Who is Jesus to You?

 O. T. #2332 "Who is Jesus to You?"

Dec. 5, 2022

Summary of Zechariah

As many of you faithful readers know, I like to summarize what we have studied when finishing a book of the Bible. Also, I share meaningful verses to me. 

Zechariah ministered with Haggai during the difficult days when the returnees of 50,000 Jews to Jerusalem. It was around the year 536-535 BC when they laid the foundations for the Temple. However, opposition arose and the work stopped. So the Lord raised up those two prophets in order to stir up the leaders and the people to finish the Temple. Zechariah was a young man who was both a prophet and a priest. (Neh. 12:4,16) His name means "Jehovah remembers." 

The city of Jerusalem is mentioned some 40 times. A key verse is 1:14-17, God is jealous for Jerusalem. He will punish the heathen for what they did to His city; and one day He will restore it in glory and peace. God has chosen Jerusalem as His beloved city with grace and mercy and will one day dwell there. History tells us that the armies of Alexander the great and the Romans conquered Jerusalem and corrupted the Temple. 

Jerusalem will be delivered, cleansed, and reestablished in peace and prosperity. (chapters 1-6) Fasting should come from the heart, not out of habit or ritual, as done in Babylon by the Jews. (chapters 7-8) Then, God will have victory over the enemies of Jerusalem and Israel. (chapters 9-14)

Zechariah shows us Jesus Christ in many aspects of His ministry:

• the King (9:9; Matt. 21:4-5)
• the Stone (3:9' Rom. 31-33)
• the Slave sold for 30 pieces of silver (11:12; Matt. 27:3-10)
• the smitten Shepherd (13:7; Matt. 26:31)
• the Branch (3:8; Isa. 4:2, 11:1)
• the glorious Ruler (14:1-4, 9, 16-17)

[Resource: Wiersbe's Exposditory Outlines on the Old Testament]

In his prophecies, Zechariah did not see Israel as a weak nation, nor a ruined city of Jerusalem. He was given the opportunity to look down through the centuries and see the future of the beautiful city where its King and Messiah will reign.

 

Surely, this same God can look down through our years and see our needs and provide for them as He did Jerusalem and the Jews. In Matthew 5, Jesus told us that we are blessed when we are poor in spirit, mourn, gentle, hunger and thirst after righteousness, merciful, pure in heart, peacemakers and persecuted. As we are, then we will be comforted, obtain heaven, be satisfied, and called sons of God. Jesus tells us to rejoice and be glad, for our reward is great in heaven. Remember that they persecuted the prophets, too. 

As we have entered the Christmas season, may we be assured that Jesus is no longer a baby in a manger, but sits at the right hand of the Father God. He intercedes for His believers. May we keep our eyes and ears open for the trumpet announcing the return of the Savior!

Who is Jesus to you? Is He your Savior, Redeemer, Almighty God? He wants to be the love of your life? Have you let Him come in and dwell with you? Is Jesus your King today? If not, simply ask Jesus to forgive your sins and be your Savior. How blessed you will be.