“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, for 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. Thus, He will be a priest on His throne, and the counsel of peace will be between the two offices” Zechariah 6:11-13

In an astonishing act, the prophet Zechariah was directed to crown the high priest, Joshua. Kings, not priests, were given royal crowns. But, there was great significance in this act: a coming One named “Branch” would build the temple of God, who would be both priest and king. It is not surprising that His name would also be Joshua - Yeshua, Jesus.

Jesus is the builder of a great temple, but not a brick and mortar one, as Peter so well stated: “you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” 1 Peter 2:5. As those being built into a spiritual temple, we too have the role of priest in harmony with our High Priest.

The crowning of a high priest in Zechariah’s time offered a glimpse of the coming great King on whom “many crowns were on His head” Revelation 19:12. We eagerly await the victorious coming of this king, and especially so in these challenging and difficult times. We live expectantly and hopefully, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus” Titus 2:13.

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