Bible Text: Zechariah 3:1-10 |  

“Zechariah’s View,” Zechariah 3:1-10

Open:  Good guilt.  Bad guilt.  Self-recrimination and lies.  The work of the prosecutor and accuser.

I.        The Present Reality (vs. 1-5)

          A.     (v1) “Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD.”

                  1.      Two principle characters of the return under Cyrus: Zerubbabel and Joshua

                  2.      As high priest, Joshua represented the people and he carried their sins

                  3.      And he stood accused—“Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him.”

          B.     (v2) “The LORD said to Satan, ‘The LORD who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you!’”

                  1.      “Is not this [Jerusalem] a burning stick plucked from the fire?” – Jerusalem had been burned.

                  2.      (v3) Joshua stood before the angel in filthy garments.  –Awkward [Isaiah 64:6-7]

          C.     (v4) “And the angel said, ‘Remove the filthy garments from him.”

                  1.      “I have taken your iniquity away from you, and I will clothe you with pure vestments.”

                  2.      (v5) “And I said, ‘Let them put a clean turban on his head.’” [Exodus 28:36-38]

                           a.    First worn by Aaron and engraved with the words, “Holy to the Lord.”

II.       The Future Hope (vs6-10)

          A.     (v7) A promise: “If you will walk in my ways and keep my charge, then you shall rule my house…”

                  1.      “…and I will give you the right of access among those who are standing here.”

                  2.      The mediator [1 Timothy 2:5, Hebrews 8:1, 6 and 12:24]

          B.     The perfect high priest protects us by his righteousness

                  1.      Hebrews 7:25, “He is able to save completely those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.”

                  2.      9:14, “How much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself with blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.”

                  3.      10:14, “By a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.”

          C.     (v8) “I will bring my servant the Branch.” [Jeremiah 23:5—A Davidic king who will bring justice]

                  1.      (v9) A stone set before Joshua, with seven eyes and an inscription.

                  2.      (v10) “In the day…” peace and generosity.

Epilogue:  A note about the name and meaning of Joshua.

            Zechariah 6:11-13, A crown in made and placed on Joshua’s head.  “Behold, the man whose name is the Branch: …he shall build the temple of the Lord…and rule on his throne.”