December 6th

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.”’

The Zechariah passage for today does not appear at first glance to have anything to do with Advent and the coming of Jesus, the promised Messiah. It instructs that a man called the Branch (he was a branch from the line of David) is to be crowned king of the newly returned Jewish exiles, and he will also “branch out” and build a temple to the Lord. A priest is also to have a throne and together they will establish a peaceable kingdom. This was more than 500 years before Jesus was born.

John Wesley preached on this passage and helps us understand how the passage foretells the coming of Jesus. Because Jesus acts as intercessory priest, our peace is made with God. Because He acts as protective king, we are delivered safely from our spiritual enemies. There is peace in Christ’s Kingdom! Wonderful, joyous, good news indeed!