I’m Jemima L Yeggs, a.k.a. Stinker. Pink Lady Apple Yeggs, my landlady and my auntie, wants to read about how younger people, especially couples respond to what the Bible says. And she wants to know how God is at work at Lily the Pink.
Mary, Arabella, and I were in our “green room.”
Stormie and Joan were already in the classroom playing with the other children. I think Easy was watching them. Ethan was on the swooning couch having a snack from his mommy.
Arabella was fixing my hair, “I was very surprised that you kept the class going last week. We have more meat this week.”
I replied, “Arabella, we should be able to find Jesus in everything. As John starts out, nothing was made that did not have Jesus having a say in it. So, if all the earth screams of God’s glory…”
Arabella grumbled, “Why don’t the Evolutionists understand?”
I turned to B.B., “Did you hear that, B.B.? Arabella is going political on us!”
Arabella groaned, “I didn’t say that! But is that the answer?”
B.B. moaned, “Fireball, some of them have their entire career wrapped around evolution. Instead of admitting defeat and losing their cushy jobs, they make excuses for why the data does not support their ideas. Some are profound atheists with their heads in the sand, refusing to see any trace of God. And others have drunk the happy drink and are profoundly worshipping Darwin. But Stinker was making a point that since the world shouts that God made it, we should see God in the Scriptures and particularly Jesus in some sort of way throughout the Scriptures.” Mary burped Ethan and we were off to the class.
Arabella held the door and bowed.
Mary gathered Ethan into her arms.
Rev. Joseph led us in prayer.
Emmett and the choir sang House on Sale.
I asked, “That was different. Where did you find that song?”
Emmett laughed, “A friend of a friend. He’s starting to write some worship music, and Haggai 1:5-7, 9 spoke to him.”
I smiled, “Tell your friend to tell his friend that he did a great job. And I loved the beat.”
Samuel asked, “Where are we searching for Jesus today, Aunt Jemima?”
I smiled, “We are looking at Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi. Arabella, do you need Mr. Dictionary?”
Arabella nodded, “Was Haggai an old woman? And is Bonnie’s son related to the biblical Zechariah? And is Mall Latch Chee Italian or Japanese? And the usual Who, When, Where stuff.”
Easy said, “Arabella, are you trying to offend three nations in one question? It’s Malachi. I get your idea of an Old Hag, but… You’re wrong. And do you realize there were 34 Zechariahs in the Bible. The first is a descendant of Reuben in the 1 Chronicles chronologies, chapter 5. The last is the husband of Elizabeth, the father of John the Baptist.“
Arabella shrugged, “Can you give me the Bible references for all 34, Mr. Dictionary? I want to know if my young farm hand is related to any of the 34 Zechariahs.”
Easy said, “Sure, but another time, Fireball. Looking up 34 people in the Bible would take the entire class period.”
Arabella said, “Sure, I’ll come by your apartment when we get back.”
I growled, “Arabella, you do realize that the last one lived over 2000 years ago and Zechariah is just a biblical name that means ‘the Lord remembers’. There is no way you can trace Zechariah back to a biblical Zechariah. Bonnie was the mother. She did not know the father. And she went to the Bible and liked the name Zechariah.”
Arabella smiled, “It was worth a try. Thank you, Mr. Dictionary, but what about the Who, what, where stuff?”
Easy smiled, “All three were post-exile Judah prophets. They think Malachi was the last, but the experts say that Haggai and Zechariah were in Jerusalem at the same time as Zerubbabel, the governor who first returned with people to rebuild the temple on Cyrus the Great’s orders.”
Arabella asked, “Can you say Zerubbabel three times really fast?”
Easy shook his head, but Stormie came from the play area and said, “Zerubababababababababababa…”
I snickered, “Nice try, Stormie. But please do not encourage Arabella.”
Stormie giggled, “I think she’s funny.”
Easy groaned, “Haggai – ‘In the second year of King Darius, on the first day of the sixth month, the word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest:’ (Haggai 1:1). That identifies the time. Nothing else, other than a few mentions in Ezra along with Zechariah. And Haggai might be fairly old. ‘‘Who of you is left who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Does it not seem to you like nothing?’ (Haggai 2:3). They think because he asked the question, he may have been one of those in Ezra who wept when the foundation was laid. ‘But many of the older priests and Levites and family heads, who had seen the former temple, wept aloud when they saw the foundation of this temple being laid, while many others shouted for joy.’ (Ezra 3:12). And Haggai is not mentioned nearly as often in the history books, but here is one of the two. ‘Now Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the prophet, a descendant of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, who was over them.’ (Ezra 5:1). But that is just a guess. Let’s move on to Malachi. His name means ‘my messenger’. Some scholars think this might have been a pen name and the author wanted to remain anonymous. But it could be a person who lived about a hundred years after the other two, still more than 300 years before Jesus was born, maybe 350-425 years. ‘A prophecy: The word of the Lord to Israel through Malachi.’ (Malachi 1:1). You could read that easily as the word of the Lord to Israel from God’s messenger.”
Arabella smiled, “You skipped Zechariah.”
Easy took in a deep breath, “Okay, Zechariah number 23, at least 23rd Zechariah mentioned in the Bible. ’In the eighth month of the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came to the prophet Zechariah son of Berekiah, the son of Iddo:’ (Zechariah 1:1). Notice that the times of their prophecies, the gap between Haggai and Zechariah is only two months. But to find our more of who Zechariah is, in Ezra ’ and I ordered them to go to Iddo, the leader in Kasiphia. I told them what to say to Iddo and his fellow Levites, the temple servants in Kasiphia, so that they might bring attendants to us for the house of our God.’ (Ezra 8:17). So that puts Iddo in the tribe of Levi. Now to nail it down. ‘These were the priests and Levites who returned with Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and with Joshua: Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra, Amariah, Malluk, Hattush, Shekaniah, Rehum, Meremoth, Iddo, Ginnethon, Abijah,’ (Nehemiah 12:1-4). And in the 16th verse, it identifies Zechariah as a descendant of Iddo again. So, Zechariah was of the line of Iddo who was a priest. Zechariah was of the priestly line.”
Arabella asked, “Who was Zerubbabababa… What Stormie said.”
That just encouraged Stormie and Joan to say, “bababababababa.” And giggle.
Easy smiled, “Zerubbabel was of the house of David, most thinking that he is in the kingly line, listed in the Matthew genealogy. There is a Zerubbabel in the Luke genealogy, son of Shealtiel, but the generations before and after are different. There are a lot of people named today after an uncle, especially a prominent one. But as a royal, Cyrus trusted him to go to Jerusalem and start building the temple. He built the temple, but then Ezra went about sixty years later. That is all I have, Arabella. And Sweetie, I know these prophets end with these three, but I need a raise.”
I snickered, “I’ll add an extra zero to the end of what you are already making.”
Arabella smiled, “Thank you, Mr. Dictionary.”
Professor Angus (Haggai 2:9) “‘The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,’ says the Lord Almighty. ‘And in this place I will grant peace,’ declares the Lord Almighty.”
Angus said,”The temple of Zerubbabel was in no way as grand as Solomon’s temple, so this is speaking of Jesus. We can add the last verse of Haggai. ‘‘The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,’ says the Lord Almighty. ‘And in this place I will grant peace,’ declares the Lord Almighty.”’ (Haggai 2:23). This let’s me think that the Zerubbabel in Matthew’s genealogy is the one spoken of here. You give the king the signet ring, and that would go to Jesus.”
Arabella (Haggai 2:6) ““This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘In a little while I will once more shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land.”
Arabella said, “This is quoted in Hebrews. ’At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.”’ (Hebrews 12:26). The author of Hebrews is tying the prophecy of Haggai to Jesus.”
I smiled, “Thank you, Arabella.”
Arabella said, “Watch out, Michael, she’s coming to you.” I laughed.
Dr. Ellie (Zechariah 1:11-13) “And they reported to the angel of the Lord who was standing among the myrtle trees, ‘We have gone throughout the earth and found the whole world at rest and in peace.’ Then the angel of the Lord said, “Lord Almighty, how long will you withhold mercy from Jerusalem and from the towns of Judah, which you have been angry with these seventy years?” So the Lord spoke kind and comforting words to the angel who talked with me.”
Dr. Ellie said, “This might be a Christophany. When prophets have these visions, it is hard to know if there was substance to the person in the vision. They don’t eat food or anything. But the angel of the Lord under the myrtle tree intercedes with God for mercy. That sounds a lot like what Jesus does for us now.”
Michael Rowe Casey (Zechariah 3:1-5) ‘Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right side to accuse him. The Lord said to Satan, “The Lord rebuke you, Satan! The Lord, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebuke you! Is not this man a burning stick snatched from the fire?” Now Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood before the angel. The angel said to those who were standing before him, “Take off his filthy clothes.” Then he said to Joshua, “See, I have taken away your sin, and I will put fine garments on you.” Then I said, “Put a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him, while the angel of the Lord stood by.’
Michael said, “This is kind of what Mom said. Is this a vision or is this flesh and blood. Regardless, it is Jesus rebuking Satan. But from what I read, God was reestablishing the role of high priest through the vision. Joshua would become the high priest interceding for the people with God.”
I smiled, “Thank you, Michael. And Arabella, I normally call on both members of a couple in a row, but when you do that, it diminishes my status as the teacher. I know it was a joke, but I had to avoid my routine.”
Arabella smiled, “I’m sorry, Aunt Jemima.”
Dr. Ben (Zechariah 2:5) ‘And I myself will be a wall of fire around it,’ declares the Lord, ‘and I will be its glory within.’”
Dr. Ben said, “We can compare this to Isaiah 27 … “‘And in that day a great trumpet will sound. Those who were perishing in Assyria and those who were exiled in Egypt will come and worship the Lord on the holy mountain in Jerusalem.’ (Isaiah 27:13). And then, in Matthew 24… ‘And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.’ (Matthew 24:31). And the last one being Jesus quoting from the Old Testament and talking about the second coming when Israel is reunited.”
Blaise (Zechariah 8:16) “These are the things you are to do: Speak the truth to each other, and render true and sound judgment in your courts;”
Blaise said, “This verse is quoted in Ephesians. ‘Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.’ (Ephesians 4:25). Besides being a New Testament quote, it is in alignment with what Jesus taught.”
Marguerite (Zechariah 9:9) “Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”
Margie said, “This is the way Jesus came in Jerusalem for the Triumphal Entry. But it says this in Isaiah 62. “The Lord has made proclamation to the ends of the earth: “Say to Daughter Zion, See, your Savior comes! See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him.’ (Isaiah 62:11). And then in Matthew… ‘“Say to Daughter Zion, See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’”’ (Matthew 21:5).”
I nodded, “I will do the next one. ‘I told them, “If you think it best, give me my pay; but if not, keep it.” So they paid me thirty pieces of silver. And the Lord said to me, “Throw it to the potter”—the handsome price at which they valued me! So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them to the potter at the house of the Lord.’’ (Zechariah 11:12-13). This is quoted in Matthew 27. ‘Then what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: “They took the thirty pieces of silver, the price set on him by the people of Israel, and they used them to buy the potter’s field, as the Lord commanded me.”’ (Matthew 27:9-10). Of course, this is the price Judas Iscariot was paid for betraying Jesus.”
Bart (Zechariah 12:10) ““And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son.”
Bart said, “This verse is quoted in John. ‘and, as another scripture says, “They will look on the one they have pierced.”’ (John 19:37). And in Revelation. ‘“Look, he is coming with the clouds,” and “every eye will see him, even those who pierced him”; and all peoples on earth “will mourn because of him.” So shall it be! Amen.’ (Revelation 1:7). And this is about Jesus in that his hands and feet were pierced as well as His side.”
Tamara (Zechariah 13:7) ““Awake, sword, against my shepherd, against the man who is close to me!” declares the Lord Almighty. “Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered, and I will turn my hand against the little ones.”
Tamara said, “And then in Matthew… ‘“Then Jesus told them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written: “‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ (Matthew 26:31). This is Jesus saying this, so it ties to Jesus directly. This is when Jesus says that in a few hours His disciples will scatter.”
Grannie Fannie (Malachi 3:1) ““I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,” says the Lord Almighty.”
Grannie Fannie said, “This is about John the Baptist preparing the way for Jesus. One of the places this is quoted is in Mark. ‘as it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way”—’ (Mark 1:2).”
Lancelot (Malachi 4:5-6) ““See, I will send the prophet Elijah to you before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes. He will turn the hearts of the parents to their children, and the hearts of the children to their parents; or else I will come and strike the land with total destruction.”
Lance said, “This again is talking about John the Baptist preparing the way for Jesus. It is also in Luke. “And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”’ (Luke 1:17).”
I said, “And now Grannie Fannie will close us with our benediction.”
Grannie Fannie (Galatians 1:3-5) “Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”
Grannie Fannie winked, “I love these benedictions. And I can feel your prayers at night.”
Lauren ran up to Grannie Fannie and hugged her. “Are you ready to drive us?”
Brooke said, “Stormie, church time!”
Stormie laughed and said, “Aunt Brooke. Church! Yay!”
Credits
When I am using quoted verses in the New Testament, I got those verses (different translations) from Seeing Jesus – Bible Encounter Study Guide by Marilyn Hickey. The concept of doing this in a Sunday school setting is based on her book. In rare cases, maybe another connection. The rest is from internet searches, a variety of commentaries and study Bibles, and personal knowledge.
Here is the House on Sale from my son. This is played by Suno. The voice is based on a voice print of his voice. The song is based on Haggai 1:5-7, 9. The style is Samba Dirty South. Some of it is his writing and then Suno filled in the gaps.
Soli Deo Gloria. Only to God be the Glory.
Thoughts from Mark "Hat" Rackley 
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