Introduction and Context

Start of a New Sermon Series on the Prophet Zechariah

• Why Zechariah? The book serves as a continuation after Haggai; both prophets were contemporaries.
• Zechariah began his message two months after Haggai—a sign that Haggai’s message alone wasn’t enough.
• Haggai was direct and stirring: He called the people to rebuild the temple.
• Zechariah, on the other hand, is more detailed (14 chapters) and complex, filled with numerous visions and prophetic imagery.

What Is Zechariah About?

• The book provides deep insight into the spiritual reality behind events.
• It contains night visions and end-time imagery that reveal what is happening spiritually and what will happen.
• Mysterious and symbolic elements: A flying scroll, a woman stuffed into a basket and carried away.
• Prophetic images that point far beyond their time into the future.

Key Verses and Central Messages

• A particularly well-known verse: Zechariah 4:6 – “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit.”
• The way God worked back then remains relevant today.
• Many of Zechariah’s prophecies point to Jesus Christ as the promised Messiah.

Messianic Prophecies in Zechariah

• Jesus as the fulfillment of all the hopes of Israel and all humanity.
• Clear predictions about Jesus, including:
• 30 pieces of silver for which He was betrayed.
• The stricken shepherd who is sacrificed yet remains victorious.
• The building of the new temple by the Messiah—a reference to Jesus’ role as a spiritual builder.
• Jesus as both King and Priest—a unique position only He holds.
• His first and second comings are addressed in the book.
• The ultimate reign of peace by Christ at the end of time.

Historical Background

• The people had returned from Babylonian captivity; about 50,000 were living in Jerusalem again.
• Outwardly, everything seemed fine, but spiritually, the people were not yet restored.
• The big question: Where was God’s presence? Why was God’s glory no longer in the temple?

The Loss of God’s Presence

A look back at the visions of the prophet Ezekiel:

• God’s glory gradually left the temple before the Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem.
• Ezekiel 9–11: The glory of God departs from the Holy of Holies, then the temple, then the city.
• Afterward, Jerusalem is destroyed—not because the Babylonians were so strong, but because God was no longer in their midst.
• When the people returned from exile and rebuilt the temple, God’s glory did not automatically return.

The Core Message of Zechariah

• It’s not just the outward rebuilding that matters, but an inner turning back to God.
• Zechariah calls the people to spiritual renewal.
• Zechariah 1:3: “Return to me, and I will return to you.”
• The call to repentance is central: It’s not enough to be religious on the outside.
• Repentance means not just turning away from evil, but actively turning toward God.

God’s Response to Genuine Repentance

When someone turns from false ways, God meets them directly.
Similar to the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15):

• The father doesn’t wait passively but runs to meet the returning son.
• Likewise, God meets everyone who turns to Him.
• James 4:8: “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.”

A Warning from the Past

• Zechariah warns against repeating the mistakes of their ancestors.
• Their forefathers also heard prophets but didn’t listen—with disastrous consequences.
• A call for an immediate response: “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts” (Hebrews 3:7-8).

God’s Word Endures

• People die, but God’s Word remains forever.
• The temple was rebuilt, but without God’s presence, it was incomplete.
• The true goal: The spiritual restoration of the people.

What Does This Mean for Us Today?

• We, too, live between God’s promises and a often challenging reality.
• Do we long for God’s tangible presence?
• What is the state of our spiritual relationship with God?
• Is our faith merely external, or have we truly repented?

The Path to a Genuine Encounter with God

• In Zechariah’s time, animal sacrifices were required to stand before God.
• Today, there is the perfect sacrifice: Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God.
• His blood has provided final atonement—no more yearly sacrifices needed.
• True repentance brings us into God’s presence—and there we find real life.