Sermon Notes - Zechariah 6:9-15 - The Branch - Rising Sun Baptist Church - October 11, 2026

 1.        Open your Bibles to Zechariah 6:9.

a.        We have moved beyond the night visions.

b.       Which means we go from some abstract imagery.

c.        That may have caused us to scratch our heads now and again.

d.       To prophesies that impacted them at that time.

e.        But that also pointed to the future.

2.        Have you ever been doing something and hope no one is watching?

a.        Not because you were doing anything wrong.

b.       But, because you know that if someone saw you they would be wondering what you were doing.

c.        Or why you were doing it that way.

3.        I suspect all of us can think of a time or two or ten or maybe more, where what we were doing would cause people to question what we were doing.

a.        There could be times that people might have wanted to or tried to stop us.

b.       Afraid that we were going to hurt ourselves.

c.        Or break something.

d.       Or hurt ourselves and break something.

e.        I know I get that look from some of my family if I try to stand on a ladder.

4.        People may even want to tell us that there is a correct way to do something.

5.        The last half of Zechariah 6 would fit in that category.

a.        People would have questioned what Zechariah was doing.

b.       And what it meant.

c.        It is a very important message for the people who have returned from exile.

d.       Helping them to see God had not forgotten them.

e.        At the same time, it contains a message for all humankind.

f.          For all who have put their faith in Jesus.

g.        But people would have been questioning what was going on.

6.        Zechariah 6:9

a.        What Zechariah was about to share is out of the norm.

b.       It would have raised some eyebrows.

c.        With the right or wrong crowd, depending on how you look at it.

d.       What he was about to do could have got him chased out of the city.

e.        But when we read these words, we know that it was of God.

f.          Not normal.

g.        Not what people would have expected.

h.        But completely of God.

7.        Kind of like telling someone that God is moving you to do something.

a.        Within the church family, it might be received with understanding or excitement.

b.       Outside the church family, they might think you have lost your mind.

c.        A call to ministry.

d.       A calling overseas.

e.        Serving at your local church.

f.          Giving to support a ministry or a need.

g.        To the world, if you are doing these things.

h.        They would think you might need a wake-up call.

i.          But when we know God is calling us.

j.          When the Holy Spirit is guiding us, there is no other option.

k.        We need to follow Him.

l.          Trust in Him.

m.     Even if we are not sure how it will play out.

8.        Zechariah 6:10

a.        We have four guys here.

b.       All of them are exiles who have returned to Jerusalem.

c.        Zechariah is to go gather an offering from three of them.

d.       And offering of gold and silver, which we will see in the next verse.

e.        And then take it to the 4^th guy’s house.

f.          Zechariah is supposed to go.

g.        To do.

h.        Not waste any time.

i.          There is some urgency here.

j.          Listen to what God is saying.

k.        Go collect the offering.

l.          And go where God is telling him to go.

9.        When the Holy Spirit is leading us to go somewhere or do something.

a.        We are to listen.

b.       Now Zechariah had no doubt that God was telling him what to do.

c.        For us it tends to be a gentle nudge.

d.       We might question if it is just us thinking we should do something.

e.        Here’s the thing.

f.          Most of the time when that happens.

g.        It is of God.

h.        When you feel you should go say hi to someone.

i.          Call a friend in need.

j.          Support a ministry.

k.        Pray for someone.

l.          Most of the time it is the Holy Spirit leading you.

m.     The more you listen, the easier it is to recognize when He is speaking to you.

10.   Zechariah 6:11

a.        In the original Hebrew, it says crowns, plural instead of a single crown.

b.       Could be one gold and one silver crown.

c.        Could be a multilayered crown.

d.       The important part here is that Zechariah was to make a crown and then crown the high priest.

11.   Now, there is nowhere in the OT law that you will find that the high priest was crowned.

a.        Crowns were for kings.

b.       A turban was for the high priest.

c.        This is one of those things that people would be questioning what was Zechariah doing.

d.       Why would he make crowns.

e.        And then where does putting them on the head of Joshua come from.

f.          It did not make sense.

g.        People would have been scratching their heads.

h.        Maybe question what all of this meant.

i.          Was Zechariah losing it.

j.          Was the pagan king Darius going to come after them.

k.        Was Zerubbabel going to feel betrayed.

l.          Something was not adding up.

12.   If we think back to a couple of weeks ago.

a.        Chapter 3, the 4^th night vision.

b.       Joshua was restored by Jesus.

c.        He was cleansed.

d.       He was given new clothes.

e.        Zechariah 3:8

f.          All that God was doing through Zechariah.

g.        Even the symbolic crowning of Joshua was a sign pointing to the Branch.

h.        Pointing to the coming Messiah.

i.          Our Lord and Savior Jesus.

13.   Zechariah 6:12

a.        Zechariah gave a message to Joshua the high priest.

b.       But the message was not about Joshua.

c.        It was about the Branch, or Jesus.

d.       Jesus was the one who will build the LORD’s temple.

e.        This does not refer to the temple that was being worked on at that time.

f.          There is confirmation here that it will be built.

g.        Zerubbabel will complete it by the Spirit of the Lord as we talked about a couple of weeks ago.

14.   This verse’s main point is that the Messiah will build a temple.

a.        Micah 4:1-5

b.       A temple that is above the mountains.

c.        People from all nations will stream to it.

d.       To learn from the Messiah.

e.        A time when weapons are no longer needed.

f.          A time that is still in our future.

15.   While the temple being built by Zerubbabel will be completed.

16.   Jesus will bring forth something so much greater.

17.   Zechariah 6:13

a.        In that day, the ideal situation was when the high priest and the king worked well together.

b.       Joshua being the high priest, appointed and confirmed by God.

c.        Zerubbabel, while not a king, was the political leader.

d.       He was the one God was working through.

e.        Ideally in that day, they were to work together to lead the people.

f.          One to protect and the other to keep them looking to God.

18.   In the future, their will be One who combines these two different roles.

a.        Hebrews 4:14-15

b.       Jesus is the Great High Priest.

c.        There has never been one like Him and never will be.

d.       The high priests had to sacrifice on a regular basis.

e.        Jesus only had to be sacrificed one time.

f.          The others were sinful men like us.

g.        Faulty and led astray.

h.        Jesus is perfect.

i.          The Son of God.

j.          The only One who could redeem us.

19.   Jesus is also the King of kings.

a.        Isaiah 9:6-7

b.       He will sit on the throne of David.

c.        Meaning He is of the line of David.

d.       One of David’s descendants.

e.        There will be no limit to His kingdom.

f.          Once He comes again, His kingdom will be established forever.

20.   While the people had Zerubbabel and Joshua.

a.        A political leader and the high priest.

b.       They worked together.

c.        The temple was being built.

d.       But one who is greater is still coming.

e.        Jesus the King of kings.

f.          The Great High Priest.

g.        He is both.

h.        He will fill both roles perfectly.

21.   Zechariah 6:14

a.        Joshua does not get to keep the crown.

b.       The exiles who gave the gold and silver.

c.        Where to put it into the temple as a reminder of what God has done.

d.       And what He will do.

22.   Hearing this prophecy and that these four men would place the crown in the temple.

a.        Would have been great news to the people.

b.       The temple was not complete yet.

c.        It was being worked on.

d.       They had heard that God was going to work mightily and Zerubbabel would place the capstone on it.

e.        But that had not happened yet.

f.          But it would while these 4 guys were still alive.

g.        It was a promise to the people.

h.        A promise that a faithful God kept.

i.          Something that was done roughly 4 years after this prophecy.

23.   At the same time the crowns being in the temple was a reminder that the Branch will come.

a.        Jeremiah 33:15-16

b.       He will administer justice and righteousness…

c.        He will rule His people as King.

d.       And lead in righteousness as The Great High Priest.

e.        Prophecy that has yet to be filled.

24.   Zechariah 6:15

a.        This final verse is a message to the people of that day.

b.       You are not alone.

c.        Others will come to help build the temple.

d.       Other exiles will return to Jerusalem.

e.        The Spirit of God is calling them home.

f.          Calling them to come and do their part.

25.   We saw this in the first couple of chapters of Zechariah.

a.        For example, Zechariah 2:6-7

b.       Judgement was coming to those who persecuted God’s people.

c.        And the people needed to return before that judgement fell.

26.   When we look at this verse today.

a.        It reminds us that the “C” church is made up of all people.

27.   Ephesians 2:14-22

a.        Through the Messiah, Jesus.

b.       We are all part of the family of God.

c.        If you have repented and have given your life to Jesus.

d.       You have an amazing future with Him.

e.        Fellow citizens.

f.          Saints.

g.        Members of God’s house.

h.        And filled with the Holy Spirit.

28.   Nothing better than that!

29.   Thoughts for the road:

a.        Is there something God has been leading you to do but you have been dragging your feet on, wondering what others will think? Step out in faith and let His will be done.

b.       You are not alone. God is with you as is this church family. If you need something, please reach out to a fellow Brother or Sister. On the other side, be available for your family.

c.        Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to lead you. Ask Him to put someone in your life that you can love on this week. Pointing them to Jesus by your actions and words.

30.   When it comes to following Jesus, some celebrate when we choose to do so and others think we have lost it.

a.        The thing is it is worth it.

b.       He takes away our sin.

c.        He cleanses us.

d.       Redeems us.

e.        Restores us to our rightful place.

f.          And we get forever with Him.

g.        Now to be clear, that does not mean our lives will be perfect.

h.        We are still going to have struggles.

i.          Financial woes.

j.          Medical issues.

k.        Relationship challenges.

l.          But, with Jesus we are never alone.

m.     He will never leave us.

n.        The Holy Spirit is working in us.

o.        And we have an amazing church family to help us stand when needed.

31.   What we have to do is believe that Jesus is God.

a.        That He died on the cross to pay for our sins.

b.       Rose from the dead to defeat death.

c.        Is sitting at the right hand of the Father today.

d.       Believe all that and repent of our sins.

e.        Are you ready to do that this morning.

f.          If that is you.

g.        I invite you up to the altar during our closing song, I would love to pray with you.

32.   If you are ready to follow Jesus in Baptism or want to join our wonderful church family, please talk to me or one of our deacons.