The book of Zechariah is filled with prophetic visions that were seen by Zechariah the prophet. “The fourth vision, The Cleansing of the High Priest, addresses the problem of a holy God who desires to accomplish great things through his sinful people.” (NAC Commentary: Zechariah, p. 132)
“Joshua the high priest appears also in Ezra 2:2 and Nehemiah 7:7 as ‘Jeshua.’ The name means ‘Yaweh saves.’ Joshua also figures prominently in Haggai…We also know that Joshua was the son of Jehozadak…who was the son of Seraiah, the chief priest when the exile began in 587 BC. The Babylonians executed Seraiah, and presumably Jehozadak fathered and raised Joshua in Bablylon. Joshua was probably an old man by the time of Zechariah’s vision.” (NAC, p. 133)
I. The Cleansed Priest
a. The position of the priest
i. Here stands this old man in this divine court. As we will see in a minute, this priest Joshua is the accused! On this day, the white hot light of a cosmic inquisition shines upon Joshua. Although he is a priest, he stands on this day as the accused.
ii. There is a heaviness that hangs over this spectacle. The gravity of the situation cannot be overstated, for on the right side of this priest there stands another. This dark figure casts an ominous shadow. This dark figure is not given a personal name. Rather, the figure is referred to by the Hebrew word, “satan.” While we cannot confirm directly from the text that this figure is the fallen angel known as Lucifer, or referred to by the proper name “Satan” in the New Testament, there is also no reason to deny it is Satan himself.
iii. Revelation 12:7-12 "And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time."
iv. Satan’s favorite activity is to present evidence of guilt before the heavenly court. Notice please that Satan is positioned to the right of Joshua. The right side was the place of accusation under the law. For example, Psalm 109:6 says, “Appoint an evil man to oppose him; let an accuser stand at his right side.” Satan’s mode of operation today is still the same. Today he continues to accuse the brethren. He continues today to attack the saints of God.
v. He still stands before the throne of God and argues that we are sinful. He argues that we deserve judgment, and not forgiveness. But look what happens!
vi. While Satan is vehement in his rebuke of Joshua, the Lord steps in and says, “The Lord rebuke you, Satan.” Joshua’s defender was none other than the judge Himself.
vii. While Satan lobbed his objections, the judge steps in and declares the objections “overruled!”
viii. “The word rebuke ‘indicates a check applied to a person or peoples through strong admonitions or actions.” (Holman OT Commentary, p. 161)
ix. “Take note that this rebuke comes at the right season. When Satan accuses, Christ pleads. He does not wait till the case has gone against us and then express his regret, but he is always a very present help in time of trouble. He knows the heart of Satan, being omniscient God, and long before Satan can accuse he puts in the demurrer, the blessed plea on our behalf, and stays the action till he gives an answer which silences for ever every accusation.” (Spurgeon)
b. The accusation against the priest
i. This vile accuser seeks to parade a litany of offenses committed by the High Priest before the Judge. In verse 4 we discover that Satan’s charges were that Joshua was sinful and unworthy of divine favor.
ii. Is this not a brand plucked from the fire? The Lord of Hosts ask the question, “Is this not a smoldering stick plucked from the fire?
iii. “So it is with the child of God. What is he at the best? Till he is taken up to heaven, he is nothing but a brand plucked out of the fire. It is his daily moan that he is a sinner; but Christ accepts him as he is: and he shuts the devil’s mouth by telling him, ‘Thou sayest this man is black - of course he is: what did I think he was but that? He is a brand plucked out of the fire. I plucked him out of it. He was burning when he was in it: he is black now he is out of it. He was what I knew he would be; he is not what I mean to make him, but he is what I knew he would be. I have chosen him as a brand plucked out of the fire. What hast thou to say to that?’ Do observe that this plea did not require a single word to be added to it from Joshua.” (Spurgeon)
iv. Now most people when they prepare to go to court put on their very best suit. The hardened criminal, the drug addict, the prostitute, or the gang-banger, turn in their shabby, ratty, or immodest clothes for that of professional attire. Even if the accused do not own a suit, their attorney will often purchase one for them to improve the appearance of the accused.
v. But no, not Joshua. He does not look filthy rich; he just looks filthy!
vi. Verse 3 specifies the nature of the Satan’s accusations. Joshua is clothed in filthy clothes. The word translated “filthy” here does not appear anywhere else in the Old Testament. However, other words from the same Hebrew root are used to denote human excrement (Deut. 23:13) and the drunkards vomit (Is. 28:8).
vii. “According to Feinburg, this is ‘the strongest expression in the Hebrew language for the filth of the most vile and loathsome character’” (Holman, p. 162)
viii. In contrast to the filthy priest, the Judge who is seated in the place of Judgment is the brilliant and glorious King of Glory.
ix. God does allow Satan to attack and harass His people, but He always strictly regulates what Satan is allowed to do. Satan wanted to destroy Simon Peter, sifting him like wheat (Luke 22:31-32) but Jesus prayed for Peter and stood beside him and did not allow Satan to carry out every evil intention of his heart.
x.
c. The intercession for the priest
i. Bless God, whenever there is an accuser in the Heavenly Courtroom, there is an advocate!
ii. “The Lord commanded angels in the vision to remove Joshua’s filthy clothes, symbolic of his forgiveness of sin…Clothing Joshua with clean garments illustrations positional sanctification—our righteousness in Christ. Rich garments were worn on special occasions is a figure found elsewhere in the Bible. For example, the psalmist declared, ‘May your priests be clothed with righteousness; may your saints sing for joy’ (S. 132:9)…such picturesque language has made its way into many of our best loved hymns. In Edward Mote’s ‘The Solid Rock,’ we find these words: ‘When He shall come with trumpet sound, O may I then in Him be found, dressed in His righteousness alone, faultless to stand before the throne.’” (Holman, p. 163).
iii. God wants to take your filthy rags and replace them with robes of righteousness. He wants to remove your rotten rags and richly adorn you. He wants to replace your putrid garments with garments of purity!
iv. Not filthy but faultless!
v. No more stink or stain! He wants to adorn you with white robes of righteousness.
vi. To this point, Zechariah has been a silent bystander. But he can remain silent no longer!
vii. Verse 5.
viii. “The turban was the finishing touch. On the high priest’s turban was a plate of pure gold inscribed with the words, ‘HOLY TO THE LORD’ (Exodus 28:36; 39:30).” (Ibid).
ix. The priest was clean from head to foot!
II. The Coming Prince
a. The Branch
i. How in the world does the cleansing of the priest connect with the Branch? “The vision of the high priestly clothing cannot be separated from the prophecy of the future removal of sin from the land. The prophet is shown a vision of a future when semah (‘Branch’) will usher in a new era in which sin will finally be removed. This era is the final stage of redemptive history, in which there will be prosperity within the community of God and peace among its members” (The NIV Application Commentary, p. 268).
ii. “’Branch is one of the Old Testament’s most prominent messianic titles, an appellation also found in the ancient Near East. A third-Century BC Phoenician inscription uses the word ‘branch’ to denote the legitimate king. In the Old Testament, the prophets often used the term ‘branch’ …Jeremiah wrote…” (NAC, 144).
iii. “Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. 6 In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: ‘The LORD is our righteousness.’”
iv. “God’s fulfillment of this prophecy came with the death and the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This sacrificial act indeed did ‘remove the sin of this land in a single day’ in a way that transcended the Old Testament Day of Atonement.” (NIV Application, p. 268).
v. Look with me please at Hebrews 10:11-13
vi. “The writer of Hebrews here combines the language of the priesthood with that of the monarchy (‘sat down at the right hand of God…he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool’). The last phrase is a clue to the writer’s intention. Jesus is being portrayed here as the priest-king in the order of Melchizedek, an order to which the Davidic line traces its roots…Christ as high priest fulfills once for all the ceremonies of the Day of Atonement.
vii. “After describing the Day of Atonement ceremonies in Hebrews 9:1-10, the writer then introduces Christ: ‘He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once and for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption.” (NIV, 268-269)
viii. The Branch, the Priest King is none other than Jesus Christ who has removed the sins of the land once and for all for all those who will receive Him as the Lord and Savior of their lives.
ix. Although there is a gravity of sin (our garments are filthy) through Jesus Christ there is a fathomless grace! Though our sins be as scarlet, the Branch can was us whiter than the whitest snow.
x. Those Satan viciously condemns us as vile, filthy, dirty, and unclean, Jesus Christ calls us “His Beloved!”
b. The Stone
i. Finally, Verse 9 speaks of a stone. There has been many interpretations of this verse over the years, but I believe the one that fits the context best is that it refers directly to the Messiah. The words “seven eyes” can also be translated “seven facets.” It may speak of perfection or completeness.
ii. I believe the reference here is again to the coming Messiah. This is no mere stone; it is a precious stone. It is not junk, but a valuable jem! This one who would come would not be soft, but would be strong!
iii. Isaiah 28:16 16 therefore thus says the Lord GOD,
“Behold, I am the one who has laid [1] as a foundation in Zion,
a stone, a tested stone,
a precious cornerstone, of a sure foundation:
‘Whoever believes will not be in haste.’
iv. 1 Peter 2:6 For it stands in Scripture:“Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone,
a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”
III. Conclusion
a. Zechariah 3 gives you a vivid portrait of the Savior. It underscores the utter sinfulness of all of us! As the account of the Lord’s cleansing of Joshua portrays, though you may come here today clothed in filthy rags, you may be washed clean through the blood of Jesus Christ.
