Zechariah 7-8

What’s Happening?

For decades, God’s people, who were never exiled from their homeland by Babylon, observed a series of five fasts during five different months (Zechariah 8:19). The fasts were a way to lament the loss of their kingdom and temple during the Babylonian siege. But, for two years now, the temple has been under construction. And thanks to Zechariah, in two years it will be finished (Ezra 6:15). It no longer seems appropriate to mourn. So a delegation from the nearby town of Bethel appoints the foreign-named man Sharezer to ask Zechariah if their town can stop fasting over the past (Zechariah 7:2-3).

But Zechariah answers Sharezer’s question with three questions of his own. Each exposes how their fasts were empty rituals devoid of real sorrow for the sins that destroyed the temple in the first place (Zechariah 7:5-7). They haven’t really mourned or fasted of the vices that caused their exile. Genuine sorrow and fasting would be accompanied by the justice their ancestors were exiled for and failed to embody. Fasting over a ruined kingdom and temple means nothing if God’s people refuse to “fast” from the sins that invited Babylon in the first place (Zechariah 7:9-10). 

But if God’s people truly fast and repent of their sins, God will rebuild not just their kingdom, but the garden of Eden once again. In love, God will return to his people. And in power, he will make Jerusalem just and fair once again (Zechariah 8:2-3). In peace, men and women will grow old and watch their grandchildren play in the streets (Zechariah 8:4-5), while people from all over the world will join this new Eden (Zechariah 8:6-8). If God’s people repent of their sins and become the just, loving, and peaceful people he created them to be, God will bring his Kingdom to them (Zechariah 8:9-17).

Zechariah then finally answers Sharezer’s question about fasting. He says that God intends to turn all his days of fasting into days of feasting (Zechariah 8:18-19). And the foreign-named Sharezer should be confident this will be a day of celebration, not just for Israel, but the entire world (Zechariah 8:10-23).

Where is the Gospel?

Zechariah’s message was, if God’s people want God to rebuild their kingdom, they must repent. This was also the message of Jesus. His first words in Mark’s Gospel are, “The Kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news” (Mark 1:15). This makes Jesus a new Zechariah; a prophet announcing both the hope and arrival of God’s Edenic Kingdom. 

But more than just a prophet, Jesus also fasts and repents on our behalf. Throughout all his life Jesus “fasted” from all the sins that destroyed the old temple, but he was nevertheless destroyed just like it (Galatians 1:4; John 2:19-21). He did this because, in refusing to commit the sins of his people but by being destroyed as they deserved, Jesus took away the threat of exile. God cannot exile us for the sins Jesus has repented of and was judged for in our place (Romans 8:1). 

We are free to repent of what we have done wrong in hopes of entering God’s coming Edenic Kingdom. In love, Jesus has removed exile as a consequence of our sin. In power, Jesus will make us more just and sinless than we’ve ever been or done before. In peace, we won’t just grow old, but live forever in a Kingdom he will soon bring to earth. Then we will no longer fast, repent, or say sorry. Instead, we will feast with God and the brothers and sisters around the world who are a part of God’s New Eden (Revelation 19:6-9).

See for Yourself

I pray that the Holy Spirit will open your eyes to see the God who promises to recreate his Kingdom. And may you see Jesus as the resurrected Temple and King for all who repent.