ZECHARIAH'S VISION: THE HIGH PRIEST
(Message by Tanny Keng)
0. Introduction
a) Zechariah encouraged the people to put away the sin in their lives and to continue rebuilding the temple. His visions described the judgment of Israel's enemies, the blessings to Jerusalem, and the need for God's people to remain pure - avoiding hypocrisy, superficiality, and sin. Zechariah's visions provided hope for the people. We need to carefully follow the instruction to remain pure until Christ returns again.
b) Let's consider Zechariah's vision in the Scripture text and its significance.
1. Scripture text: Zechariah 3:1-10
i) Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the Angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to oppose him. 2 And the Lord said to Satan, “The Lord rebuke you, Satan! The Lord who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is this not a brand plucked from the fire?” 3 Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and was standing before the Angel. 4 Then He answered and spoke to those who stood before Him, saying, “Take away the filthy garments from him.” And to him He said, “See, I have removed your iniquity from you, and I will clothe you with rich robes.”
5 And I said, “Let them put a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head, and they put the clothes on him. And the Angel of the Lord stood by. 6 Then the Angel of the Lord admonished Joshua, saying, 7 “Thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘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. 8 ‘Hear, O Joshua, the high priest, You and your companions who sit before you, For they are a wondrous sign; For behold, I am bringing forth My Servant the BRANCH.
9 For behold, the stone, That I have laid before Joshua: Upon the stone are seven eyes. Behold, I will engrave its inscription,’ Says the Lord of hosts, ‘And I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day. 10 In that day,’ says the Lord of hosts, ‘Everyone will invite his neighbor, Under his vine and under his fig tree.’” (Zechariah 3:1-10 NKJV)
2. Vision
a) Zechariah sees Joshua the high priest standing before God. Joshua's filthy garments are exchanged for clean robes; Satan's accusations against him are rejected by God.
3. Significance
a) The story of Joshua the high priest pictures show the filthy garments of sin are replaced with the pure robes of God's righteousness. Christ has taken our garments of sin and replaced them with God's righteousness (see Ephesians 4:24; 1 John 1:9).
i) 24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. (Ephesians 4:24 NKJV)
ii) 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9 NKJV)
The End ...
0. Introductiona) Zechariah encouraged the people to put away the sin in their lives and to continue rebuilding the temple. His visions described the judgment of Israel's enemies, the blessings to Jerusalem, and the need for God's people to remain pure - avoiding hypocrisy, superficiality, and sin. Zechariah's visions provided hope for the people. We need to carefully follow the instruction to remain pure until Christ returns again.
b) Let's consider Zechariah's vision in the Scripture text and its significance.
1. Scripture text: Zechariah 3:1-10
i) Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the Angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to oppose him. 2 And the Lord said to Satan, “The Lord rebuke you, Satan! The Lord who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is this not a brand plucked from the fire?” 3 Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and was standing before the Angel. 4 Then He answered and spoke to those who stood before Him, saying, “Take away the filthy garments from him.” And to him He said, “See, I have removed your iniquity from you, and I will clothe you with rich robes.”
5 And I said, “Let them put a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head, and they put the clothes on him. And the Angel of the Lord stood by. 6 Then the Angel of the Lord admonished Joshua, saying, 7 “Thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘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. 8 ‘Hear, O Joshua, the high priest, You and your companions who sit before you, For they are a wondrous sign; For behold, I am bringing forth My Servant the BRANCH.
9 For behold, the stone, That I have laid before Joshua: Upon the stone are seven eyes. Behold, I will engrave its inscription,’ Says the Lord of hosts, ‘And I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day. 10 In that day,’ says the Lord of hosts, ‘Everyone will invite his neighbor, Under his vine and under his fig tree.’” (Zechariah 3:1-10 NKJV)
2. Vision
a) Zechariah sees Joshua the high priest standing before God. Joshua's filthy garments are exchanged for clean robes; Satan's accusations against him are rejected by God.
3. Significance
a) The story of Joshua the high priest pictures show the filthy garments of sin are replaced with the pure robes of God's righteousness. Christ has taken our garments of sin and replaced them with God's righteousness (see Ephesians 4:24; 1 John 1:9).
i) 24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. (Ephesians 4:24 NKJV)
ii) 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9 NKJV)
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