Confident in Christ

Prayer

Zechariah 3:1-7

During the days of Daniel, our famed witness to God's might in the lion's den, a man named Zechariah received multiple visions and prophecies. The Old Testament book of Zechariah tells us about this prophet's calling the Jews to spiritual renewal. They must prepare for God to dwell in their midst once again. We find in the literature of Zechariah's contemporaries that King Cyrus of Persia has decreed that the Jews should return to their land, rebuild the city of Jerusalem and the temple of their God, Yahweh. In this setting, Zechariah receives eight visions from God.

In the third chapter of Zechariah we read about the high priest, Jeshua, who will lead the reconstruction and subsequent priestly functions. Our spiritual lesson emerges from this vision about him today. I hope we will all be encouraged to hold fast in our faith in Christ, looking ahead to that day when we will meet our Lord and God face to face.

Listen to the reading of God's Word:

READ Zechariah 3:1-7

Did you understand the vision? Zechariah brings us to a scene in Heaven where he sees Yeshua, the High Priest, on trial before God. Satan, also called the Adversary, hopes to indict Yeshua with sin to receive a just judgment. We also see, the angel of the Lord, standing by Yeshua, defending Him. The Lord identifies him as one who has been saved from the fire. (vs. 1-4) Then He is declared pure and instructed to remain so, in giving him new clothes.

This courtroom analogy can be applied to every person. One day we will stand before God and to those who have placed their faith in Jesus, Jesus will stand in his defense. Romans 8:33 "Who will bring charge against God's elect?" Job 16:19-21 cf. Job 1:6-11 Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and my advocate is on high. O that a man might plead with God As a man with his neighbor! I John 2:1 And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous; (Hebrews 7:25); 9:24 "For Christ did not enter a holy place made with hands, a mere copy of the true one, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God FOR US;

God could not have unclean priests serving him, so the Lord ordered his being given clean clothes. In other words, the sinfulness of the man made him dirty and the clean garments symbolize purity, forgiveness of sin, holiness. Even what we think we can call good about us has been compared to filthy rags. Isaiah 64:6 says "For all of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment. All of us wither like a leaf, And our iniquities like the wind, take us away." Isaiah 61:10a says " I will rejoice greatly in the Lord, My soul will exult in my God; For He has clothed me with garments of salvation, He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness." I am reminded of the parable of the Lost
Son. Upon the return of his wayward child, the Father gives him a feast and a new robe!. There are many references to this metaphor of garments of salvation. (Rev 7:13;19:8)

We are like Yeshua in his priesthood. God declares ALL his children to be priests. I Peter 2:5 You also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. On that day when we enter Heaven and meet God face to face, we can stand confidently before God, with Jesus Christ standing beside us on our behalf. Hebrews 4:16 Therefore, let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 10:19,21,22 "Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us
draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

God gave Zechariah this vision so that he could encourage Yeshua, the high priest. Yeshua may confidently enter the presence of God at the temple because He had been declared holy and righteous, but he must remain clean to enjoy that privilege of confident service. Likewise, we must remain clean before God, living a Christ-like life, in order to have full assurance of our salvation in Christ Jesus.

BLESSING

Jude 21,24-25 Keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life. Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen

Works Consulted:
NLT
NIV, Introduction to Zechariah
Old Testament Survey, 2nd Edition by LaSor, Hubbard & Bush