December 27, 2019
THE THIRTY PIECES OF SILVER Zechariah’s prophecy concerning the thirty pieces of silver was written around 500 years before Christ. In the prophecy, the Lord called Zechariah to shepherd the suffering flock of Judah and Israel, and he obeyed. He cared for the flock and removed the evil and worthless shepherds who had formerly been
December 23, 2019
ARE YOU FAITHFUL IN THE SMALL THINGS? Zerubbabel was born in Babylon. As a descendent of King David, he was in line for Judah’s throne, but he and his people had been conquered and exiled by the former Babylonian king, Nebuchadnezzer. After the Persian King Cyrus conquered Babylon, he showed favor to the Jews. He
December 29, 2018
WHEN CHRIST RETURNS TO STAND ON THE MOUNT
Two streams of Messianic prophecy are found in Zechariah. One, points to Christ’s first coming as humble Savior, and the other, to His second coming as righteous Judge. This passage belongs to the second stream, as the phrase “on that day” connects it to the time period known as the “Day of the Lord,” when God’s judgment will fall on planet earth during the time of the Great Tribulation.
At His first coming, Christ stood on the Mount of Olives many times. During Passion Week alone, the Bible recorded three significant times that Jesus spent on the Mount: The Olivet Discourse (Matt. 24), the Triumphal Entry (Luke 19:29-30), and the Garden Prayer and Betrayal (Mark 14:32-52).
On the day of Christ’s ascension, the disciples were with Him on the Mount when He was lifted up into the clouds. They heard the angel say, “This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way” (Acts 1:11). Zechariah prophesied of that day of which the angel spoke, a day when Christ will return to stand on the Mount of Olives and the saints of God with Him.
Surely old Job will be with the saints and the Lord Jesus on that day. As Job confidently prophesied, “For I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth” (Job 19:25).
December 28, 2018
A FUTURE SPIRITUAL AWAKENING IS COMING TO JERUSALEM
The prophet Zechariah wrote around 520 BC. This was 500 years before Christ’s first coming and over 2500 years before the present age. Here, we see a reference to “an only son,” a “firstborn” who the people of Israel will “look on” and finally acknowledge as the long awaited One whom they have “pierced.” Recognizing Him, they will “mourn” and “grieve bitterly,” in repentance.
Notice the unusual use of pronouns that point to the Divine nature of the One they have pierced. God is clearly speaking when He says, “I… will pour out” and then again when He says, “They will look on… ME …whom they have pierced,” but then changes pronouns in the same sentence saying, they will “mourn for… HIM … as for an only Son.” God told them that they would one day recognize the One they had crucified as both “ME” and “HIM.” This is the paradox of the Trinity. For the trinitarian nature of God is seen in Zechariah, as the Spirit and the Son are referenced here by God the Father.
A future day of spiritual awakening will come to the Jewish people before Christ’s return when they will recognize Jesus as Messiah. God has said it. And it will come to pass.
December 25, 2018
ANSWERING THE IMPOSSIBLE CHRISTMAS QUESTION
“How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?” the young Mary asked when the angel Gabriel told her of Christ’s birth. “For with God nothing will be impossible.” Gabriel replied, having explained the the miracle of Christ’s divine conception.
God must love to prove it otherwise when we call something impossible. In Zechariah’s time, the Jewish exiles had returned to Jerusalem and were attempting to rebuild the Temple. But the small remnant was overwhelmed with the large size of the project. They felt inadequate in every way, not enough in number nor in resources. But the Lord of Hosts had a question for them to consider: “Is it impossible for Me?”
When Gabriel answered Mary’s “Christmas question,” she was satisfied, saying, “Let it be to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38).
What seems impossible in your life today? Is it impossible for God?
December 22, 2018
ADVENT MEANS COMING
Zechariah is filled with Messianic prophecies about the “coming” of the LORD. Here, Israel was called to “shout and rejoice” in anticipation of His coming. This prophecy was partially fulfilled in the incarnation. As John proclaimed, “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). Today, the Spirit of Christ continues to “dwell” in this world through His Body, which is the Church. Yet, we are to continue to “shout and rejoice” because Christ has come and is coming again to truly “live among” us.
The word “advent” means the arrival or coming of someone or something notable. This is Advent: Christ has come and is coming again.
December 25, 2017
Zechariah’s prophecy told of a time when great numbers of people from the the Gentile nations would seek the One who is known by this description: “God is with you.”
Who is this One? It is Christ Jesus. As Isaiah prophesied (Isa. 7:14) and Matthew confirmed (Matt. 1:23), He is Immanuel, which in Hebrew means, “God with us.”
Today, we see that Zechariah’s prophecy is fulfilled. People from nearly every language and tribe have embraced the “Jewish man,” Jesus, who is Immanuel, “God with us.” Today, we celebrate His coming and look forward to His soon return! Merry Christmas!
December 22, 2017
Zechariah prophesied that a “stone” would be “laid” by God to “remove iniquity” in “one day.” Who is this “Stone?” Isn’t he the “Precious Cornerstone” of Isaiah’s prophecy (Isa. 28:16)? Isn’t he the “stone that the builders rejected (Psa. 118:22, 1 Pet. 2:6-8)? Isn’t he the Lamb with “seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God” (Rev. 5:6)? And what was “engraved” upon that Stone? Wasn’t it the piercing of His hands and feet and side that “removed the iniquity” of us all? Didn’t the Lord say, “Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands” (Isa. 49:16)? Yes, this Stone is certainly the Messiah, Jesus Christ (Eph. 2:20)!
Join me in looking up each of the Scripture references listed above, and you will experience the joy and profound wonder of our Precious Cornerstone, Jesus Christ!
December 29, 2016
Two streams of messianic prophecy are found in Zechariah. One, points to Christ’s first coming as humble Savior, and the other, to His second coming as righteous Judge. This passage belongs to the second stream, as the phrase “on that day” connects it to the time period known as the “Day of the Lord,” when God’s judgment will fall on planet earth. Christ’s “feet” have stood on the Mount of Olives many times. During Passion Week alone, the Bible recorded three significant times that Jesus spent on the Mount: The Olivet Discourse (Matt. 24), the Triumphal Entry (Luke 19:29-30), and the Garden Prayer and Betrayal (Mark 14:32-52). On the day of Christ’s ascension, the disciples were with Him on the Mount when He was lifted up into the clouds (Acts 1:6-12). They heard the angel say, “This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way.” Zechariah prophesied of that day of which the angel spoke, a day when Christ will return to stand on the Mount of Olives and split the mount in two.
December 21, 2016
The prophet Zechariah was a contemporary of Haggai. Both of them wrote to encourage the Jews who had returned to Jerusalem from their 70 years of Babylonian exile. Zechariah began to prophesy during the reign of Darius, king of Persia (Zech. 1:1), under whose governance the Jews were allowed to return and rebuild Jerusalem. He instructed them not only to return to Jerusalem, but to return to the Lord! This is a word to those who have gone astray. Return! Repent of your sins and return to the Lord of Hosts and He will surely return to you.