Main Idea: The coming Branch is both King and Priest.
A Look at the Text:
Zechariah 6 closes the series of night visions that Zechariah the prophet had with a final vision of four chariots with different kinds of horses pulling them (Zech. 6:1-3).
These were those who went out to the āfour winds of heaven,ā presenting themselves before the Lord and patrolling the earth (Zech. 6:5-7). This vision closely corresponded to the first vision Zechariah had, where the nations were in trouble for being at ease. Now, with the Spirit at rest, God was satisfied as the visions came to an end and His justice was meted out.[1]
The visions then climaxed with a call for Zechariah to visit three individuals from the returned exiles and collect silver and gold to make a crown for the high priest (Zech. 6:9-11). Shockingly, this wasnāt for Zerubbabel and instead showcased how Joshua the high priest would function as a āmessianic prototype.ā[2] The One who would one day come and unite the offices of priest and king (Zech. 6:13).
Bringing it Home:
The enthroned priest is a picture that is ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Truly every āheroā of the Bible pointed forward to the hero for whom all of creation waitedāthe Lord Jesus Christ.
He is the hero of the Bibleās storyline and the long-awaited Branch. He is the root of Jesse and the Son of David. He is the Son of Man whom Daniel saw coming on the clouds. He is the One that Zechariah ultimately saw in whom the offices of priest and king unite.
As our priest, He made an offering of His own blood via His incomparable once-and-for-all sacrifice (Heb. 9:11-12). Simultaneously, He is also our King. When we come to faith, we acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord (Rom. 10:9; Phil. 2:9-11). He is the One to whom all authority in heaven and earth has been given (Matt. 28:18). He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Rev. 19:16).
One scholar has powerfully noted in comparing these two offices of Christ:
As King, he is able to rule in righteousness without having to condemn a sinful populace, because as Priest he has cleansed them of sin and brought them into fellowship with God.[3]
Experiencing His grace as priest and His glory as King, we then ought to give ourselves wholly to His service. In light of what He has done for us and in response to who He is, there is certainly nothing that He isnāt worthy of.
Challenge:
Do I ever lose sight of the fact that Jesus is the hero of the Bibleās story and the hero of history itself?
[1] F. Duane Lindsey, āZechariah,ā in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 1558.
[2] E. Ray Clendenen, āThe Minor Prophets,ā in Holman Concise Bible Commentary, ed. David S. Dockery (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1998), 386.
[3] Hermann J. Austel, āZechariah,ā in Evangelical Commentary on the Bible, vol. 3, Baker Reference Library (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1995), 695.