The Christmas Branch
Daily Old Testament Reading: Zecharaiah 4-6
Daily Focus Passage: Zechariah 6
Zechariah prophesied of the coming Messiah in Zechariah 6. He mentions the coming Branch when he declares to the people returning from exile. The Branch serves as the future Priest and King who will make way for salvation. During this Christmas season, let's celebrate the Christmas branch.
Christ = Priest
As the Branch, Christ is the perfect High Priest. The High Priest in the Old Testament served as the head of the priest. The High Priest held an essential role within the Israelites because he provided insight into following the will of the Lord and carried out the atonement sacrifices before the Lord on behalf of the people. The most significant was the sacrifice on the Day of Atonement that used blood from the lamb to seek forgiveness and atonement from the Lord for the sins of the people. This Old Testament role foreshadowed the more excellent High Priest, Jesus. Jesus would be the High Priest that entered the eternal holy of holies and placed his blood as the eternal needed sacrifice to make atonement for our sins.
Christ = King
As the Branch, Christ is the One True King. Jesus entered into humanity in a lowly manger. This manger may have served as a feed trough previously, but now this manger served as a throne. Jesus entered as the eternal King of kings. He came in humility and remained faithful to the Father even to the point of death. As King, we live with the hope of the return when Christ will not come as a humble servant but as the victorious King. He will return with power and authority, and he will reign. When we accept the give of salvation that was secured in the atonement of Christ, we submit to the lordship of Christ, meaning we serve him as King.
Christ = Needed Savior for All
As the Branch, Christ is the needed Savior for all. The Branch extended the offering of forgiveness and salvation to all who would grab hold of the offer through faith in Jesus Christ. The Branch served as the bridge that offered reconciliation with the Lord and allowed people to cross over into the eternal kingdom of the Lord. Today, we must recognize Christ as the one true King who served as the Eternal High Priest. Unlike the Jewish high priest or a king of a specific kingdom, Jesus came to redeem all and to serve as King of all.
When you consider that the birth of Christ is the fulfillment of prophecy like Zechariah, how do you rejoice? The prophecies about the Messiah in the Old Testament affirm and provide evidence that Jesus was the "only begotten son." Is Jesus your High Priest and King?
