A voice for the word of God
Zechariah
Zechariah prophesied to the returned exiles as they rebuilt the temple, urging them to hope. His visions are rich and strange, but scattered through them are astonishing glimpses of the coming King, riding humbly on a donkey, sold for thirty pieces of silver, and pierced. Few prophets point so vividly to the Passion.
“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.”Zechariah 9:9
His life and calling
His life and calling. Zechariah, son of Berechiah, was a prophet among the Jews who had returned from Babylon, prophesying roughly late in the sixth century before Christ, a contemporary of Haggai. The people had come back to a ruined Jerusalem and a half-built temple, discouraged and distracted. God called Zechariah to stir them to finish the work and to lift their eyes to a greater future. His opening word was a summons to repentance: "Turn ye unto me, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will turn unto you" (Zechariah 1:3). He received a series of night visions, symbolic and mysterious, assuring the people of God's presence, His cleansing of the high priest, and His purpose to dwell among them again. He encouraged the rebuilding with the memorable word that the work would be done "Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts" (Zechariah 4:6). Zechariah was a covenant encourager, calling a weary remnant to faith and obedience, while his prophecies reached far ahead to the coming of the King and the day of the Lord.
His message
His message. Zechariah's message combined a present call, to repent and rebuild the temple in dependence on God's Spirit, with a future hope of the coming King and kingdom. He assured the discouraged that God had returned to Jerusalem with mercy and would dwell in their midst: "I am returned unto Jerusalem with mercies" (Zechariah 1:16). He proclaimed cleansing and forgiveness, picturing the high priest's filthy garments replaced with clean ones, a sign that God removes iniquity "in one day" (Zechariah 3:9). And he lifted the people's gaze to a coming King of peace: "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion... behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass" (Zechariah 9:9). Zechariah foresaw a mysterious suffering, one who was sold and one who was pierced, woven into his oracles of hope. His message is that God is faithful to His covenant, present with His people, and bringing a King who saves in humility, not in worldly power.
How it points to Christ
How it points to Christ. Zechariah's prophecies find remarkable fulfillment in Jesus. His picture of the humble King, "lowly, and riding upon an ass" (Zechariah 9:9), is fulfilled in the Triumphal Entry, which the Gospels cite directly (Matthew 21:4-5). His words about thirty pieces of silver, cast to the potter (Zechariah 11:12-13), are echoed in Judas's betrayal price and the potter's field (Matthew 27:9-10). His haunting line, "they shall look upon me whom they have pierced" (Zechariah 12:10), is applied by John to the crucified Christ (John 19:37). His prophecy that the shepherd would be smitten and the sheep scattered (Zechariah 13:7) is quoted by Jesus on the night of His arrest (Matthew 26:31). These are among the most specific Passion prophecies in the Old Testament. Zechariah points to Christ both by explicit prediction and by his vision of a saving, humble King. God spoke through Zechariah's visions, and has spoken finally in the pierced and risen Son (Hebrews 1:1-2).
Questions people ask
Which of Zechariah's prophecies point to Jesus?
Several are cited in the Gospels: the King riding on a donkey (Zechariah 9:9; Matthew 21:5), the thirty pieces of silver (Zechariah 11:12-13; Matthew 27:9-10), the shepherd smitten and sheep scattered (Zechariah 13:7; Matthew 26:31), and the one pierced (Zechariah 12:10; John 19:37).
What was Zechariah's role among the returned exiles?
He encouraged the people to finish rebuilding the temple and to turn back to God, assuring them the work would succeed "not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit" (Zechariah 4:6). His visions gave a weary remnant hope in God's presence and coming King.