The BRANCH and the Stone of our Salvation May 27th 2001

The BRANCH and the Stone of our Salvation May 27^th 2001

Introduction: Two pictures of Christ here. The Branch and the Stone. These suggest vitality and stability respectively.

Zechariah 3:8 ¶Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou, and thy fellows that sit before thee: for they are men wondered at: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant the BRANCH.

As the BRANCH (not "a" branch!), according to Zech. 6:12-13:

12 And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD:

13 Even he shall build the temple of the LORD; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.

He shall grow up (v.12b)-past
He shall build (v.12c)-present
He shall rule (v.13b)-future

D. He shall bear the glory (v.13b)-eternity

The Lord Jesus is vitally active in all times and in eternity.

9 For behold the stone that I have laid before Joshua; upon one stone shall be seven eyes: behold, I will engrave the graving thereof, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day.

This is the Stone that the world sees as nothing.

Matthew 21:42 Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?

Jesus looks like nothing to the world but to us He is the Rock of our salvation!

The Stone has seven eyes upon it. This speaks of the Spirits fullness: "for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him." John 3:34.

God has given unto Him: Isaiah 11:2 And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;

Our text not only speaks of the eyes of the Lord or the fullness of the Spirit of the Lord but also of the eyes that are focused upon Him.

The Eye of God: Jesus served God and others perfectly. God said, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Matt. 3:17
The Eye of Satan: At His birth, in the wilderness, at Gethsemane, on the Cross. Satan had His wicked eye on the Lord all through Jesus’ life. Jesus said, "The prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me." John 14:30
The Eye of Man: The Bible makes it clear that Jesus was watched very carefully by men. Mark 3:2 And they watched him, whether he would heal him on the sabbath day; that they might accuse him. They watched, not becaused they cared for His teaching, but so they might destroy Him. When He was finally brought to the authorities the verdict was, "I…have found no fault in this man." Luke 23:14
The Eye of the Sinner: The message to the sinner is, "Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world" John 1:29. The sinner must look in order to live! The eye of the sinner is directed to Christ. If he looks in faith he will find eternal life.
The Eye of the believer now: Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. We only fail in this life if we take our eyes off the Lord. This is what happened to Peter. The focus of our life ought to be the Lord Jesus Christ.
The eye of the believer hereafter: 1 John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. We look for the Saviour and soon we shall look upon the Saviour. Philippians 3:20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:

Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like

unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able

even to subdue all things unto himself.

The eye of the sinner hereafter: "Every eye shall see Him" Rev.1:7 This

is His coming in judgement. Will He be your Saviour or Judge?