Devotional Blog Sunday, July 10

Daily Devotional for Sunday, July 10

The Branch

Any multitaskers out there? In today’s busy world, it seems you must be able to multitask. But there is none who can multitask like Jesus. Think of all that Jesus does in a day: advocating, interceding, mediating and keeping the whole universe together. The reading today tells you of another multitask of the Lord. He is both High Priest and King of kings. 

Both Isaiah and Jeremiah prophesied the coming Branch (Isaiah 11:1; Jeremiah 23:5; 33:15). This prophetic title refers to Jesus as King sprouting from the lineage of David and fulfilling the Davidic Covenant (2 Samuel 7:12, 13). Jesus will fulfill this prophecy when He comes again as King of kings and sits on the throne of David in His millennial kingdom (Revelation 19:16; 20:4). 

No king in Israel’s history served as high priest. When King Saul offered sacrifices in an effort to rally his troops, his kingship was taken from him (1 Samuel 13:9-14). Later, God struck King Uzziah with leprosy for burning incense in the Temple (2 Chronicles 26:16-21). The point is that only Jesus can rightfully serve as both King and High Priest. 

Zechariah’s prophecy connects the offices of priest and king in the Branch. Zechariah commanded that the crown (“crowns” in the KJV, but the Hebrew plural indicates a great crown) be placed on Joshua the high priest (Zechariah 6:11). With this symbolic act, Zechariah was prophesying that the coming Branch would be both priest and king in Israel. No one fits this prophecy but Jesus. “He shall be a priest upon his throne” (verse 13).

Thought: Jesus is both Priest and King.

Phillip Miller