The Coming Messiah: A Study in ZechariahSample

What does it say?

Joshua’s filthy clothes were replaced with clean garments. Just as He took away Joshua’s sin, The Lord will remove Israel’s sins in a single day.

What does it mean?

In Zechariah’s fourth vision, Joshua was on trial before Christ as his Judge and Satan as his prosecutor. As high priest, Joshua symbolically represented Israel’s people; his filthy clothes were evidence of their guilt. The Lord’s willingness to forgive their sin erased any reason for accusations. Their guilt was replaced with His righteousness. By reinstating Israel as a nation of priests, God paved the way for His Servant, Branch, and Stone – the coming Messiah – to do in a single day what generations of sacrifices had been unable to do – cleanse God’s people completely of their sin guilt.

How should I respond?

Have you ever been so dirty that all you could think about was getting washed and put on clean clothes? That’s the same condition we are in spiritually until we accept God’s forgiveness and trade sin’s guilt for the cleansing and righteousness of Christ. Maybe you think you can gain favor with God by doing good things, but living a moral life won’t fare you any better than trying to obtain righteousness by observing the law as generations of Israelites attempted to do (Rom. 9:30-33). Have you allowed God to remove your “filthy clothes” with all their shame? If so, Satan has no grounds on which to accuse you! You can stand clean, righteous, and free of guilt before the Lord.