One Day, Oh Glorious Day!

A Vision of Joshua the High Priest - Part 1

Zechariah 3 contains the fourth vision of the prophet.  "The fourth vision concerns Joshua, the high priest (Ezra 3:2), and deals particularly with the problem of an impure priesthood. It begins by showing God’s solution to the problem (vv. 4, 5) and ends by showing how God wipes away the sin of all His people (vv. 8, 9)." [1]

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]

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

 

Are You A Pugnacious Pastor or Church Leader?

3 John 9–10 (NIV),

⁹ I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will not welcome us. ¹⁰ So when I come, I will call attention to what he is doing, spreading malicious nonsense about us. Not satisfied with that, he even refuses to welcome other believers. He also stops those who want to do so and puts them out of the church.

This letter of Paul's that he references is not known to us.  Diotrephes appears to be a church leader in the same church as Gaius, or at least a church near and known to Gaius. Apparently he is a man that loves first place.  He is a man that is spreading false rumors. He refuses to to welcome true believers. When people do extend a welcome to others, he puts them out of the church.  

John promises to deal with him when he comes to visit.  Who is this guy?  Obviously this was a man of some prominence and influence.  Was he a fellow elder?  We are not sure.  If John wrote a letter on hospitality and Diotrephes ditched the letter, then this might make perfect sense.  The point is that he was opposed to Apostolic authority and acting as an authority unto himself.  

All we can be certain of is this: Diotrephes loves himself more than anyone else.  He loves to have first place, preeminence.  The Greek word philoprōteuō means literally, “to love first place.” He is unwilling to submit to others.  Every church can have such an individual.  "Diotrephes was clearly abusing his position of authority. For some reason he was jealous of the apostles and refused to allow them in his church. Instead of following the command for a pastor to be hospitable and “not quarrelsome” (2 Timothy 3:2–3), Diotrephes was inhospitable and pugnacious. Instead of seeking to be the servant of all (Mark 9:35), Diotrephes loved to be in charge." [1]

If Diotrephes was a fellow-elder then the exhortation of Peter is very relevant.  “Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.” (1 Peter 5:2–3, NIV).

Father I am reminded that he who wants to be great must be a servant to all.  Keep me free from self-centered, selfish ambition that runs steam-roller over others.  Keep me from wanting to have the last word.  Keep me from conversation that I twist and turn so that it's all about me.  Keep me from the spirit of Diotrephes.  What a cancer in the body of Christ?   Oh Father that we would all put the interests of others before ourselves. Father that we would see others as more important than ourselves.  Our Savior gave up His rightful place and entered into humanity as a servant.  He served me by taking my sin on Himself.  He gave me, freely, His righteousness.  He died so that I would no longer live to myself, but for Him.  Grant, by the Holy Spirit, the will and the power to serve and not be served, Father.  Forgive me, for deep within my soul is a desire to be liked; a desire to be honored; and a desire to be affirmed.  Kill it with Your Spirit's power, this day.  For the sake of Jesus.  Amen.

 

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1. Read more:http://www.gotquestions.org/Diotrephes-in-the-Bible.html#ixzz3GyZIkKsX