"The Jesus of Prophecy" June 25 Readings: Zechariah 8-14

 

Reading the Bible Chronologically in 2024

This year, instead of reading from Genesis to Revelation, we will read the Bible as the story flows, as it happened and was written. There are several plans out there and I have worked to combine them into a plan that lets the Bible tell its own story "as it happened." Remember, the Bible is inspired, but not in the order the books appear in our Bibles.  The Old Testament is approximately 3/4 of the Bible, but we will give more emphasis to the New Testament, spending half the year in the Old Testament and half in the New. 

Bible Readings:  Zechariah 8-14 

Background:  

After the prophecy of chapter 8, chapters 9-14 conclude Zechariah's book with two great oracles from God (9-11, 12-14), each of which contains familiar messianic prophecies. They focus on the great victory of God over Israel's sin.

Daily Devotional: The Jesus of Prophecy 

It is dangerous to delve into the end times in a devotional such as this since people have such varying views. However, a passage such as today's reading almost demands it. Chapter 9-11 contains the first great prophecy of God's destruction of Israel's enemy, the restoration of the nation, and the coming of Israel's king. Then, in chapters 12-14, the second prophecy carries on the glorious refrain speaking of the cleansing of the people and the glorious reign of the king. There are two familiar messianic moments, one in each of the great prophecies, that encapsulate the work of Jesus.

The Triumphal Entry is a story recorded in each of the gospels, but its details come straight out of Zechariah 9:9. Of course, Jesus knew this prophecy and chose the colt because of it, but he rode into Jerusalem as he did to declare clearly to all that he was the Messiah, the subject of OT prophecy.

Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion!
Shout in triumph, Daughter Jerusalem!
Look, your King is coming to you;
he is righteous and victorious,
humble and riding on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

Jesus was telling Jerusalem to rejoice because their King had arrived just as Zechariah had prophesied. They rejected and crucified him so his elevation to glorious king of Jerusalem awaits another day, another coming, another entrance. But Jesus declared who he was when he rode down the Mt. of Olives and into the city as he did.

But he had another purpose when he entered the city, one he was born to fulfill before he would take the throne as Israel's king. Zechariah 12:10 points to this higher purpose of Christ.

Then I will pour out a spirit of grace and prayer on the house of David and the residents of Jerusalem, and they will look at me whom they pierced. 

They will look to the one they pierced. This harkens back to the prophecy of Isaiah 53, which points clearly to the redemptive death of Christ. This prophecy goes on to extol the redemptive grace of God. Zechariah 13:1 says,

On that day a fountain will be opened for the house of David and for the residents of Jerusalem, to wash away sin and impurity.

Israel will be purified and redeemed from its sin. Chapter 14 describes the ultimate victory of Christ as he stands on the Mt. of Olives, marvelous signs follow, and then Jesus takes up the throne of the world. Living water flows from Jerusalem (verse 8) and the curse will be lifted (verse 11). All the world will come to Jerusalem to worship Jesus Christ.

My friend, it may be a tough world today, but we are on the winning side. Jesus will never be defeated.

Father, thank you for your unbeatable power and inestimable glory that shines over all this world. 

Consider God's Word:

Do you rest and trust in the ultimate victory of Jesus?
How would it change the way you live your life today if you fully trusted in the victory of Christ?