Zechariah 6

“The word of the Lord came to me: “Take an offering from the exiles, from Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah, who have arrived from Babylon, and go that same day to the house of Josiah son of Zephaniah. Take silver and gold, make crowns and place them on the head of Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest.  You are to tell him: This is what the Lord of Hosts says: Here is a man whose name is Branch; He will branch out from His place and build the Lord’s temple.  Yes, He will build the Lord’s temple; He will be clothed in splendor and will sit on His throne and rule. There will also be a priest on His throne, and there will be peaceful counsel between the two of them.” Zechariah 6:9-13 (HCSB)

After eight visions, the Lord directs Zechariah to carry out a symbolic act with significant Messianic implications. Zechariah was told to take silver and gold from the relatively small number of exiles who had returned to Jerusalem and fashion a crown to be placed on the head of the high priest. It was to encourage them and demonstrate that God had a plan, and their return was part of a greater deliverance.

But there is a problem. High priests are not to be crowned kings. The kingship was exclusively given to the family of David from the tribe of Judah, and the priesthood went to Aaron’s descendants from the tribe of Levi. So, why would the Lord tell Zechariah to crown a high priest as King? God is sending a message concerning Messiah, Who will be both High Priest and King forever. We know this because God tells Zechariah this Priest/King will be named “the Branch,” specifically, a name given to Messiah throughout history.

“In that day the Branch of the Lord will be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land will be the pride and glory of the survivors in Israel.” Isaiah 4:2 (NIV)

“A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.” Isaiah 11:1 (NIV)

“‘The days are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I will raise up to David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land.’” Jeremiah 23:5 (NIV)

“In those days and at that time I will make a righteous Branch sprout from David’s line; He will do what is just and right in the land.” Jeremiah 33:15 (NIV)

Interestingly, God says, “Here is THE MAN whose Name is the Branch,” the same words Pilate used to present Jesus: “Behold the man” (John 19:5)

Thus, we get another clear picture that Jesus’ advent, some 2000 years ago, was not arbitrary but had been planned since before time began.  (Micah 5:2; Revelation 13:8; John 1:1-14)