August 17, 2023
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Reading along with us in Zechariah? Here’s today’s reading:
Zechariah 3 (NIV)
Clean Garments for the High Priest
1 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. 2 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?”…..Continue Reading
In this 4th vision Zechariah sees a vison of Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord. He is clothed with filthy garments or sin and is made clean. Satan is standing at his right hand to resist him. Satan is the accuser of the brethren. The Lord rebuked him. Joshua who was the high priest during this time is symbolic of the High Priest that is to come. The Branch [ Jesus ] is that high priest that will take away the sin of the world in one day. In verse 8 we are told that Joshua is symbolic of the Branch to come. Jesus our High Priest, our Savior, the Lamb of God. Instead of the high priest sacrificing a lamb for atonement for sin once a year, Jesus instead offered Himself as The Lamb of God once for all. Hebrews 10;11,12 [ And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But this man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God. ] Thank you Jesus.
Zechariah 3
Jesus, the Branch, that will come to make us clean like Joshua in this vision. The ultimate sacrifice for our sin and the way of restoration of our relationship with God. These visions are filled with forgiveness, love, and renewed relationship with God. Something He was providing for the Jews and making a way to provide for all of us despite our sin and disobedience. What an awesome God we serve!
Zechariah 3
What a beautiful picture of forgiveness and cleansing found in new clothes for the High priest provided in place of dirty ones. Also interesting is satan taking his usual role of accusing God’s people and yet the angel of the Lord standing there as protector and defender, a picture given throughout Scripture of Jesus being our mediator. I do believe the angel of the Lord is the second member of the trinity that has shown up several times in Zechariah. And what a great reference to the Branch Jesus that will be sent and He will remove sin in a day by dyeing on the cross and bearing that sin on His physical body.
Zechariah 3
Satan is standing there to accuse, but he is rebuked.
This is one plucked from the fire. It is interesting that God has plucked Joshua, Jerusalem from the fire?
“And still the angel of the Lord also rebukes Joshua and exhorts him to walk in obedience.
If you will walk in My ways,
And if you will keep My command,
Then you shall also judge My house,
And likewise have charge of My courts;
I will give you places to walk
Among these who stand here.”
The Lord rebukes Satan for accusing Joshua. He takes away his sin and clothes him in fine linen. He promises to send his servant, the Branch to remove all our sin all at once, in a single day. And he fulfills his promise when he sends his Son to die for us on the cross and was raised to life so that we would be saved. Thank you Jesus.