Category: Garden Moments

Messianic Portraits in Zechariah

1. The Branch (Zechariah 3:8; 6:12)

• Reference: “Behold, I will bring forth My servant the Branch.”
• Why it points to Christ: “The Branch” is a messianic title rooted in Isaiah and Jeremiah, referring to a descendant of David who will reign in righteousness.
• Why it matters: It affirms Jesus as the fulfillment of the Davidic covenant—both priest and king—who rebuilds the true temple (His body and the Church).

2. The Priest-King (Zechariah 6:11–13)

• Reference: Joshua the high priest is crowned, symbolizing a union of priesthood and kingship.
• Why it points to Christ: In Israel, these roles were separate. Christ uniquely fulfills both—He is our High Priest (Hebrews 4:14) and King (Revelation 19:16).
• Why it matters: This foreshadows Christ’s mediating role, bridging heaven and earth, and ruling with both justice and mercy.

3. The Humble King (Zechariah 9:9)

• Reference: “Behold, your King is coming… lowly and riding on a donkey.”
• Why it points to Christ: Fulfilled in Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem (Matthew 21:5).
• Why it matters: It redefines kingship—not by conquest, but by humility and peace. Christ’s kingdom is not of this world, yet it transforms it.

4. The Betrayed Shepherd (Zechariah 11:12–13)

• Reference: “So they weighed out for my wages thirty pieces of silver… thrown to the potter.”
• Why it points to Christ: Directly fulfilled in Judas’s betrayal and the purchase of the potter’s field (Matthew 27:9–10).
• Why it matters: It reveals the cost of rejection and the prophetic precision of Christ’s suffering.

5. The Pierced One (Zechariah 12:10)

• Reference: “They will look on Me whom they pierced and mourn.”
• Why it points to Christ: Echoed in John 19:37 at the crucifixion.
• Why it matters: It speaks to the deep sorrow and repentance that comes when we recognize the gravity of Christ’s sacrifice.

6. The Fountain for Cleansing (Zechariah 13:1)

• Reference: “A fountain shall be opened… for sin and for uncleanness.”
• Why it points to Christ: Symbolizes the cleansing power of His blood (Hebrews 9:14).
• Why it matters: It underscores the heart of the gospel—redemption and purification through Christ alone.

7. The Struck Shepherd (Zechariah 13:7)

• Reference: “Strike the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered.”
• Why it points to Christ: Quoted by Jesus in Matthew 26:31 before His arrest.
• Why it matters: It reveals the cost of leadership and the scattering of His disciples, yet also the plan of restoration.

8. The Coming Judge and King (Zechariah 14:4–9)

• Reference: “His feet shall stand on the Mount of Olives… the Lord shall be King over all the earth.”
• Why it points to Christ: Alludes to His second coming and reign (Acts 1:11; Revelation 11:15).
• Why it matters: It gives hope of final victory, justice, and the restoration of all things under Christ’s lordship.

SO WHAT?
Zechariah doesn’t just predict events; He paints a theological portrait of Christ’s identity and mission. From His humble arrival to His priestly intercession, betrayal, crucifixion, and ultimate return, the book affirms that Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah. These prophecies deepen our understanding of God’s redemptive plan and strengthen our confidence in Scripture’s unity and reliability.

They also remind us that Christ’s work is holistic: He cleanses, reigns, suffers, restores, and returns. For believers, Zechariah is not just history. It’s a call to worship, to trust, and to prepare for the King who came and is coming again.

I recently had a conversation about Doug Wilson, and the CNN article and video about his expanding into Washington DC. The conversation revolved around how abrasive he came across in the article. Sure, CNN was trying to spin him in a bad light, but he was not saying anything that should have been shocking to Christians, but the reporter certainly was stunned more than once by what he was saying.

That got me thinking. As society pulls further and further away from Christian Values, holding those values up in public is going to cause greater and greater offense.

I did a search on my Logos app for references in the writings of Paul, Peter, and John for warnings about this. It brought up a host of verses, and a few of them are posted here. These stalwart men indeed encountered this situation with society and offense, and they offered us advice to prepare for it.

BUT… not to hold back so as to NOT cause that offense.

1 Corinthians 1:18 – Paul on the “offense” of the gospel
“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”

Paul recognizes that the gospel doesn’t always make sense to the world—it confronts pride, self-sufficiency, and worldly wisdom. What believers see as life-giving truth, others may dismiss as foolish or even offensive.

Galatians 5:11 – Paul on the “offense of the cross”
“If I still preached circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished.”

Here, Paul points out that the cross itself is offensive—not because it’s wrong, but because it challenges human attempts to earn righteousness. The gospel’s insistence on grace alone can provoke resistance.

2 Timothy 4:2–4 – Paul on sound doctrine being rejected
“Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine…”

This is a clear warning that truth will not always be welcomed, and that believers must be faithful even when society drifts away from biblical values.

1 Peter 4:3–4 – Peter on being misunderstood for not joining in
“You have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do… They are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, wild living, and they heap abuse on you.”

Peter acknowledges that living differently will provoke misunderstanding and even hostility, but he encourages believers to stay the course.

John 15:18–19 – Jesus (quoted by John) on being hated by the world
“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first… You do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world.”

John echoes this in his epistles, reminding believers that being set apart will inevitably cause friction with the world’s values.

The apostles certainly did not shy away from the reality that truth can offend, especially when it challenges cultural norms. However, they also emphasized that this offense is not a failure—it’s a sign that the gospel is doing what it’s meant to do: confronting, convicting, and calling people to transformation.