Yeshua and Joshua
(Zechariah 3:1-10)
NOTE: I preached this sermon for the Messianic Jewish Congregation Ahavat Yeshua. I have used the Hebrew name for Jesus (Yeshua)and Miriam (for Mary), etc.
1. Different congregations have their unique ways.]
2. Pastor Hamburger and Pastor Weiner
3. My interest in the Messianic movement: Believe God has a special plan for Israel, not done yet; Sam Stevens, realization that Christianity is a form of Judaism…
4. So today I thought I would speak on one of my favorite passages in the Scriptures. I love the Book of Zechariah, one of the The Twelve. Not given enough attention by either the Jewish or Christian community.
5. Follow with me as I read from Zechariah, chapter 3.
Main Idea: Joshua the high priest and his servants are symbolic of the Branch, the Messiah, and the conflict in which He is engaged. We can note several "hows" that explain the symbolism and the conflict.
I. How Joshua Pictures Yeshua
1. They both have the same name
• Yehoshua and Yeshua are variations of the same name: The Lord Saves
2. Setting: Yom Kippur, Day of Atonement (1,3)
1. Joshua was wearing a filthy garment, symbolic of the sins of the nation
2. likewise, Yeshua became sin for us…bore our sins…only He had no sin of His own
3. Yeshua was conceived the virgin Miriam for a reason…connected to Adam without inheriting a sin nature; He could be tempted to sin, but was not predisposed…another reason Yeshua did not marry; many great teachers, like Gamaliel, did not marry until later in life…
3. Note his exaltation after sin was taken away (5-7)
1. Joshua would govern a rebuilt Temple with full Levitical staff
? when Yeshua returns, He will oversee Ezekiel’s Temple, but
? He is from the order of Melchizedek, not Levi
2. Access to God in a way that was unique to the high priest (like Yeshua)
II. How the Angel of the Lord is the Lord & Would Be the Messiah (1-5)
1. Joshua is standing before the Angel of the LORD which is used as equivalent to standing before the LORD
2. When the Angel of the LORD speaks in vs. 2, He is called "the LORD."
• note that the LORD, who is speaking, says, "The LORD rebuke you Satan!"
3. The Angel of the LORD orders the cleansing of Joshua – this is something only God can do (5)
4. When Samson’s father realized they had seen the Angel of the LORD, note what happened: "When the angel of the LORD did not show himself again to Manoah and his wife, Manoah realized that it was the angel of the LORD. ’We are doomed to die!’ he said to his wife. ’We have seen God!’" Judges 13:21-22
III. How Satan Accuses God’s People and How Yeshua Defends Us
1. Note. vs.1 – Satan (Adversary/opponent) accuses
• in the Second Testament book of Revelation, Rev. 12:10, Satan is referred to as the accuser….devil = slanderer
2. But the Angel of the Lord, Who is the Lord and Who would later become the Messiah
defends Joshua (2)
1. He served as Joshua’s (and Israel’s) advocate, defense attorney
2. The second testament builds upon this concept
• Romans 8:32
• I John 1:8—2:2
IV. How God Saves the Sinner
1. We begin unclean (3)
2. Satan tries to keep us from God (1-2a)
3. But God has sovereignly chosen us (2b
4. Salvation: deliverance from the fire (2c0
5. Justification: dirty garment removed, cleaned garment put on (the righteousness of the Messiah)
• we do not remove each stain or scrub away
• Wish around the collar…
• no, in a moment, the entire garment is replaced
• in this case, it is not just an atonement (covering) but a cleansing
• a transformed life and cleanness before God in an instant
V. How God Will Exalt Israel
1. Israel will be cleansed in one day (9)
cf. 12:10, 13:1
2. The BRANCH will reign as King & Priest (7-8)
3. The STONE (9)….as prophesied by Daniel 2:32-35, 45
4. Israel will dwell in peace and prosperity when Messiah reigns (10)
CONCLUSION
1. Our God exists outside of time.
2. The future is no different than history to Him; just as certain.
3. And so we can know that both testaments are true, for mere coincidence or human genius could not devise such things; all the important things that believers in Yeshua believe can be found in the first testament!
