Forecasting the Christ: Redeemer

Redeemer

Joshua fought the Battle of Jericho, and the walls came tumbling down… And all the people, oxen, sheep, and donkeys were killed by the sword...

Two Parts to this Text:

Condition and Clothing of Joshua

Messiah Metaphors

Application: A Little Piece and Quiet

Condition and Clothing of Joshua

Job-like scenario:

Joshua the High Priest (son of Jozadak) presented in the Heavenly courts

Beside Joshua is this being called THE ACCUSER

Clothed with filthy garments and from all accounts looks unfit for any type of honorable position.

Filthy= only time found in OT. Very dirty! (human excrement and vomit??)

Think homeless, haven’t showered in days…

Why dirty?

“Is no this a brand plucked from the fire?”

Filled with spiritual soot!

Accuser stands there ready to accuse, but he doesn’t even have chance to speak!

Just the Lord speaks!

And the Lord will be choosing this Joshua to resurrect the Priestly Order in Jerusalem!

Cleansing Ritual:

v.4: “Behold, I have taken your iniquity away from you, and I will clothe you with pure vestments.”

Declared forgiven

Clothed with new priestly vestments- new robes, new turban

Turban: “Last piece of clothing to be donned before the anointing oil was applied (Ex 29:6-7).” NIVAC

And then he’s given a charge: v.7: “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.”

It’s a remarkable vision, because what happens in history is that Joshua does become this important priest. The temple is yet to be built, but he’s part of that process, he resurrects the sacrificial system, working alongside the like of Zechariah and Ezra.

And sure enough, Joshua begins what’s called the Zadokite Priests:

- Ruled for 350 years until the Hasmoneans took over (tied into Hanukkah)

Most of us know about stories from Abraham and Moses… But this history is less taught or emphasized… But it’s super important!

God of Grace will provide during Confusing Times

Joshua’s grandfathers may have been priests…

Learned about priesthood from stories told while in Babylon

He’s been burned in Babylon, spiritually filthy, maybe fit into the Bablylonian or Persian culture a little too much… He’s more a product of Babylon that the Priesthood!

Joshua was unfit for service and the ACCUSER KNEW IT!

Spiritually dirty

Made unwise decisions??

BIG GLARING PROBLEM: NO TEMPLE!

But by God’s grace, he takes Joshua and places him in a position of royal priesthood.

Joshua is like us!

Joshua is a foreshadowing of all of us part of the royal priesthood!

Our spiritual journey begins by looking like Bert the chimney sweep from Mary Poppins.

I Peter2:4 As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 5 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.

When we think of our spiritual condition, we are brought from the ashes and clothed with righteousness

Isaiah 61:10: I will greatly rejoice in the Lord;

my soul shall exult in my God,

for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation;

he has covered me with the robe of righteousness,

as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress,

and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

Look back at this year:

We haven’t always been at our best.

The pandemic has exposed a lot about who we are and our natural defaults

Joshua’s condition

Accusers!

Remember your identity as a royal priesthood!

But how?? How is this possible??

Move on to Messiah Metaphors

Metaphors of a Messiah:

8 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. 9 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.

v.8: Turn in Direction:

Priests, pay attention!

I WILL BRING MY SERVANT THE BRANCH

Clear reference to the line of David

Joshua=foreshadowing of things to come!

Isaiah passage

v.9: “For behold, on the stone that I have set before Joshua...”

Stone=??

Loads of guesses as to what this means, but at the end of the day, we really don’t know what is meant by this stone with eyes.

Eyes probably better translated as facets

Set before Joshua: Single stone with seven facets… I will engrave its inscription...

“The stone is associated with the representative nature of the high priest for bearing the guilt of the nation, for the final phrase declares its significance: “I will remove the sin of this land in a single day.” NIVAC

Another priest is coming, from this royal priestly line, who will be the type of high priest who will remove the sin of this land in a single day!

It’s like the the Day of Atonement on Steroids!

A day that will make the day of Atonement obsolete (NIVAC)

Future Priest who will be from the Line of David (mixing offices between priest and King!)

Of course, history once again shows us that we know of who this Royal High Priest is. The Book of Hebrews explains in detail how Jesus is the Greatest High Priest ever!

It’s because of this future branch, through this royal priesthood that Jesus fulfills that our filthy rags are taken off and replaced with his righteousness!

This passage is filled with grace because Jesus was born to be this ROYAL Priest who wouldn’t merely ensure a sacrifice would take place that would take on sin forever, he WOULD BE THE SACRIFICE!

This is the Gospel folks, a great way to end the year!

To wrap up: A quick word about the effects of grace...

End on a Missional Note

v.10: Every one of you will invite his neighour to come under his vine and under his fig tree:

The Bible uses this phrase a few times ‘under his vine and under his fig tree’

Picture of Peace, Prosperity, enjoying wine together or a good fig nutton!

“Future figure will usher in a new day of safety and prosperity, typified by the ability of each member of the community to offer hospitality.”NIVAC

See Gallop poll

Revelation 5:10: and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”

Challenges of 2020

ALL the challenges waiting for us in 2021, we can end this year with comfort:

WE ARE NOT FILTHY AND HOMELESS, BUT ROYAL PRIESTS ABLE TO REST IN THE PEACE AND HOPE WE RECEIVE FROM OUR ROYAL HIGH PRIEST!