'Behold The Man' (Zechariah 6:9-15, John 19:1-15)
Rev. William L. Barron, March 11, 2023Part of the Morning Worship at North Greenville Church series, preached at a Sunday Morning service
We encounter a change here; instead of another vision, Zechariah receives the word of God. A delegation from Babylon arrives with gold and silver to support the restoration. Zechariah is to use some of it to make a crown for the head of Joshua the high priest. This will symbolize a new order; the crown is intended for a king, not a priest. We remember the previous vision, however, of the two olive trees being brought together, symbolizing the uniting of the offices of king and priest. Joshua is proclaimed the Branch, who will spread and build the temple of the Lord. This new temple is the eternal kingdom of God. This is a messianic prophecy of the offices and mission of Christ. The priestly office was foreshadowed by Melchizedek, priest of Salem (Genesis 14, Psalm 110, Hebrews 7). Aaron was a priest for Israel; Jesus is a priest for all the world. Jesus became the sacrifice and also the ruler, now on His throne in heaven, where He intercedes as a priest for His people. The prophetic office is wrapped up in the Branch also. He is the promised prophet "like Moses." The Branch is a new order, brought to fulfillment in Christ as the new covenant in His body and blood. He was even proclaimed by Pilate at His arraignment, crying, "Behold the man," a clear messianic reference. Yet, His crown was one of thorns, not of metal. Christ is still working in all power upon His throne, having bought us victory over sin and death.
| Earlier: | Same day: | Later: |
|---|---|---|
| « God's Patrol Over The Earth | None | The Power Of God Unto Salvation » |
Zechariah 6:9–15 (Listen)
9 And the word of the LORD came to me: 10 “Take from the exiles Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah, who have arrived from Babylon, and go the same day to the house of Josiah, the son of Zephaniah. 11 Take from them silver and gold, and make a crown, and set it on the head of Joshua, the son of Jehozadak, the high priest. 12 And say to him, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, “Behold, the man whose name is the Branch: for he shall branch out from his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD. 13 It is he who shall build the temple of the LORD and shall bear royal honor, and shall sit and rule on his throne. And there shall be a priest on his throne, and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.”’ 14 And the crown shall be in the temple of the LORD as a reminder to Helem, Tobijah, Jedaiah, and Hen the son of Zephaniah.
15 “And those who are far off shall come and help to build the temple of the LORD. And you shall know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you. And this shall come to pass, if you will diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God.”
(ESV)
John 19:1–15 (Listen)
19:1 Then Pilate took Jesus and flogged him. 2 And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head and arrayed him in a purple robe. 3 They came up to him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and struck him with their hands. 4 Pilate went out again and said to them, “See, I am bringing him out to you that you may know that I find no guilt in him.” 5 So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Behold the man!” 6 When the chief priests and the officers saw him, they cried out, “Crucify him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and crucify him, for I find no guilt in him.” 7 The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die because he has made himself the Son of God.” 8 When Pilate heard this statement, he was even more afraid. 9 He entered his headquarters again and said to Jesus, “Where are you from?” But Jesus gave him no answer. 10 So Pilate said to him, “You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you?” 11 Jesus answered him, “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. Therefore he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin.”
12 From then on Pilate sought to release him, but the Jews cried out, “If you release this man, you are not Caesar’s friend. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar.” 13 So when Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called The Stone Pavement, and in Aramaic Gabbatha. 14 Now it was the day of Preparation of the Passover. It was about the sixth hour. He said to the Jews, “Behold your King!” 15 They cried out, “Away with him, away with him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.”
(ESV)