Shock and Awe - Zechariah 3:1-10

Introduction

Take out your phones. Raise your hand if you have a picture of your significant other as your background. Raise your hand if it’s a picture of your kids or grandkids. Isn’t that interesting? I mean, you already know what they look like. Why do you need to keep their picture in front of you all the time? We cherish pictures of those we adore because they lift our spirits, give us a sense of purpose, and remind us of the big picture. A lot of times you just pass over the picture on your home screen, but sometimes, you’re having a hard day or a stressful day and looking down and seeing that picture functions almost like a refresh button, doesn’t it? It encourages you.

And, I’d love to do a survey to know why you chose the picture that you did. As much as we may know our wife or kids, sometimes a picture of them sheds new light upon them that draws out even greater brilliance. Or, it captures the essence of who they are so well that we think to ourselves, “Oh, that is so them!” And, we just cherish them because they remind us that we love and that we are loved. They remind us that we have a place to fit. They remind us in the midst of a chaotic day that there’s a bigger picture.

God’s Word

That’s why I’m convinced the greatest need for Christians is not “how to” sermons on finance and dating, but long, focused, concentrated glimpses of the portraits of Christ in the Bible. We adore the pictures of those whom we love, and they renew us. This morning, that’s exactly what I want us to see from Zechariah. I want us to look at two of the eight visions to see the pictures of Jesus He paints so that we might know our Savior and our hope even better, and in the process, we’ll get the main thrust of Zechariah’s prophecy too. We’ll see in two of the oracles Two Shocking Pictures, Two Surprising Explanations, and Two Securing Promises (Headline):

How God “clears” his “people.”

Zechariah 3:1-4 “Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him. And the Lord said to Satan, “The Lord rebuke you, O Satan! The Lord who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is not this a brand plucked from the fire?” Now Joshua was standing before the angel, clothed with filthy garments. And the angel said to those who were standing before him, “Remove the filthy garments from him.” And to him he said, “Behold, I have taken your iniquity away from you, and I will clothe you with pure vestments.””

For a period of time, my job was to manage the safe for Winn Dixie. And, I was trained for what to do in the case of a robbery. If we were robbed, there were certain bills I was supposed to make sure they received. Some of them were marked and could be tracked by police if spent. Others had a die pack inside of them that would burst when opened and cover the person in purple dye.

Zechariah’s fourth vision opens up with a remarkable glimpse into spiritual warfare. The holiest man in Judah, the High Priest Joshua, teetering on the dividing edge of judgment. If he is declared guilty, then his fate is decided. He is a condemned man with no hope of appeal. But, if he is declared innocent, then He is exonerated to never be retried again. The problem is that Satan himself is the prosecutor, and he has an airtight case. “Satan” means literally “accuser”, and all the prosecution has to do is to point to the clothes Joshua is wearing. He’s still covered in the dye of the safe he robbed as he stands awaiting the verdict. His clothes are literally covered with the “filth” of his crimes. There’s no defense for him to give. He’s dead to rights. He’s only awaiting the Judge to read the guilty verdict.

The picture would’ve been shocking to Zechariah. Joshua was the High Priest, and the High Priest was always clothed in pristine garments as one who would enter the presence of almighty God. But, here he is covered in “filth.” “Filth” literally means “excrement.” The holiest man in all of Judah is clothed in excrement. Satan’s accusations are based upon God’s own laws, and Joshua is guilty on every count. And, if the holy representative of Judah is guilty they all are. Finally, the judgement of condemnation comes, but the judgement is against the “Accuser,” not the “Accused.”

Suddenly, the Judge, the Angel of the Lord, speaks up, “I’ll make him clean. I’ll give him clothes. I’ll make him innocent. He’s my chosen. I’ll rescue him like a smoldering twig from the fire.” It’s a shocking picture.

Shocking Picture: The Lord “cleans” the “filthy.”

Zechariah 3:4-7 “And the angel said to those who were standing before him, “Remove the filthy garments from him.” And to him he said, “Behold, I have taken your iniquity away from you, and I will clothe you with pure vestments.” And I said, “Let them put a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the Lord was standing by. And the angel of the Lord solemnly assured Joshua, “Thus says the Lord of hosts: If you will walk in my ways and keep my charge, then you shall rule my house and have charge of my courts, and I will give you the right of access among those who are standing here.”

I want to point out something here about the Angel of the Lord. He’s not just an Angel in the OT. At times He speaks on behalf of God as He does in verse 7, and at other times He speaks as God as He does in verse 2. He is God, but He is with God. He is, in my understanding, an OT arrival of Christ. And, what does He do here? He strips away the “filth” and takes away all his “iniquity”, and He gives him “pure” clothes. And, these “pure” clothes give him “the right of access” among the heavenly beings. Now, what do we have? We have a useful High Priest. We have a High Priest who can perform the calling God has placed upon him.

So, the vision is just shocking. Every expectation of justice is that God will crush Joshua and all of the “filthy” people he represents. You have to get that to get the Gospel. But, instead of crushing him, Christ himself plucks him from the fire, cleans him and covers him with his own pure garments. And now, he is helpful to his people and useful to his God. And, that’s my story, and that’s your story if you’ve trusted Christ. Don’t tell him how filthy you are. Don’t tell him how useless you are. Don’t tell him that you can’t disciple your kids or reach your neighbors and go to the nations. Don’t tell him you can’t teach a class or impact your work place. He already knows. That’s why He’s made you someone new. That’s why He’s covered you with his righteous garments. After 22 years of knowing Jesus, I’m still shocked, and I’m still amazed.

The question is: How can this be an honest judgment? That’s where the shocking picture gives way to a surprising explanation.

Surprising Explanation: The King will “pardon” the “guilty.”

Zechariah 3:8-9 “Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, you and your friends who sit before you, for they are men who are a sign: behold, I will bring my servant the Branch. For behold, on the stone that I have set before Joshua, on a single stone with seven eyes, I will engrave its inscription, declares the Lord of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of this land in a single day.”

I use the word “pardon” not say that He will simply declare, though He will. I use “pardon” to mean that He will accomplish it. He will take the steps necessary to ensure the guilt of Joshua and Judah and you and me are dealt with justly and fully. And, the answer is through the Messiah, the Savior, the Christ. There are three Messianic titles used here to help us understand how God plans to make the filthy clean and the guilty innocent.

First, you’ll notice “my servant.” We’re about to spend four weeks in Isaiah exploring the term “servant.” “My Servant” is the greatest description one could receive in the OT, and it comes to be used to describe the coming Messiah. He will be a Servant who performs miracles, displays the heart and ways of God to the world, and by whose stripes we will be healed. Then, you’ll see “the Branch,” which is capitalized. In Isaiah 11, it’s said that a shoot from the stump of Jesse (that is, the House of David) will bring about a New Kingdom. Jeremiah picks it up in 23 and 33 and says that this Branch will reign wisely, secure Jerusalem, and be called “The LORD is our righteousness.” That is, his Name will literally be: “I take away your filth and give you my righteousness.” And then, you’ll notice that there will be a “single stone with seven eyes.” The seven eyes are indicative of God’s omniscient, sovereign reign. He knows all things and sees all things, and He knows the Temple they’re building won’t last. So, there is a stone coming, a chief and eternal cornerstone, that the builders will reject, but that God will use to build his Temple. So, put this together. There is a King coming who will Serve God, but be rejected by his people. But, through that rejection, He will become their own righteousness. The main point of the Big Story is becoming clearer and clearer.

And, I want you to see that this morning. He doesn’t just declare you clean. The King comes himself, and He makes you clean. I want you to feel that in your bones. It’s not just that you’re called clean. You are clean. You’re not just declared innocent; you’re made righteous. He has accomplished it. It’s not overlooking sin; it’s overcoming sin. The “Accuser” will still come and point out the “filth” of your old life. He’ll point out the insufficiency of your current life. But, brothers and sisters, now clothed in the righteousness of King, we talk back to the devil, and we say with the authority of Jesus: “I am clean! I am innocent! I am useful in the Kingdom!”

And, that gets to the securing promise here:

Securing Promise: The Kingdom will “flourish forever.”

Zechariah 3:10 “In that day, declares the Lord of hosts, every one of you will invite his neighbor to come under his vine and under his fig tree.””

Do you see the picture here? He says that a day is coming that you will be content and satisfied in God’s Kingdom that you will beg others to come and enjoy it with you. You won’t worry about not having enough or keeping it for yourself. You’ll see how abundant his grace is, and you’ll delight to share it. Oh, that’s why Paul says “Godliness with contentment is great gain!” If you are so satisfied with Christ that you want nothing else and if you are so content with Christ that you look for nothing else and if you are so passionate for Christ that you want to share everything grace you have with others, what can the “Accuser” threaten you with? He can’t take Christ from you, and Christ is all you really need! This is freedom. This is the end of anxiety. This is the end of the dominion of sin in your life. This is the starting place of sharing the gospel with your family and friends. Total satisfaction and contentment in the person of Christ!

How God “builds” his “Kingdom.”

Zechariah 6:11 “Take from them silver and gold, and make a crown, and set it on the head of Joshua, the son of Jehozadak, the high priest.”

The message of Zechariah is how God plans to do good to Jerusalem after all their hardship and how He plans to secure it forever. God is renewing Judah, and He intends to do such a work through them that they will never worry about suffering in exile again. They will only live in the full enjoyment of their relationship with God. And, there are two figures that are put forth in the prophecy as those who will lead the renewal: Zerubabbel who is of the line of David and is the King of Judah, and Joshua the High Priest. Chapter 4 says that the King will be the One who builds the Temple that Joshua will offer sacrifices in.

So, it’s no surprise in the renewal of the people that a proper coronation of the King is in order. It’s time to restore some normalcy. Zechariah has the men around him hand over their silver and gold, and he makes a crown with apparently two rings: one gold and one silver. But then, the shock comes...

Shocking Picture: The “priest” is “crowned.”

Zechariah 6:12 “And say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, “Behold, the man whose name is the Branch: for he shall branch out from his place, and he shall build the temple of the Lord.”

Zechariah 6:14 “And the crown shall be in the temple of the Lord as a reminder to Helem, Tobijah, Jedaiah, and Hen the son of Zephaniah.”

King Charles is about to be coronated. The ceremony is ancient and scripted down to a “T”. Millions upon millions of people will tune in to watch it. Imagine if there in Westminister Abbey someone took the crown that Charles is entitled to — the one won and worn by his ancesters — and then laid it on the head of the Archbishop of Canterbury instead. Every news outlet in the world would spin out of control. When Zechariah crowns Joshua instead of Zerubabbel, it’s the shock of all shocks. But, here there’s an advancement in the narrative. This isn’t a crown meant for Joshua’s head; this is a crown meant for Jesus’ head. A couple of things clue us in that this is placed upon Joshua’s head symbolically. 1) “Behold, the man whose name is the Branch.” They already knew the Messianic implications of “the Branch.” Jeremiah had prophesied this 70 years earlier. 2) God had already said that Zerubabbel was building the temple. This must be referring to a different Temple in the more distant future. 3) The crown wasn’t to be worn but to be kept in the Temple as a reminder of the Messiah to come.

Oh, 500 years before He is born, Jesus is coming into clearer focus. He will be the King. They all knew and longed for that. But, He will be the priest, too. As King He will reign wisely, justly, and generously. He will crush their enemies and lead them to prosperity. As Priest, He would atone for their sins and represent them before God.

And, He will do a work they could not have fully foreseen.

Surprising Explanation: The “Priest-king” will “build” the Temple.

You see, kings built Temples. Priests offered sacrifices in them. So, isn’t it interesting how Zechariah says here that “there shall be a priest on the throne” and “he shall build the Temple.” There’s a merging of the two offices, and it’s a surprising explanation for how the Messiah will accomplish the good of His people. Being this side of the cross, our picture is much clearer. And, what a picture it is! Christ would build the Temple as King, and He would build it by offering himself as the sacrifice on the altar as High Priest. Jesus laid down his life, and by doing so, He laid down the “chief cornerstone” of an eternal Temple. And what will Jesus use to construct his Temple? YOU! He’s going to us YOU! 1 Peter 2:4-5 “As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”

He doesn’t just make you fit for the Temple. He makes you fit to be the Temple. He is the priest representing you before God to atone for your sins. He makes you clean. He makes you pure. And, He is the King using you to construct a New Kingdom, a New World Order under his just and mighty rule. As the Temple, you have perfect and complete access to God. As the Kingdom, you have complete safety, security, and prosperity to look forward to. Priest and King have been consolidated into the Son of Man, and He just happens to be your brother! My goodness, do you see it? Do you see it? Who can hurt you? What can stop you? What can Satan do to you? What can this world offer to you? The Priest-King has made us his, and He’s building us into a Temple against whom the gates of Hell cannot prevail.

And, don’t miss the promise He anchors this to:

Securing Promise: The “far-off” will help “build.”

Zechariah 6:15 ““And those who are far off shall come and help to build the temple of the Lord. And you shall know that the Lord of hosts has sent me to you. And this shall come to pass, if you will diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God.””

The greatest King in all of history is building his Kingdom. The most faithful Priest in all of history is serving his Temple. And, you get to be a part. And, it doesn’t matter how “far-off” you are! “Far off” is a term that become synonymous with Gentiles. This little promise is one of the ways that we can know these promises apply so directly to us Gentiles. And, “far-off” represents those that God shouldn’t know about or care about or notice. They’re too far from Israel. They’re too deep in their sin. They’re too out of sight and out of mind to worry themselves with. Well, maybe that’s how Aaron felt when he was the priest. Maybe that’s how David ruled when he was the king. Maybe that’s how Zerubabbel and Joshua are thinking. But, there is a Priest-king coming that will invite those farthest from God to enjoy his Kingdom and share in its mission.

So, you see, you have place in this Kingdom you’ll always enjoy, and you have a role in this Kingdom you must fulfill. You aren’t just in the Temple of God. You are the Temple of God. And, you’re not JUST the Temple of God, you help “build the Temple of the LORD”. So, on one hand, we’re all like Joshua. We’re covered in “filth.” We’re “far off.” We think, “God, you need to find somebody better to pastor your churches. You need find someone better to teach your classes. You need to find somebody better to send to the nations. You need to find somebody better to disciple children and teenagers. And, God says, “I have someone better — my Son. And, He as priest has atoned for your sins, and He has built you into a holy Temple in which his very presence dwells. And so, I’m sending you because He is in you, and He who is in you is greater than He who is in the world. So, go! Don’t keep looking for someone else to do it. Look to Christ, and get to work! Enjoy the presence of Christ by seeing what He will do through you. Go and preach. Go and teach. Go and serve. Go and help. Go and tell. Make disciples.This Temple is still being built, and you get to help other find what you’ve found!

Save this picture of Jesus. Keep it at the forefront of your mind. Save it and cherish it and adore it and look at it every chance you get. And, get to work.