Today we turn to the book of the prophet Zechariah. He also ministered during the time of the return of the exiles from Babylon, (or Persia, because they had overtaken the Babylonians by this time.) While Zechariah condemns the Israelites for their lack of faithfulness, he also prophesies the people’s return, and ultimately the coming of the Messiah!
Zechariah 1 begins with a call to return to the LORD. Darius has become king, replacing the Babylonians, and the seventy-year period of exile is coming to an end. As the chapter continues, we read a vision of angelic horsemen who have been traveling over the earth and seeing the other nations at rest. The LORD tells them, those nations will be punished for their part in Israel’s continued exile. Next, comes a vision of four horns and four craftsmen. The horns “scattered” Israel, Judah and Jerusalem. The craftsmen came to eliminate the horns’ power.
Zechariah 2 consists of a man with a “measuring line,” who is told to measure Jerusalem. The good news for the people of Israel is Jerusalem is going to become a city without borders, and the LORD Himself will put a wall of flame around it to protect it. Remember: This is a vision. It doesn’t mean a literal wall of flame necessarily. It simply means Israel will have no enemies able to come against it.
Zechariah 3 offers an amazing vision of Joshua the high priest who is accompanied by an angel and Satan. Satan, of course, is there to accuse, while the angel is told to put pure vestments on Joshua. Joshua is promised he will rule over the people, and that the LORD will send “The Branch,” which is an image for Jesus, to rule the people. This is more good news for Israel.
Zechariah 4’s vision is even greater for Israel, as it shows a golden lampstand, and two olive trees, which it turns out to be a promise that Zerubbabel, who laid the foundations for Jerusalem and the Temple will also finish it. He is promised it will not be by his power or might, but by the Spirit of the LORD that this will be accomplished. The hopes of the people who heard this prophecy must have soared.
As we turn to John 8, we read one of the most poignant accounts in Jesus’ ministry. The religious leaders once again wanting to trap Jesus, bring a woman caught in adultery to ask Jesus what judgment ought to be carried out against her. They assumed they had Jesus, because if He said to carry out the judgment the Law of Moses required: death, they could accuse Him of being unmerciful, but if He said to let her go, they could accuse Him of disobedience to the Law. Jesus had a different response: go ahead and stone her…but the one who is without sin cast the first stone. That led to the religious leaders departing one by one, until only the woman was left. Jesus turned to her and asked where her accusers were? She responded that none were left. Jesus said He didn’t condemn her either, but to go and sin no more. What a powerful message: no condemnation, but a call to go and lead a new life! The remainder of the chapter is another all-out battle between Jesus and the religious leaders. Jesus proclaims Himself the light of the world. The religious leaders deny that and challenge Him. Jesus responds if they knew the truth it would set them free. Those were fighting words, because the religious leaders assumed they knew the truth. Jesus ultimately told them they were children of their father, the devil. The last and most telling statement Jesus makes in the chapter is “Before Abraham was, I am.” The “I am” reference here, is to claim the name of God: Yahweh – I am. Without any doubt, Jesus marked Himself for death with that statement. No human being could claim to be God, which is what He had done. The religious leaders would do whatever it took to see Jesus eliminated. Please, understand: Jesus is God, but because the Jewish leaders wouldn’t accept this truth, the path to the cross was becoming more certain all the time.