The vision includes three principles: Joshua the High Priest, Satan and the LORD/the Angel of the LORD. “Now Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood before the angel.” (Zechariah 3:3, NIV). Satan is standing to accuse Joshua of sin and the LORD says to him:
“The Lord rebuke you, Satan! The Lord, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebuke you! Is not this man a burning stick snatched from the fire?”” (Zechariah 3:2, NIV).
The LORD says to others that are present (presumably angels) to removed Joshua's filthy clothes and put "fine" garments on him. All this representing that his sins have been taken away. Joshua is then commanded to live in obedience to the LORD and if so, would enjoy a lasting reign among God's people and access to the heavenly courts. Then the LORD makes this amazing promise:
““ ‘Listen, High Priest Joshua, you and your associates seated before you, who are men symbolic of things to come: I am going to bring my servant, the Branch. See, the stone I have set in front of Joshua! There are seven eyes on that one stone, and I will engrave an inscription on it,’ says the Lord Almighty, ‘and I will remove the sin of this land in a single day.” (Zechariah 3:8–9, NIV)
Again, we learn that all those present were types, types of one that would come: God's servant, the Branch. "This coming one was called "my servant, the Branch"—two well-known OT appellations for the Messiah. As Servant, the Messiah came into the world to do the will of the Father. Through his work, Israel will yet be redeemed and restored as a priestly nation, which Joshua and his associate priests typified." [2]
The "Branch" would ultimately “. . . remove the sin of this land in a single day.” (Zechariah 3:9b, NIV). "God will take away His people’s sin through the BRANCH. The priestly system in the Old Testament was not intended actually to cover sin but only to prefigure the One who would truly deal with man’s sin (Heb. 10:1–18)." [1] This would occur in one day. "The Day of Atonement (Lev. 16:30; 23:28) was an annual reminder of sin (Heb. 9:7–10), but Christ on a single day (Good Friday) once for all made atonement for the sins of God’s people (Heb. 9:11–14)." [1]
Woven through this vision is the reality that all mankind (represented by Israel) are branches prepared and very near the fire. Our sin has condemned us. But the God of Israel who does all things according to His will and predestined us for salvation. The demands of holiness exceed our ability, but One would come and in "one day" cleanse all His Elect from sin. This is great news. The priesthood is abrogated; and the Great High Priest exalted -- in "one day."
One day they led Him up Calvary’s mountain,
One day they nailed Him to die on the tree;
Suffering anguish, despised and rejected;
Bearing our sins, my Redeemer is He. [3]
One day they nailed Him to die on the tree;
Suffering anguish, despised and rejected;
Bearing our sins, my Redeemer is He. [3]
Father, You know how desperate I need to hear the Gospel this morning. Oh the joy of sins forgiven. Oh what a Savior! Oh the wonder of standing before You today with the sure and certain knowledge that I was condemned. And even today the imperfect obedience and the downright sinfulness of my life is worthy of death. Yet I hear the voice of Christ, 'Satan I rebuke you. This is a chosen one. This is one of My Elect. And in One Day, I have removed all his transgressions.' Amazing love, how can it be? My heart overflows with such undeserved mercy. Grant, Father, in Your providence, a Gospel-driven, Gospel-centered obedience in my life today. Empower me with Your Spirit. Amen and amen!
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1. Whitlock, L. G., Sproul, R. C., Waltke, B. K., & Silva, M. (1995). The Reformation study Bible: Bringing the light of the Reformation to Scripture: New King James Version (Zec 3:1). Nashville: T. Nelson.
2. Expositor's Bible Commentary, The, Pradis CD-ROM:Zechariah/Exposition of Zechariah/II. A Series of Eight Night Visions (1:7-6:8)/D. The Fourth Vision: The Cleansing and Restoration of Israel (3:1-10), Book Version: 4.0.2
3. Charles Howard Marsh | John Wilbur Chapman, © Words: Public Domain, Music: Public Domain
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