Zechariah 3:1-10
Minor Prophets: Ezra, Nehemiah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi and Joel were appearing between 600BC to 400BC.
Haggai and Zechariah were contemporaries lived between 520BC and 518BC.
Two great leaders in Zechariah’s day emerged, Joshua, the high priest and Zerubbabel, the Governor.
Joshua and Zerubbabel were instrumental in urging the people:
a) To rebuild the Temple at Jerusalem under the leadership of Zerubbabel
b) To re-establish a purified priesthood under Joshua
c) To remove all foreign influences on their religious life
d) To lead a proper moral life according to the Mosaic Law.
In the book of Zechariah records 8 visions and the present text falls under 4th vision.
THE ACCUSED AND THE ACCUSER (1-3)
The accused is Joshua, the High Priest or the nation of Israel
The accuser is Satan, the Adversary.
Joshua stood before the LORD in the place of nation of Israel.
Zechariah sees Joshua standing before the Lord for HIS service or priesthood.
It means the nation of Israel was trying to serve the Lord in an unworthy manner.
The Angel of the Lord is Christ in HIS pre-incarnation manifestation.
“The emphasis here is on the nation of Israel and not on Joshua” (Pastor Wiersbe)
Satan is accusing of the filthiness of Joshua’s garments which is a reflection of defiled status of Israel.
Most of the people in Zechariah’s day were born in Babylon and returned to Israel from exile.
They never grown up temple worship and observed the Mosaic Law diligently.
Here Joshua as a high priest at Jerusalem representing the Jews from the Babylonian captivity who were spiritual babies.
So Satan is accusing the priesthood that was terribly polluted and unfit to offer acceptable sacrifice to God.
THE ADVOCATE (4-5)
The advocate, Pre-Incarnate Christ monitors the transformation in Joshua’s status.
HE orders to take away the filthy clothes and declares the Joshua’s sin is removed.
This is a direct answer to the accusation of Satan.
We know it as the forgiveness of sins through Christ our Lord.
Now our Lord Jesus Christ has a twofold ministry in heaven.
First HE is our Advocate representing us before the Throne of God and reminding God the Father always with the marks of HIS resurrection.
The redeemed still sin but God forgives us because of the intersession of Jesus.
Secondly Christ is our High Priest and interceding on our behalf daily for God’s grace.
We need God’s grace for our earthly life.
THE PRONOUNCEMENT (6-10)
A. The Charge
The Lord gives a charge to Joshua to serve HIM faithfully because cleansing and restoration involves a greater responsibility.
As redeemed people of God we have to serve HIM faithfully – walk in obedience –living out our salvation every day.
B. The Prophecy
Two different images of the coming Messiah:
The Branch and The Stone
The Branch means from David’s lineage, a direct descendant of David’s the family.
The Stone – The corner stone – The Rock - 7 eyes means all knowing God.
9th verse refers to a single day – that happens when the Lord comes for the second time with HIS church to rule from Jerusalem
On that day Israel will be convicted of their sin and accept that Jesus Christ is the Messiah and seek HIS forgiveness.
May we not forget that Christ is our Advocate and High Priest interceding for us always.
(Parts of the outline and few thoughts were based on Pastor Wiersbe’s commentary.)
Minor Prophets: Ezra, Nehemiah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi and Joel were appearing between 600BC to 400BC.
Haggai and Zechariah were contemporaries lived between 520BC and 518BC.
Two great leaders in Zechariah’s day emerged, Joshua, the high priest and Zerubbabel, the Governor.
Joshua and Zerubbabel were instrumental in urging the people:
a) To rebuild the Temple at Jerusalem under the leadership of Zerubbabel
b) To re-establish a purified priesthood under Joshua
c) To remove all foreign influences on their religious life
d) To lead a proper moral life according to the Mosaic Law.
In the book of Zechariah records 8 visions and the present text falls under 4th vision.
THE ACCUSED AND THE ACCUSER (1-3)
The accused is Joshua, the High Priest or the nation of Israel
The accuser is Satan, the Adversary.
Joshua stood before the LORD in the place of nation of Israel.
Zechariah sees Joshua standing before the Lord for HIS service or priesthood.
It means the nation of Israel was trying to serve the Lord in an unworthy manner.
The Angel of the Lord is Christ in HIS pre-incarnation manifestation.
“The emphasis here is on the nation of Israel and not on Joshua” (Pastor Wiersbe)
Satan is accusing of the filthiness of Joshua’s garments which is a reflection of defiled status of Israel.
Most of the people in Zechariah’s day were born in Babylon and returned to Israel from exile.
They never grown up temple worship and observed the Mosaic Law diligently.
Here Joshua as a high priest at Jerusalem representing the Jews from the Babylonian captivity who were spiritual babies.
So Satan is accusing the priesthood that was terribly polluted and unfit to offer acceptable sacrifice to God.
THE ADVOCATE (4-5)
The advocate, Pre-Incarnate Christ monitors the transformation in Joshua’s status.
HE orders to take away the filthy clothes and declares the Joshua’s sin is removed.
This is a direct answer to the accusation of Satan.
We know it as the forgiveness of sins through Christ our Lord.
Now our Lord Jesus Christ has a twofold ministry in heaven.
First HE is our Advocate representing us before the Throne of God and reminding God the Father always with the marks of HIS resurrection.
The redeemed still sin but God forgives us because of the intersession of Jesus.
Secondly Christ is our High Priest and interceding on our behalf daily for God’s grace.
We need God’s grace for our earthly life.
THE PRONOUNCEMENT (6-10)
A. The Charge
The Lord gives a charge to Joshua to serve HIM faithfully because cleansing and restoration involves a greater responsibility.
As redeemed people of God we have to serve HIM faithfully – walk in obedience –living out our salvation every day.
B. The Prophecy
Two different images of the coming Messiah:
The Branch and The Stone
The Branch means from David’s lineage, a direct descendant of David’s the family.
The Stone – The corner stone – The Rock - 7 eyes means all knowing God.
9th verse refers to a single day – that happens when the Lord comes for the second time with HIS church to rule from Jerusalem
On that day Israel will be convicted of their sin and accept that Jesus Christ is the Messiah and seek HIS forgiveness.
May we not forget that Christ is our Advocate and High Priest interceding for us always.
(Parts of the outline and few thoughts were based on Pastor Wiersbe’s commentary.)
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