Christ in Zechariah

~ Jesus Christ Is Smitten Shepherd ~

The Bible is about Jesus Christ  ~  “Jesus said to them, ‘How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!  Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter His glory?’  And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning Himself” (Luke 24:25-27).

Jesus Christ is found in the Book of Zechariah as our Fountain, as the Righteous Branch (3:8; 6:12; 6:13; 9:9; 12:10; 14:9), as Yahweh’s Servant, the King-Priest, the gentle King, and the Smitten Shepherd.  He is the One wounded in the house of His friends.  He is the fountain which opened up in the house of David for the cleansing of all forms of sin.

The Smitten Shepherd  ~  “‘Awake, O sword, against My Shepherd, against the Man who is My Companion,’ says the Lord of hosts. ‘Strike the Shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered; then I will turn My hand against the little ones’” (Zechariah 13:7).  “Then Jesus said to them, ‘All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written: “I will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.”  But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee’” (Matthew 26:31-32).  “Then Jesus said to them, ‘All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written: “I will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.”  But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee’” (Mark 14:27-28).

The King—Priest  ~  In the time of Zechariah Joshua was the high priest.  Joshua’s root name in Greek can be translated in English as Jesus.  The names Joshua and Jesus include the meaning of “the Lord saves.”

Zechariah is commanded by our Lord to make a crown and put it on the head of Joshua—the priest.  This is significant since kings and priests were from separate tribes in that day (Judah and Levi respectively).  This fact provides insight to the following passage: “Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying: ‘Receive the gift from the captives—from Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah, who have come from Babylon—and go the same day and enter the house of Josiah the son of Zephaniah.  Take the silver and gold, make an elaborate crown, and set it on the head of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest.  Then speak to him, saying, “Thus says the Lord of hosts, saying: ‘Behold, the Man whose name is the BRANCH!  From His place He shall branch out, and He shall build the temple of the Lord; yes, He shall build the temple of the Lord.  He shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule on His throne; so He shall be a priest on His throne [both priest and king], and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.”’  Now the elaborate crown shall be for a memorial in the temple of the Lord for Helem, Tobijah, Jedaiah, and Hen the son of Zephaniah.  Even those from afar shall come and build the temple of the Lord.  Then you shall know that the Lord of hosts has sent Me to you.  And this shall come to pass if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God” (Zechariah 6:9-15). 

The Gentle King  ~  Jesus Christ is described in the New Testament as the gentle and righteous King riding on a donkey.  “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!  Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem!  Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, lowly and riding on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey” (Zechariah 9:9).  “Now when they drew near Jerusalem, and came to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, ‘Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her.  Loose them and bring them to Me.  And if anyone says anything to you, you shall say, “The Lord has need of them,” and immediately he will send them.’  All this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: ‘Tell the daughter of Zion, “Behold, your King is coming to you, lowly, and sitting on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey”’” (Matthew 21:1-5).  Then Jesus, when He had found a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written: ‘Fear not, daughter of Zion; Behold, your King is coming, sitting on a donkey's colt’” (John 12:14-15).

of particular note:  The first coming of The Messiah was in lowliness as noted above as “The Gentle King” (Zechariah 9:9).

The Messiah is the Prince of Peace (Zechariah 9:10).

The Messiah was crucified (Zechariah 12:10).

The Messiah was a Shepherd who was forsaken by His sheep as noted above “The Smitten Shepherd” (Zechariah 13:7).

Comment  ~  We have only touched the surface of Christ in Zechariah. 

additional comment:  Compare these passages from Scripture.

Zechariah 3:2 – Jude 9

Zechariah 8:8 – 2 Corinthians 6:16

Zechariah 8:16 – Ephesians 4:25

Zechariah 11:12 – Matthew 27:9

Zechariah 12:10 – John 19:37

The Apostle Paul told us the Scriptures present many shadows of things to come but the reality is found in Jesus Christ (Colossians 2:17).

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