Jerusalem - December 21

Wednesday December 21 – Jerusalem

We had stopped along the road during a mission trip to grab a quick bite to eat. Normally we would pile into a fast-food place for the convenience factor. However, this particular stop lacked those options and we found ourselves in a mom-and-pop shop taking a break and refueling. The prices were extremely low and initially, we thought we had hit the honeypot! However, after trying the food, we realized that it was overpriced. It was far inferior even to McDonalds. From that point on, we were wary of a bargain. The low price generally meant that the product was inferior.

Heartbreak in Jerusalem: The Messiah would be betrayed for thirty pieces of silver.

Zechariah 11:12-13 Then I said to them, “If it seems right to you, give me my wages; but if not, keep them.” So they weighed my wages, thirty pieces of silver.

“Throw it to the potter,” the Lord said to me – this magnificent price I was valued by them. So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw it into the house of the Lord, to the potter.

Zechariah records two sign-acts in these verses. These are non-verbal actions and objects used by the prophets to help communicate the message God intended for the audience. It is a visual aid, a sermon illustration, if you will. Zechariah is condemning the nation of Israel for their rejection of the Lord. He also rebukes prideful and arrogant shepherds who lack humility in leadership.

Here Zechariah tells of a breaking of a covenant with the people he has been called to serve. He then requests his wages but gives the nation the option to refuse payment in case the prophet has broken the agreement. They weigh out the wages, a common practice in the early Persian period when coinage was not in general use. This low amount also reflects disapproval of the shepherd’s efforts. The quality of the leadership was inferior as it was proud. And the quality of obedience within the community was such that God had decided to condemn it. However, being perfect in compassion and omnibenevolent, God chose to respond in love to restore those who repent.

Having received his wages, the prophet quickly reports a second sign-act. God instructs the shepherd to throw the payment to the “potter,” who, according to the instruction, is in “the house of the Lord.” Throwing the silver into the temple implies that the personnel who should receive this low amount for this unfavorable action works in the temple. The tone here is one of strong rejection of payment, highlighting the broken relationship. These two sign-acts signal an end to the covenant with the nations.

Zerubbabel was a good leader, yet he was rejected by the people. And despite this rejection, God appears and offers to cleanse and forgive them. This leads the people to repentance. This predicts the rejection of another from Zerubbabel’s line would be rejected. It connects directly to the mission of Jesus in the New Testament. There is clearly the foreshadowing of the rejection Jesus would face from the spiritual leadership.

Of course, this is seen clearly in the fulfillment through Judas Iscariot. Connecting this passage of Zechariah is a clear condemnation of the poor job of leading the people that the scribes and temple leadership had been doing. The low payment and throwing back into the temple not only condemns the poor shepherding, but it also represents the broken relationship between Judas and the Lord.

Despite the spiritual community’s unwillingness to submit to the authority and leadership of Jesus, He still came and was offered as a sacrifice and because of that, those who did surrender to the Lord could experience forgiveness for their sins. Jesus came and would confront the flock with the truth of their sinfulness and provide for them an opportunity to experience salvation.

The humble Shepherd Savior is able to lead us into the presence of the Father through repentance. While many will reject the humble sacrifice of the Messiah, and others will abandon the Messiah, and still another will betray the Messiah, those who trust Jesus will experience life.

Then one of the Twelve, the man called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?” So they weighed out thirty pieces of silver for him. And from that time he started looking for a good opportunity to betray him. Matthew 26:14-15

Father, thank you for the humble Savior you provided for us, to restore us back to you. Help us to come to you in repentance and to remain obedient and humble. Amen