a term loaded with Messianic significance. In the Hebrew Scriptures, “Branch” (צֶמַח, tsemach) is often used to refer to a future leader from the line of David who would bring restoration and peace. Christians understand this to point to Jesus Christ, who is both priest and king.

This passage anticipates the threefold office of Christ—prophet, priest, and king. Jesus speaks the word of the Lord (prophet), mediates between God and humanity (priest), and rules over all creation (king).

The phrase “there will be harmony between the two” refers to the unification of the priestly and royal roles in one person, symbolizing the ultimate peace and unity that Christ brings.

The rebuilding of the temple and the participation of those “far away” hint at a future time when all nations will come together to worship the Lord, a vision fulfilled in the New Testament with the coming of Christ and the spread of the Gospel.

This passage is not only about the historical context of rebuilding the temple after the exile but also a prophetic vision pointing towards Jesus Christ. It shows how the Old Testament foreshadows the New Testament realities, particularly the coming of the Messiah who fulfills the roles of prophet, priest, and king.

As we reflect on this passage, let’s be encouraged by the ways God weaves His plan through history, pointing us to the ultimate peace and restoration found in Jesus. It’s a reminder of God’s faithfulness and the hope we have in Christ.

Thank you for joining today. I hope you find comfort and inspiration in these words. Please keep us in your prayers during the annual conference, and I look forward to continuing our study on Monday. Have a blessed rest of your week!