Making much of Jesus

Zechariah – God remembered

“...the apple of His eye” (2.8)

Lesson point: Do you really understand how much the Lord Jesus cares for you?

Our key verse today is (2.8) the apple of the eye is another word given for the pupil and means “to hollow out.”

1. The book of Zechariah opens up with visions of “a man riding on a red horse, myrtle trees, speckled and white horses. (1.8) Many other visions are given to this prophet in the way of dreams. All this is signficant for the people for a future date. But we will not spend time on examining them at this time.

• The Lord sometimes gives a warning or a sense of things to come to help us when we don't understand circumstances.
• For example – the year before a major negative event took place in my life I had the following things occur: a snake slithering across the driveway looking straight at me! He slithered off without incident; A storage building burned to the ground taking all our yard tools with it, fortunately the fire dept put out the fire before it could get out of control towards my house or the neighbors; my husband called late one night on the way home from work and said his brakes went out would I come pick him up.
• I'm not saying every negative event points to a bad thing happening but it's wise to pray about these things to find out if there is something that should be learned from it. If not, simply trust that the Lord has a purpose...

2. Then the Lord says He is “jealous for Jerusalem.” (1.14) He wants to comfort the post exiled people who have lost and suffered so much.

• He understands and knows when His children suffer...So it is with believers -

3. Now, Cut out the apple and when done stop and I will show you how to cut out the hole in the middle.

Then, look through the hole.

What do you see?

Look at the same object with both eyes, what do you see?

Do you see more or less when looking through the hole

Obviously, you see less – but would you say you are focused more when looking through the hole or when looking through both eyes?

Of course, when looking through the hole with one eye. So it is with the Lord when He tells us we are “....the apple of His eye.” He is focused on individuals, with purpose and intent if one belongs to Him.

• As noted in our key verse, scripture tells us “he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of His eye.” (2.8)
• Do you like it when someone touches the center of your eye or something gets in your eye so that it tears up and you can't see clearly what is in front of you? No, of course not
• Well, the Lord is very particular when someone “touches” one of His children. In fact, if someone harms you in any way, I wouldn't want to be standing in their shoes when God visits judgment on that person!

• A few more verses about how the Lord feels regarding “the apple of His eye.”

Deu 32:10 He found him in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness; he led him about, he instructed him, he kept him as the apple of his eye. (stays focused on where you are at all times, do you know where you are with Him?)

Psa 17:8 Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings, Such tenderness to keep us from harm according to His will. We are in the center of His field of vision and He even “hides us under His wings.” Another comforting thought when all around is stormy and dark.

Pro 7:2 Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye. His one request is that we keep His Word and His law in the same way, the CENTER of everything we do.

If He cares so much for us how is it that we can walk IN the CENTER of His vision or the “apple of His eye?

4. Through the One who is known as “my Servant the Branch.” 3.8 The Lord Jesus is referred to as “the branch,” in Isa 4.2, 11.1; Jer 23.5, 33.15), that is, the Messiah, “of the seed of David according to the flesh.”

But HOW can we stay in the center of His view even when we know Him through the Lord Jesus?

5. Then, we are comforted by these words: “...Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit saith the Lord of hosts.” (4.6) Remember, we have been promised “the Comforter” by the Lord Jesus Himself, which is the Holy Ghost who shows up in Acts 2.

6. How is it one can “know” Him? Especially, since according Zechariah tells us in (13.6) “(He was) wounded in the house of (His) friends...” Where did He get those wounds? At Calvary

Okay, to recap:

1. He warns through dreams
2. He is jealous of His people
3. His people are the center of His focus or “the apple of His eye.”
4. He gave us “the way, the truth and the life,” in His “Servant the Branch” who is the Lord Jesus
5. We don't have to go in our own strength because it is by “His might, power and Spirit” life can be at it's best
6. We can know Him because of the “wounds” He received “in the house of His friends.”

As a believer, do you see the Lord Jesus in the book of Zechariah? Where? The Servant Branch, the wounds in His hands

Do you believe you are “the apple of His eye?”

If not, where can you find out? At Calvary

Are you the reason He has “wounds in His hands?”

Do you want to take comfort in the truth that you are always in the center of His focus? You can if you have trusted and believed on Him to forgive you of your sins and confessed Him as Lord and Saviour and then live for Him with all the light you have.

Look through your apple one more time – Does He see you that way? He does, if you belong to Him