Sermon Zechariah 3 Clean garments

Reading: Zechariah 3 (whole chapter)

Title: Clean garments 

19 October 2017, 1:10pm Wesley Church, Chapel in City, 220 Pitt Street

 

{WELCOME}

 

{PRAYER}

 

Slide 1:

 

“Therefore there is no condemnation

for those who are in Christ Jesus”

Romans 8:1 NIV

 

Have you ever considered what this verse means? 

 

Today, I hope to open you to the meaning of Romans 8:1.  I will do that by considering the verses read to us from the Old Testament book of Zechariah.

 

 

For there is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus.

 

• For me, this is one of the most wonderful verses in Romans.
• The “therefore” identifies with how Paul is summarising an argument in the Chapter that runs before.
• The conclusion of Paul’s argument is that Christ freed me from the law of sin
• God paved a way through Christ; he who said “I am the way, the truth and the life”

 

Please allow me to illustrate to you how Zechariah Chapter 3 allows us to understand Jesus as the way, the truth and the life.  In Zechariah Chapter 3, we get to see into God’s courtroom.  We see into the courtroom through a vision that is recorded by Zechariah.  Moreover, we see into God’s courtroom on the most important day in the Jewish Nation’s calendar.  It is the single day of the calendar year that Israel knew as the ‘Day of Atonement’  or ‘Yom Kippur’.  While in that courtroom – a courtroom in the spiritual realm – we will see a prophetic illustration of the freedom won for us by Christ.

 

The book of Zechariah includes eight visions that are given to Zechariah.  Each vision is fascinating in its own right.  The eight visions form a neat pattern of:

 

Slide 2:

 

a b b c c b b a

 

The pattern represents the manner the visions are revealed to the Prophet Zechariah.  The first vision; “a” is placed outside of the city walls.  The second and third visions; “b” are on approach to the city.  The fourth and fifth visions are placed within the temple.  The Prophet finally receives vision outside the city – the last “a”.

 

Today we are focussing on the fourth vision – the first ‘c’ vision within the temple.

 

Zechariah is prophesying in an important time of Israel’s history.  The Nation has returned from exile.  The Nation is rebuilding the city of Jerusalem and the temple.  The Nation will maintain Jerusalem as its centre from this time through to the time of Jesus Christ.  In this light, the first of the ‘c’ visions is important, as it is God’s way of affirming to the people that God fully intends that all temple practices be restored.  We will see that this vision is important, as it is in the temple practices that we learn of God’s ultimate rescue plan through his Son, Jesus Christ.

 

Therefore, there is, in verse 1 of Zechariah Chapter 3:

 

• Joshua, the High Priest of the day
• Joshua is standing before an angel of the Lord
• And Satan is at Joshua’s right hand ready to accuse Joshua.

 

We understand from the language of the whole of the chapter that Joshua stands in the courtroom not solely in his own right but also as the representative of the body of the Israelite people.  This is the ultimate heavenly reality – God with his people - that is being replicated through ritual.  Joshua is meditator between sinful man and Holy God. Joshua’s role is ultimately fulfilled in Christ (1 Tim 2:5)

 

This is fitting with the Bible’s description of the physical requirements of the Day of Atonement in that the High Priest is atoning for the sins of all the people. 

 

Where Joshua is physically standing is the Holy of Holies.  It is separated from the rest of the temple by a great curtain.  It was the curtain that was torn from top to bottom after Christ breathed his last breath upon the cross.  That curtain is decorated with golden cherubim to remind man of the fall in the garden of Eden.  It was quite a ceremony for the High Priest to enter the Holy of Holies.  The High Priest would dress for the occasion. He would purify himself. He had to take care to prepare everything, as all must be done to order to please God.  The other priests would await his exit.  Here is an illustration of how the High Priest dressed.  You will note that the Zechariah 3 text identifies with both the clothing and the turban.

 

Slide 3:

 

 

Image credit: http://actsion.com/high-priest/

 

[Draw attention to image; Moses had to take off his sandals before the burning bush (Exodus 3);Note the curious inclusion of the bells on the tunic – bells that allowed those outside the Holy Place to know that the High Priest was still alive; for the sash around the waist indicate how Jesus wrapped a towel around his waist in the account of the washing of the Apostles feet (John 13) ]

 

Therefore, to our understanding of how the High Priest was attired in the physical world, verse 3 tells of how Joshua was clothed in the spiritual world– and we see through Zechariah’s vision that Joshua was not in a delicate gown but in filthy clothes.  It is an amazing vision for a number of reasons but please consider this – it was completely dark within the Holy of holies – the High Priest had to see with eyes of faith – so for that which the High Priest had no vision, Zechariah is powerfully illuminating!  In the spiritual realm, we see these clothes being removed and replaced (verse 4).  They are replaced with clean clothes.  This is similar to Revelation 3 where we see that those who overcome will be dressed in white clothes.  In removing Joshua’s clothes and replacing them Joshua is at first stripped of his role as High Priest and then reinstated.  In being stripped and then reinstated, we see God completely making right his relationship with his people.

 

We can understand that the High Priest’s clothing, at this point in history, to be filthy for another reason.  Zechariah is writing after return from the exile.   The Israelites had returned from exile and set about rebuilding the temple.  The temple was not finished until about four years after the fourth vision.  Therefore, Joshua’s clothes may be filthy in that they are stained through the time Israel spent in a heathen Nation full of idols.  The temple was also incomplete, so Joshua may have been making do as he completed his duties on the Day of Atonement.  That is, he may have been in some temporary dwelling; an incomplete temple.  Irrespective, God gives this image so that the Israelites who have been restored to their Holy city may understand that the Day of Atonement is to be continued.   For God’s plan of salvation has not yet been fulfilled.

 

 

Let us look at verse 2:

 

• The lord rebukes Satan –Satan is completely frustrated his objective,
• Joshua is not called upon to respond
• God identifies his love for his people recognising them as a burning stick snatched from a fire – God is showing his love for his people in that he drew them back from exile and made them ready for the next stage in his grand plan.

 

Ladies and gentlemen, this is a most incredible depiction of God’s love.  Satan gets not one word!  Satan is rebuked and frustrated – God will not allow him to accuse his people!  Man does not have to answer!  And God justifies his people so that he may fulfil the purpose he has for them. 

 

Why? Because it is through the blood of Atonement that Christ “speaks” for us.

 

So let us recap: High Priest Joshua, in his role for all the people enters the court bearing sin of the people.  Joshua does not have to make his case in the court.  Satan is silenced. Joshua’s filthy clothes are removed.  Joshua is given fresh clothing.  Stripped of his clothing he is also stripped of his role.  Reclothed he is reinstated in his role. 

 

And God gives this illustration: the people are “like a burning stick plucked from the fire” (verse 2).  That expression is worthy of a sermon alone! God is indicating here that he did not restore the people back to the city after exile without having a plan for them.  God could have left the stick in the fire – that is, left the people in exile; but the people were part of God’s ultimate rescue plan.

 

Now Joshua, is in a long line of High Priests.  He, (verse 7), stands to gain inheritance.  And, he is given an understanding of Christ, he who is to come. (verse 8).  In verse 9, Zechariah sees an image that is similar to an image offered David and Daniel.  The image here is of a stone with seven eyes – seven being the number of spiritual perfection (Rev5:6) - significant of infinite intelligence, of omnipresence.  It is an image of Christ.  From the root of Jesse, the son of David, the morning star must come!

 

Yes, the lineage of High Priests – that Joshua restores in Jerusalem on the return from exile – has lineage that then runs to Christ.  Joshua is part of the branch.  Zechariah is part of the lineage of prophets that runs to the final prophet of Christ; that’s John the Baptist.  King David, Solomon and other kings are part of the linage of kings that run to Christ.  And all three, priest, prophet and king run together and culminate in perfection in Christ.  Zechariah is given to understand this.  He grasps the mystery that is known to us.  He recognises that the Messiah will one day emerge from Israel.

 

Now, that which the High Priest sets out to do once a year on the Day of Atonement – atone for the sins of the Nation - had to be done the next year, and the next.  Yet, that done by Christ at Calvary needed to be done but once.  Blood was given once for all people, once for all time.

 

Zechariah was given the vision of the victory of Calvary.  It is true that Zechariah could not understand the cross as it is recorded for us.  Yet, Joshua the High Priest played his own part symbolically of the victory of Calvary.  It is the mystery and wonder of Calvary that the ancients once craved to know that we understand.  When Christ died for God’s children; past present and future on that cross, he died for Prophet Zechariah and for High Priest Joshua as much as he dies for you and me.  Joshua would carry out the annual duties required of him on the Day of Atonement and yet the Day of Atonement was a representation of that one final and perfect Day of Atonement when Christ would do it all.

 

Let us unpack this a bit so we can see Jesus Christ in these words of Zechariah.

 

Earlier, I mentioned that Joshua is seen in the spiritual courtroom dressed in filthy clothes.  I said that the filthy clothes were representative of Joshua’s carriage of sin for all the people.  In this, we can understand Christ at the cross.  Christ carried our sins.  His cloth was heavy with sin.  He bore those sins more heavily and more deeply than the scars on his flesh.

 

I mentioned earlier that Joshua in being stripped of his filthy clothes was also stripped of his role.  In putting the clean clothes back on Joshua was reinstated.  And, we know that this is what happened to Christ.  At Christ’s last moment, he spoke to his father “Why have you forsaken me” – and at this Christ was plunged into the darkness of the abyss separated away from the Father.  Nevertheless, death could not contain Christ!.  His purity from sin saw him escape the clutches of death.  Death was defeated.  And, Christ ascended to the heavenly realms and was clothed in the most royal of robes – King of kings and Lord of lords.

 

Slide 4

 

“And the Lord said to Satan, “The Lord who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you!” Zechariah 3:2

 

Let’s go back to verse 2 to see Christ: “And the Lord said to Satan, “The Lord who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you!”  There we see two Lords – there is two members of the Trinity.  The first Lord named there is Jesus.  The second is God.  Jesus was there to stand with Joshua as Satan was rebuked.  My hope for you is that Christ will be with you that he will stand beside you when God rebukes Satan.  Satan will not stop devouring until the very end and you want Christ to be there to vouch for you.

 

That which Zechariah saw in a vision, that which Joshua the High Priest symbolically completed on the Day of Atonement, is fulfilled in Christ.  The prophesy of Zechariah culminated in line with prophesy of John the Baptist.  The kingship that David, Solomon, and others had was fulfilled in Christ the perfect King.  The perfect priest, the perfect king intercedes for his people.  The writer of Hebrews captures this when he says in Chapter 2 verses 17 to 18:

 

{READ}:

 

‘For this reason he [Jesus] had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful High Priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.’  Hebrews 2:17-18 NIV  

 

Slide 6

 

“Therefore there is no condemnation

for those who are in Christ Jesus”

Romans 8:1 NIV

 

Yes, Ladies and Gentlemen: Paul when he wrote the letter to Romans knew that which Zechariah perceived from the ancient past.  What Zechariah could only understand dimly, Paul knew in fullness.  Zechariah could perceive the branch line to Christ but not Christ himself. 

 

We like Paul are living after the cross.  All has been made known.  You cannot be condemned by accepting Christ – the perfection of prophets, kings and priests.  You will instead find life to the full.  Yes, there is no condemnation for those who are in in Christ Jesus.

 

 

{STEP ASIDE FROM LECTERN FOR EFFECT}

 

Accept him that has given his blood for you.
  Accept him that has defeated death.
    Accept Christ as Lord.

 

Amen.

 

Note: this backlinks from https://www.reddit.com/r/TrueChristian/comments/somvf8/what_do_you_mean_by_jesus_is_god/