Jesus in the Minor Prophets

March 04|Make it Real Series

< Back

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. Zechariah 9:9

Read: Zechariah 9:9-13
Listen: Zechariah 9

TODAY’S MESSAGE

This year, we are looking for Jesus in the Old Testament to see how God’s plan always included Jesus saving us from our sins. As we anticipate Easter, we see prophets who foreshadow Jesus’s coming and specific events in his final days.

Zechariah, the priest, ministers in Jerusalem post-exile. Opposition stalls the rebuilding of the temple and people grow deeply discouraged. Zechariah reminds them that God watches them, is still working and will restore all things at just the right time. He points to Jesus through the coming Branch, a ruler from the line of David (Zechariah 3:8, 6:9-15, 9:9-10). The coming King will ride into Jerusalem on a donkey, pointing to Jesus’s triumphal entry before his trial and crucifixion (Zechariah 9:9). He will be a good shepherd and not desert his flock (Zechariah 11, 13:7-9). The prophet also points to salvation in Jesus, who will be pierced and mourned for (Zechariah 12:10).

Malachi writes after the temple was rebuilt. They feel disillusioned and don’t seem to experience what God promised. They suffer economic hardship, drought and crop failure. They wait for the coming Messiah. Malachi prophesies of Jesus’s coming with the promise of a messenger preparing the way, who will be John the Baptist (Malachi 3:1). Malachi also promises that the Lord they seek will suddenly come to his temple (Malachi 3:1). Jesus fulfills this when he arrives at the temple as an infant with Mary and Joseph. The prophet also points to a refiner who will purify and cleanse (Malachi 3:2-3). Imagery of the sun of righteousness who brings healing points to Jesus too (Malachi 4:2).

Hosea writes during one of the most turbulent and trying times before captivity and exile. The book often depicts Israel’s unfaithfulness through nature and family imagery. Even Hosea’s life offers a picture of God and his people. While Israel is like an unfaithful wife, God is the faithful husband who loves and calls her back to himself. The picture of faithful, enduring love despite unfaithfulness foreshadows Jesus’s love and willingness to pay a great price to redeem people to himself. Hosea looks forward to a king like David, who will ultimately be Jesus (Hosea 3:1-5). Hosea looks forward to Jesus’s resurrection with a picture of being raised up on the third day so people can live before him (Hosea 6:2).

TODAY: Ask God to open your eyes to how the prophets point to Jesus as you read this month. Thank him that his plan always included sending Jesus to die for our sins.