SCRIPTURE: Zechariah 6
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
Tell him this is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘Here is the man whose name is the Branch, and he will branch out from his place and build the temple of the LORD. It is he who will build the temple of the LORD, and he will be clothed with majesty and will sit and rule on his throne. And he will be a priest on his throne. And there will be harmony between the two.’ [Zechariah 6:12-13]
God’s appointed Ruler of the Universe is coming.
He will build God’s kingdom (symbolized by the temple, God’s dwelling among humanity on earth), and He will rule to the four corners (north, south, east, west) – as represented by the four chariots [see Revelation 7:1ff].
But what stands out is that He will unite the throne and the altar, He will be both king and priest, He will rule and He will remove the guilt of sin.

Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” [Matthew 20:25-28]
Jesus differentiates between a worldly and a godly ruler.
A godly ruler doesn’t order people around, they deny themselves for their subjects.
This was what a priest did; they devoted themselves to mediating between God and His people, taking away their sin through the sacrifices on the altar.
The king took care of ‘worldly matters’, the priest took care of ‘spiritual’ matters.
Jesus comes to do it all, to once and for all eliminate sin and establish God’s kingdom.

See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.” Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. [Revelation 5:5-6]
In this vision, John is encouraged to look to the Lion (think mighty ruler) of Judah; when he looks he sees a Lamb, looking as if it was slain, standing on the throne.
This lamb has the seven eyes (symbolizing all-seeing, all-knowing), and His rule extends into all the earth, i.e. the four corners!
He is the Lion (Throne, King) that is the Lamb (Altar, Priest), who brings harmony between worldly and spiritual matters, and unites everything under God.

Jesus is the One that will restore this world, and remove the curse.
He does this not by a sword (force, might) but by a sacrifice (service, self-denial), the way a godly ruler does.

PRAYER:
Lord, You are the best Ruler of all, the One this world needs to bring harmony and order and peace!