“Take silver and gold, make an ornate crown and set it on the head of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest. “Then say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, “Behold, a man whose name is Branch, He will branch out from where He is; and He will build the temple of the Lord. “Yes, it is He who will build the temple of the Lord, and He who will bear the honor and sit and rule on His throne.” (vv.11-13a)
Those who are familiar with the legends of King Arthur know that King Arthur’s quest was to unite England, and establish a just and righteous kingdom. His Knights of the Round Table lived by the code of chivalry that obligated them to defend the weak, to show mercy to their enemies, and to use their strength in the cause of goodness. But for all his noble efforts to achieve this, he ultimately failed in his quest.
However, the Bible speaks of a just and righteous kingdom that will never fail. One day God will send His perfect King (Jesus) whose kingdom will be just that, perfect! And in Him the offices of king and priest would be united. The symbolic action narrated here (the crowing of Joshua) speaks of that future man whose name is “The Branch.”
While these verses actually do relate to the current high priest named Joshua, and that the Temple would be completed during his term of office, this prophetic word not only authenticates the restoration of the office of the High Priest (represented by the man named Joshua) but it also looks ahead to the Messiah, the Man Christ Jesus – “The Branch” (Isaiah 11:1) - who would build the true Temple that exists elsewhere. (Rev. 11:19)
In the words of the prophet Haggai, “the desired of all nations will come” (2:7). He will “build the temple of the Lord,” that is, establish worship of the one true God throughout the earth (Zech. 6:13). “Those who are far away will come and help to build the temple of the Lord” (promised by God), meaning that Gentiles will also be involved in these events (v.15; Isa. 60:3–10)
The Truth: “Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord, “That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; A King shall reign and prosper, And execute judgment and righteousness in the earth. In His days Judah will be saved, And Israel will dwell safely; Now this is His name by which He will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. “ (Jeremiah 23 5-6)
