Zerubbabel and Joshua (Christ typology)

Zerubbabel & Joshua (Ezra 3-6; Zechariah 3-6)

As a punishment for Israel’s rebellion, God allowed the Babylonian Empire to destroy Jerusalem, the temple, and take the Jews captive to Babylon. After 70 years, God allowed the Jews to return to Jerusalem. One of the tasks the Jews had was to rebuild the temple. Zerubbabel (a descendant of David) and Joshua (a high priest) were the leaders that God chose to accomplish this task.

God is building His new temple (Romans 12:5). Paul explains the church by comparing it with a “body” (1 Corinthians 12:12-31). God builds this temple by giving gifts to every believer (1 Corinthians 12:7). Some of the gifts the Apostle Paul lists are gifts of wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, prophecy, tongues, teaching, administration, serving, encouraging, leadership, mercy, and love.

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ZERUBBABEL & JOSHUA / CHRIST (Typology)

• Zerubbabel was the son of David, heir to the throne and leader of Israel in his day (Ezra 2:1-2; see Matthew 1:13 and Luke 3:27). / Jesus Christ is the son of David and King of Israel. He is the leader of all God’s people (Luke 1:32-33).

• Zerubbabel helped lay the foundation and completed the second temple (Zechariah 4:9; Ezra 3:11, 6:4-15). / Jesus’ body, which was raised from the ground, is the new temple and His people are called a “body,” which is that “temple” on earth (John 2:19-22; Romans 12:5; 1 Corinthians 12:27; 1 Corinthians 3:10; Ephesians 2:21).

• Zerubbabel laid the capstone of the rebuilt temple to shouts of “Grace, grace to it” (Zechariah 4:7). / Jesus is called the cornerstone ((Acts 4:11; Ephesians 2:20; 1 Peter 2:7). He is the foundation and source of God’s grace (John 1:17).

• Joshua was the priest in Israel at the time the temple was about to be rebuilt (Zechariah 3:1). / Jesus’ name is the New Testament Greek form of the Old Testament Hebrew name Joshua. He is the true and ultimate High Priest (Hebrews 7).

• God clothed Joshua with clean garments so he could stand in the presence of the Holy God (Zechariah 3:3-5). / Christ clothes us with His righteousness (Galatians 3:27). He is standing in the heavenly temple in the robes of the Great High Priest (Revelation 1:12-18).

• Satan tried to accuse him, but God Himself defended Joshua (Zechariah 3:1-5). / Satan tried to destroy Jesus, but Jesus defeated Satan (Hebrews 2:14).

• Both Joshua and Zerubbabel were spoken of as anointed ones who stand before the Lord (Zechariah 4:14). / “Christ” is the New Testament Greek for the Old Testament Hebrew word “Messiah,” which means “anointed one.”

Category: Typology