Reading: Zechariah 3 (whole chapter)
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”
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:
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:
[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/
