Zechariah's First Burden - The Announcement of Zion's King

This passage is a critically important part of the Old Testament's revelation of the Messiah, evident in the fact that it is cited in all four of the gospel accounts. But too often it is not considered in its prophetic context; this announcement of Zion's king highlights the fact that his coming was to secure the purging and ingathering of the nations as well as the remnant of Israel and Judah. Zechariah's prophecy is explicit in declaring that Zion's restoration in the Branch of David was to consist in the reconciliation and ingathering of the world of men; in Paul's words, the formation of one new man in Christ.