Making and Maturing

Disciples of Jesus

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Ryan serves as the Lead Pastor of Green Pond Bible Chapel in Rockaway, New Jersey. He is married with four children.
  • Don’t Waste Your Christmas

    Don’t Waste Your Christmas

    Pay careful attention, then, to how you live—not as unwise people but as wise—making the most of the time, because the days are evil.

    -Ephesians 5:15-16

    We have crossed the point of no return: Black Friday. The holidays are officially upon us. Welcome to the season of holiday traditions, awkward family gatherings, gift giving, and delicious treats. Every year we have to fight distractions from the reason we celebrate the birth of Jesus. Here are some tips for making the most of this time of year and keeping Christ at the center of your Christmas celebration.

    Use an Advent Reading Plan

    This is a way to direct your thoughts to the broader significance of the birth of Jesus, and it can be especially helpful in the busy holiday season. Be sure to talk as a family about the gospel and why Jesus’ arrival is worth celebrating. Here’s a good one.

    Make Church Attendance a Priority

    Most churches will have advent-specific components to their worship services in December, including music and the sermon series. A ton of planning, practice, and effort goes into these services, so take advantage of them.

    Give Thoughtfully

    I’m not going to go on an anti-materialistic tirade here (but it would be warranted). My opinion is that gift giving for Christmas is an appropriate way to celebrate Jesus’ arrival. Just like anything else, we take it way past reasonable. Give with purpose, genuinely thinking of others.

    Cast Your Cares on the Lord

    The holiday season can bring painful memories of lost loved ones. It’s also a time when jealousy or discontentment can flare up in our hearts. Fight back. Honestly confess your hurt to the Lord. Share your burden with a trusted brother or sister in Christ. Seek Biblical counsel. If you’re not hurting, be aware of those who may be. Let’s rejoice over Jesus’ birth, and weep with those who weep.

    Be Mindful of Your Entertainment Choices

    One of our favorite things to do as a family this time of year is enjoy some sports and some of our favorite movies. This blessing of time off can also be a curse in two ways: we can waste a lot of time watching movies and sports instead of investing in our friends and families. We can also spend time being entertained by art that we know we shouldn’t be watching. Have the courage to enjoy the game or movie, and then turn off the TV and have a good conversation or do something together. Ask someone how they’ve grown spiritually in the last year, or what parts of God’s Word impacted them.

    Take Advantage of Awkward Generic Holiday Language and Parties

    People are so weird about the word Christmas. Why not use that as a gospel sharing opportunity? We can respectfully explain that we celebrate the birth of Jesus because of his death and resurrection on our behalf and the forgiveness he offers through faith. No need for boycotting, just winsome sharing of the best news.

    Invite Your Friends & Family to Church

    Christmas services are some of the most well-attended church services of the year. People who rarely attend church will consider going on Christmas. This is a great opportunity to invite them to catch a sneak peak of the church in action, and hear the gospel.

    Don’t Stop Worshipping Jesus after Christmas

    The post-Christmas spiritual let down can be brutal. After December 25 remind yourself that Jesus is still our Savior and Lord. The best way to start a new year is to finish the last one strong.

  • The Rest We Need – Zechariah 6:1-8

    The Rest We Need – Zechariah 6:1-8

    Take a moment to pray. Ask God to speak to you through his word—for his Spirit to convict you of sin, teach you the truth, and lead you in walking by faith.

    Setting the Scene

    God is the sovereign ruler of the universe. So what? That’s one of those basic theological assertions that sounds good in Sunday school but often rings hollow in our daily lives. Sure God is sovereign, but what good does his rule do me?

    We might ask this especially when we are going through a trial. I lost my job. Where is God’s sovereign rule? So and so just lied to me. Where is God’s sovereign rule? My wife has cancer. Where is God’s sovereign rule?

    Zechariah’s last vision gives us a vivid picture of God’s sovereignty, but that’s not all. As God reveals his sovereignty, he does so to teach his people to rest in him. Rest is increasingly hard to come by in our high-paced, constantly-connected world. True rest, however, doesn’t come from a schedule adjustment, but from faith in our sovereign King.

    Zechariah 6:1-4

    Zech. 6:1    Then I looked up again and saw four chariots coming from between two mountains. The mountains were made of bronze. 2 The first chariot had chestnut horses, the second chariot black horses, 3 the third chariot white horses, and the fourth chariot dappled horses—all strong horses. 4 So I inquired of the angel who was speaking with me, “What are these, my lord?”

    The bronze imagery is not explained by the angel, and probably stands for strength. In Ancient Near Eastern mythology, mountains often picture the entrance to heaven, God’s abode.

    This final vision has similarities with the first vision- both include colored horses and the patrolling of the earth. Zechariah’s asks his angelic guide for an explanation of what he was seeing.

    Zechariah 6:5-8

    Zech. 6:5    The angel told me, “These are the four spirits of heaven going out after presenting themselves to the Lord of the whole earth. 6 The one with the black horses is going to the land of the north, the white horses are going after them, but the dappled horses are going to the land of the south.” 7 As the strong horses went out, they wanted to go patrol the earth, and the LORD said, “Go, patrol the earth.” So they patrolled the earth. 8 Then he summoned me saying, “See, those going to the land of the north have pacified my Spirit in the northern land.”

    The four spirits of heaven is a reference to the four points of the compass, referring to the universal nature of God’s reign. The chariot imagery suggests military action (cf. Jer. 49:36).

    The “patrolling” here is a clear statement again of God’s sovereignty over nations and geo-political realities. He is the ultimate authority.

    The reference to the “north” includes Babylon, as to get there from Israel the route was from the north through modern day Lebanon or Syria. God’s Spirit is at rest because the black horses had already gone north and executed judgement on Babylon. Thus this vision is retrospective; it pictures something that had already happened.

    Note that from the first vision God’s Spirit was not at rest although the nations were. After Babylon’s judgement and Israel’s return, however, God’s Spirit is at rest, satisfied.

    The Big Picture

    When we think of God’s Spirit not being at rest we must think in terms of “satisfaction.” As an analogy think of creation- God had a purpose, and once he had completed his purpose he was satisfied. God chose Israel as a people and chose Palestine as their land. He gave it to them. Thus for Israel to be judged and exiled was a temporary detour. But Babylon has been judged, and Israel has been returned home. They should breath a sigh of relief, even given their current trials.

    We need to be reminded of God’s powerful sovereign reign. We can be at peace because of God’s sovereign rule. What was wrong with Israel and Babylon has been made right. This same sovereign rule assures us that what is wrong will be made right. Yes we face trials, but those horses are pawing the ground, waiting for the command to go.

    These horses (and riders) that bring about God’s judgment are once again featured in the apostle John’s vision in Revelation. In Revelation 6:1-8 four colored horses carry riders who bring God’s judgment to the earth.

    These riders anticipate the arrival of Jesus in Revelation 19:11-12 who will conquer all evil and finally bring peace to the earth. His victory is only good news for those who have turned to him by faith. Sinners made saints through Jesus’ death and resurrection can find rest and comfort knowing that Jesus will bring justice and peace to the world.

    Taking It Home

    Most of us aren’t dealing with trails from massive world powers. We deal with lesser powers, but as Joyce Baldwin said,

    It is enough to know that the Lord is triumphant over the dominant world powers. The lesser are included with the greater.

    For many God’s sovereign rule is like germ theory in the 19th century—it’s an invisible reality that we doubt.  Just because you can’t see it, doesn’t mean it isn’t there. God’s sovereignty gives us rest, redemption, and a ruler. God’s sovereign reign is only invisible until Jesus’ return. In the meantime, we are called to live by faith in his reign.

    We must remember that our ultimate hope for justice and righteousness is in God. Moses, Paul, and the author of Hebrews remind us that the Lord says, “Vengeance is mine” (Deut. 32:35, Rom. 12:19, Heb. 10:30). We do not, and cannot, be trusted with bringing justice to all the earth, but he can. So we can rest.

    This is practically helpful to us in two ways. First, we can rest even when we endure personal wrongs. Whether we are frustrated with someone else’s driving, or are wronged by a co-worker, or deeply hurt by a family member, we can rest because we trust God.

    Second, we can rest even when we endure corporate wrongs. By corporate wrongs I mean wrongs done to a class of people. So when the poor are abused by the rich, they can rest in God’s sovereign reign. When wars result in suffering to civilians, we can rest in God’s sovereign reign. When people of one ethnic background fight with another, we can rest in God’s sovereign reign.

    In fact, we must trust in God to live in peace in spite of these wrongs. We all will experience personal wrongs that will never be made right until the Rider on the White horse returns. We all know unspeakable wrongs have been done to entire groups of people—wrongs that we can’t make right. But Jesus can and will. His peace is the peace we need.

    Pray

    • Ask God to bless you with strong faith in him. Ask him to give you peace in spite of the trials you will face today.
    • Praise God for his sovereign reign over the universe. Praise him that he is trustworthy with our greatest hurts.
    • Pray for Jesus to return quickly to the world. Praise him for dying for our sins, and rising from the dead. Praise him for being the reason we have access to peace that passes all understanding.

    Program note: I will be posting devotions on Revelation starting January, 2019.  Enjoy your fall, and we’ll see you here next year.

  • Cleaning House – Zechariah 5:1-11

    Cleaning House – Zechariah 5:1-11

    Take a moment to pray. Ask God to speak to you through his word—for his Spirit to convict you of sin, teach you the truth, and lead you in walking by faith.

    Setting the Scene

    If we were honest, some days as Christians we just want to throw in the towel.  Fighting sin is hard.  It takes so much effort to say no to temptation.  In times of difficulty in frustration we often let our guard down and let sin have its way.  Have you had any days like that?

    This was a major temptation for the people of Israel as they returned home to Jerusalem from exile in Babylon. They had seen the judgment of God for sin, and they had also seen God’s grace and restoration.  In fact, God had proven that he is gracious by their very return to the land.

    Unfortunately, some misunderstood how to apply God’s grace.  They believed it warranted giving up on fighting sin.  After all, it’s better to ask forgiveness than permission, right? Not so much.

    In the prophet Zechariah’s 6th vision he sees some crazy stuff- a flying scroll and a woman in a basket being flown off.  What’s all this about?  What does it have to do with the fight against sin?  Let’s find out.

    Zechariah 5:1-4

    Zech. 5:1    I looked up again and saw a flying scroll. 2 “What do you see?” he asked me. “I see a flying scroll,” I replied, “thirty feet long and fifteen feet wide.”

    Picture this: a huge flying scroll soaring through the air. Usually in visions a scroll represents the Word of God. Here, that message is a message of confrontation.

    Zech. 5:3    Then he said to me, “This is the curse that is going out over the whole land, for everyone who is a thief, contrary to what is written on one side, has gone unpunished, and everyone who swears falsely, contrary to what is written on the other side, has gone unpunished. 4 I will send it out,”—this is the declaration of the LORD of Armies—“and it will enter the house of the thief and the house of the one who swears falsely by my name. It will stay inside his house and destroy it along with its timbers and stones.”

    This scroll written on both sides refer to the 3rd and 8th commandments, and together they represent the breaking of the law in its entirety. Stealing and hypocritical speech/lying were alive and well in God’s people, even after their return from exile. This flying scroll will enter the house of the guilty and destroy it, reducing it to a pile of rubble. What a picture!

    This vision is a warning: God will deal with sin. There is no hiding, regardless of your ethnicity, circumstances, or excuses. While most of Zechariah’s visions have focused on the sin of the nations against God’s people, now the Lord puts the focus on Israel’s sin.

    The reality of sin in the midst of God’s people brings up the question of sin’s ultimate fate.

    Zechariah 5:5-11

    Zech. 5:5    Then the angel who was speaking with me came forward and told me, “Look up and see what this is that is approaching.”

    Zech. 5:6    So I asked, “What is it?” He responded, “It’s a measuring basket that is approaching.” And he continued, “This is their iniquity in all the land.”

    In this second part of the vision, Zechariah sees a basket filled with the sin of Israel.

    7 Then a lead cover was lifted, and there was a woman sitting inside the basket. 8 “This is Wickedness,” he said. He shoved her down into the basket and pushed the lead weight over its opening. 9 Then I looked up and saw two women approaching with the wind in their wings. Their wings were like those of a stork, and they lifted up the basket between earth and sky.

    In this basket is a woman who represents sin and wickedness. Two different women with stork-like wings carried off the basket. The presence of stork-like wings is due to the fact that the stork was an unclean animal (Lev. 11:19, Deut. 14:18). Those who would carry sin away would be unclean. You can’t remove sin without getting dirty.

    Zech. 5:10    So I asked the angel who was speaking with me, “Where are they taking the basket?”

    Zech. 5:11    “To build a shrine for it in the land of Shinar,” he told me. “When that is ready, the basket will be placed there on its pedestal.”

    Shinar is a throwback title for Babylon. Bayblon represents the place where idolatry, oppression, and sin already have a home. There is no mistake that this is a reference to where the exiles have returned from.

    The house and pedestal language here is a reference to a temple and pedestal for an idol. The point is simple: let sin be worshipped far from God’s people. Just like in the vision of Joshua the high priest, this vision pictures the removal of sin by God.

    The Big Picture

    When we consider this vision in light of the story of the Bible, we realize that the removal of sin is, in one sense, the main problem of the universe. Sin entered our world in Genesis 3, and the rest of the Scriptures are the revelation of God and his plan to redeem sinners by removing their sin.

    One way or another, sin has no place in God’s people. To say sin belongs in Babylon is like saying it belongs in Las Vegas. To remove sin from his people, God the Son took on flesh and got his hands very dirty. He took on our curse, and died to remove the penalty for our wickedness.

    Although Jesus removed the penalty for our sin, we await the removal of the presence of our sin. In the meantime, we often choose to go back to our old ways. Paul anticipated a similar response in the church. In Romans 6:1 he writes, “What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?”

    The short answer is, we can’t. In fact, in Revelation 18 Jesus judges “Babylon,”—the representative title for all sinful human culture. He will purify his earth, renew it, and make it a suitable home for himself and his bride the church.

    Taking It Home

    What can we learn from this bizarre picture? First, no one gets away with sin… especially among the people of God. The temptation for Zechariah’s readers was to think that the exile was over, God had been gracious, so there was no fear of judgement. That led to hypocrisy, and God was having none of it.

    Second, we learn that sin has no place in the people of God. Let this be a warning to us, Jesus died to remove our sin. The cross shows that God is on a search and destroy mission regarding sin. Are you? In what areas of your life are you hiding secret sin? When was the last time you went to war with sin in your soul?

    God would not tolerate the sin of Israel, but he would send sin back to Babylon where sin belonged. God is not only committed to judging sin, but also to removing guilt for the sin of his people.

    When we consider the immense blessing of God removing sin from us through Jesus the Messiah, we realize how crazy it is for us to then flirt with, tolerate, or embrace sin. While we should take comfort in the gospel—that Jesus died to remove our sin, we must also strive to live in step with the Holy Spirit. That means actively fighting against our sinful desires and habits.

    How’s your relationship with sin? Are you stuffing it in the basket, or do want to hold on to her for a while?

    Pray

    • Praise God for the sin-removing mission of Jesus. Thank him for dying in our place to remove the penalty for our sin. Thank him for conquering sin and death through his resurrection.
    • Ask God to increase your intolerance for sin in your life. Pray for discernment in seeing areas where you might be struggling. Ask the Holy Spirit to convict you of your sin.
    • Pray that God would grant you wisdom in knowing how to put your sin to death. Thank him for the help of other Christians in the church who can hold you accountable and encourage you in your daily battle with sin. Praise God that our acceptance in his sight isn’t based on our efforts, but on Jesus’.
  • Success Guaranteed – Zechariah 4:1-14

    Success Guaranteed – Zechariah 4:1-14

    Take a moment to pray. Ask God to speak to you through his word—for his Spirit to convict you of sin, teach you the truth, and lead you in walking by faith.

    Setting the Scene

    Once when I was in college we took a spring break road trip from LA to Grants Pass Oregon. This was a 12 hour drive fraught with danger and excitement. One of my best friends volunteered to drive, which sounded great until he pulled up in a 1986 Buick Skylark. No disrespect to the Skylark, but let’s just say it was well past it’s prime. I thought: No way, this car isn’t going to get the job done. By God’s grace I was wrong!

    Sometimes we look around at ourselves, our church, our family, our troubles, and we think: this isn’t going to get the job done. We might doubt our spiritual resolve, the sufficiency of God’s Word, the ability of God’s servants, or even the strength of the church as a whole.

    Zechariah’s 5th vision addresses the issue of confidence in God and his work. As the returned exiles sought to rebuild the temple of the Lord they faced fierce opposition and many challenges. God gave his people this vision to encourage them to be confident in him.

    Zechariah 4:1-7

    Zech. 4:1    The angel who was speaking with me then returned and roused me as one awakened out of sleep. 2 He asked me, “What do you see?”

    I replied, “I see a solid gold lampstand with a bowl at the top. The lampstand also has seven lamps at the top with seven spouts for each of the lamps.

    The awakening here is why Zechariah’s visions are often referred to as his “night visions.” He may not have been literally asleep, but nonetheless a new vision has begun.

    The lampstand is not necessarily the menorah of the temple (with 7 branches), but a pedestal which can hold 7 lamps. Given that the rebuilding of the temple is a main feature of this vision, the temple may very well be in view.

    3 There are also two olive trees beside it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left.”

    Zech. 4:4    Then I asked the angel who was speaking with me, “What are these, my lord?”

    Zech. 4:5    “Don’t you know what they are?” replied the angel who was speaking with me. I said, “No, my lord.”

    Alongside this lampstand are 2 olive trees. This will be further explained in the vision. Zechariah asks the angel for an explanation of this complex vision, especially the identity of the olive trees. The angel asks if he does not understand their significance. He expected Zechariah to know to one degree or another.

    Zech. 4:6    So he answered me, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by strength or by might, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD of Armies.

    In his answer the angel does not explain the details, but rather summarizes the main message of the vision. You need to know that Zerubbabel was leading the building of the temple for the Jews who had returned to Jerusalem. The message was that daunting task would be completed not by virtue of might or strength, but rather because God’s Spirit is at work. The poetic form of the saying “not by strength or by might, but by my Spirit” highlights it as the central point of the vision.

    The olive trees next to the lampstand provided an unending supply of oil for the lamp reservoir, therefore the Spirit provides and unending aid for the completion of the task at hand.

    7 ‘What are you, great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become a plain. And he will bring out the capstone accompanied by shouts of: Grace, grace to it!’”

    The “great mountain” represents the obstacles to Zerubbabel and the people completing the temple rebuilding: lack of money, laziness, enemies, politics, etc. Those obstacles will be leveled, and Zerubbabel will place the capstone on the temple and the people will shout “grace” as he does so.

    Perhaps the shouts of grace indicate that God’s grace is made available to the people through the temple. Zechariah and the other returned exiles needed to know that God’s purposes are guaranteed to succeed because God’s Spirit is at work. Remembering this key truth is not easy.

    Zechariah 4:8-10

    Zech. 4:8    Then the word of the LORD came to me: 9 “Zerubbabel’s hands have laid the foundation of this house, and his hands will complete it. Then you will know that the LORD of Armies has sent me to you.

    The Holy Spirit will complete the temple via the hands of Zerubbabel. The completed temple will itself point to the Branch (i.e., the Messiah—see Zechariah 3:8).

    10a For who despises the day of small things?

    The NET translates the first clause as “who dares make light of small beginnings?” The point is those who doubted whether or not the temple would be rebuilt will be rejoicing at its completion because God’s Spirit guarantees it will succeed. Those struggling with faith in God were giving in to skepticism, but skepticism wasn’t the only danger.

    Zechariah 4:10b-14

    Zech. 4:10b These seven eyes of the LORD, which scan throughout the whole earth, will rejoice when they see the ceremonial stone in Zerubbabel’s hand.”

    The seven lamps are said here to represent the seven eyes of the Lord looking throughout the whole earth. God is aware of all that is going on, and is still advancing his purposes. The “ceremonial stone” is possibly the capstone commemorating the completion of the temple. Nothing escapes God’s eyes, including opposition to rebuilding the temple.

    Zech. 4:11    I asked him, “What are the two olive trees on the right and left of the lampstand?” 12 And I questioned him further, “What are the two streams of the olive trees, from which the golden oil is pouring through the two golden conduits?”

    Zechariah still does not understand to whom the olive trees refer. These olive trees were perpetually providing oil for the lamp. He wants to know exactly whom God will use to accomplish this important task. Here he clarifies for the reader that the oil is pouring out of the trees and into the receptacle on the lampstand.

    Zech. 4:13    Then he inquired of me, “Don’t you know what these are?” “No, my lord,” I replied.

    Zech. 4:14    “These are the two anointed ones,” he said, “who stand by the Lord of the whole earth.”

    The two “sons of oil” (anointed ones) are two anointed leaders- Joshua (as high priest) and Zerubbabel (from the line of David, see Ezra 3:2). Joshua and Zerubbabel are the two people God will use to complete this work. In their own way they connected the people to God- Joshua by his priestly function and Zerubbabel by his leadership in completing the temple. It’s key to know that Zerubbabel was descended from David. Through them both the Spirit will ensure the completion of the temple reconstruction.

    The Big Picture

    The building of the temple and the joint work of Joshua and Zerubbabel point to the future mission of the Messiah as both priest and king. He will both make a sacrifice for the people and be the rightful king. He is the Branch who sent his Spirit to continue his work. Jesus is the Anointed One, the promised savior who guarantees the success of the mission.

    This vision wasn’t fulfilled merely by the completion of the rebuilding of the temple in the late 6th century BC. Over 500 years later, Jesus sending the Holy Spirit after his resurrection is further fulfillment.

    In Ephesians 1:13-14 the apostle Paul writes, “In him you also were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed. The Holy Spirit is the down payment of our inheritance, until the redemption of the possession, to the praise of his glory.”

    Our salvation is guaranteed to be a success because we are sealed by the Holy Spirit. Our future inheritance is a sure thing because it’s not achieved by might or power, but by God’s Spirit.

    Taking It Home

    God’s saving purposes are guaranteed to succeed because of God’s Spirit. While we may look around and doubt the outcome, there is no questioning God’s presence and purpose. So what?

    First, don’t lose hope. We need not fear judgment, because not only was the temple built, but the Great High Priest made his sacrifice for us. It was God’s Spirit that accomplished Christ’s redemptive death and resurrection- and so there is no need for fear. We need this truth when we feel guilt for our sin.

    Second, don’t trust in your abilities. When we face adversity or failure, we must remember that our success is not dependent on our strength, but on God’s Spirit.

    The problem with skepticism is that it doesn’t take into account God’s greatness. When you doubt yourself, or your church, remember that God’s Spirit is the one at work.

    When they began the reconstruction of the temple it didn’t look like much. But those who “made light” of the small beginnings would see their skepticism turn to joy. Skepticism doesn’t take into account God’s greatness.

    Third, don’t tolerate doubt. The problem with doubt is that it doesn’t take into account God’s sovereignty. The eyes of the Lord and the anointed ones remind us that God is sovereign even over the rebuilding challenges Israel is facing. The same is true for us. When we doubt the success of our salvation, or wonder if the church will last, we have forgotten that we serve a sovereign God.

    The doctrine of God’s knowledge of all is meant to be an encouragement. Not only does he know what you are going through, he has sent his anointed leaders to execute his plan. God’s saving purposes are guaranteed to succeed because of God’s Spirit.

    Pray

    • Praise God that the success of our salvation doesn’t depend on our good works. Praise him that Jesus’ death on our behalf guarantees that our sin has been paid for.
    • Praise the Holy Spirit for sealing us until Jesus’ return. Praise him for convicted us of sin, teaching us the truth, and leading us in righteousness.
    • Ask God to give you confidence in him. As you identify areas of doubt, pray for strengthened faith in God’s Spirit.
  • Washed Clean – Zechariah 3:1-10

    Washed Clean – Zechariah 3:1-10

    Take a moment to pray. Ask God to speak to you through his word—for his Spirit to convict you of sin, teach you the truth, and lead you in walking by faith.

    Setting the Scene

    Jesus Christ certainly did not inspire the thought that the devil with get you; for he died in order that those who belong to the devil might be free from him. Therefore act like this: Spit at the devil and say, “If I have sinned, well, then, I have sinned, and I am sorry about it; but Christ has taken away all the sins of all the world if only people will confess them… and believe in Christ. Therefore this sin of mine is certainly also taken away. Depart from me, devil. I am forgiven.”

    -Martin Luther, Jan. 11, 1543

    We have a laundry problem: it never ends. I mean we do laundry basically every day (full disclosure: by “we” I mean my wife and sometimes my kids). Why? Because our clothes get dirty every day.

    Believe it or not, dirty laundry is a biblical metaphor for sin. We have a spiritual laundry problem. We are guilty, and every day we prove it. In Zechariah’s fourth vision he is shown the high priest Joshua standing in dirty clothes. He and the people need to be cleansed of their sin.

    The point of this vision isn’t to discourage us; it’s just the opposite. After pointing out how dirty we are, God reveals to Zechariah the source of our cleansing. One day, the laundry will end.

    Zechariah 3:1-5

    Zech. 3:1    Then he showed me the high priest Joshua standing before the angel of the LORD, with Satan standing at his right side to accuse him. 2 The LORD said to Satan: “The LORD rebuke you, Satan! May the LORD who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Isn’t this man a burning stick snatched from the fire?”

    The high priest Joshua is mentioned in Ezra 3:9, and Haggai 1:12, 14, 2:2, 4. Without a monarchy, the position of the high priest was the most prominent in the land.

    In ancient Israelite court proceedings the accuser would stand to the right of the accused before the judges (Ps. 109:6). In this vision we find the same accuser as in Job, whose title “the accuser” became his name: Satan.

    The “stick removed from the fire” refers to the nation of Israel as rescued from exile. Thus Joshua, as high priest, represents the people both in function and in the vision. He is their mediator.

    Perhaps even before Satan can present charges, the Lord rebukes Satan. If God had wanted to destroy his people for their sin he would have left them in captivity, but they have been rescued! Satan will find no sympathy bringing charges against the Lord’s people.

    This scene may be your worst nightmare: Satan ready to spill all of your sinful secrets. How ashamed would we be? How fearful of judgement? How exposed? The remarkable truth of this vision is not that Israel is innocent, but that the Lord defends them.

    Zech. 3:3    Now Joshua was dressed with filthy clothes as he stood before the angel. 4 So the angel of the LORD spoke to those standing before him, “Take off his filthy clothes!” Then he said to him, “See, I have removed your iniquity from you, and I will clothe you with festive robes.”

    The adjective “filthy” is related to the noun “filth” which refers to excrement or vomit. This is highly unexpected because the high priest usually wore white robes with the ephod (a chest plate with jewels representing the twelve tribes).

    Maybe the accuser has a point? Israel is dirty.

    In the vision the angel removes the filthy garments, which represent the sin of the people, and clothes Joshua with “pure” clothes- a reference to a special robe only worn at festival occasions. They are holy clothes, having been purified.

    The angel states explicitly the point that this is the removal of the guilt of sin. God forgives his people. He is their defender!

    Zech. 3:5    Then I said, “Let them put a clean turban on his head.” So a clean turban was placed on his head, and they clothed him in garments while the angel of the LORD was standing nearby.

    Zechariah now speaks to the angel, calling for the high priest to receive a clean turban as well. This would complete Joshua’s glorious uniform, representing his purity after having sin removed. The angel of the Lord standing by signifies approval of the work of the other angels in transforming Joshua’s clothing.

    The transformation of Joshua is a picture of the forgiveness of sin. Note that this is the Lord’s work: he removes our guilt and grants us purity.

    Zechariah 3:6-10

    Zech. 3:6    Then the angel of the LORD charged Joshua: 7 “This is what the LORD of Armies says: If you walk in my ways and keep my mandates, you will both rule my house and take care of my courts; I will also grant you access among these who are standing here.

    Here God issues a two fold condition to Joshua- if he will walk in his ways and keep his watch, then he will rule the temple and have authority over God’s courts. This all presupposes the successful rebuilding of the temple: God’s people would have continued access to purity through a functioning sacrificial system and priesthood.

    Zech. 3:8    “Listen, High Priest Joshua, you and your colleagues sitting before you; indeed, these men are a sign that I am about to bring my servant, the Branch.

    Joshua and his “friends” are to listen because they themselves are a sign. That fact that they sit before Joshua indicates that they are likely other priests. They are a sign, pointing to a future event: God will produce (bring, send) his servant, the Branch. Both the terms “Servant” and “Branch” are loaded with Messianic expectation.

    The Messiah as God’s servant motif is from Isaiah, specifically in Isaiah 49:7, 50:6, 52:13, 53:4-11. God’s Servant brings redemption to his people through suffering, guilt, shame, and humiliation.

    The Branch is spoken of in Jeremiah 23:5 and 33:15 as the descendent from David who will reign as king and bring justice to Israel.

    9 Notice the stone I have set before Joshua; on that one stone are seven eyes. I will engrave an inscription on it”—this is the declaration of the LORD of Armies—“and I will take away the iniquity of this land in a single day. 10 On that day, each of you will invite his neighbor to sit under his vine and fig tree.” This is the declaration of the LORD of Armies.

    The stone in reference here continues to explain the significance of the Branch. This stone is not a precious gem, but rather some kind of large stone for engraving. It is “set before” Joshua (not on his person). This stone, then, represents the building of the temple. This connection between the Branch and the construction of the temple is explicit in Zechariah 6:12.

    This stone is engraved with seven “eyes.” These eyes represent Yahweh’s watching over the building of the temple (i.e., the stone, check out Zechariah 4:10b). It could very well be the capstone or cornerstone.

    The Branch, however, signifies greater forgiveness than even the temple can offer. Through this Branch, God will remove the sin of the land in “one day.” Given the Servant/Branch connection and the relevant passages in Isaiah, that day can only refer to the day of the Messiah’s sacrificial death for sinners.

    “That day” refers to the time when the Branch has come. When their sin has been removed they will invite their neighbor to enjoy the abundance of the crops they enjoy in the land. Sitting “under” a vine or tree indicates security and prosperity. Grapes and figs indicate agricultural blessing.

    The Big Picture

    Don’t miss it: this vision is clear prophecy that the Messiah (the Servant and the Branch) will come and remove the sin of God’s people through his priestly sacrifice on their behalf. He will fulfill the purpose of the sacrificial system.

    The Messiah makes sinners clean. The entire priestly office is a sign- pointing forward to the once for all sacrifice of the Servant, the Branch. As we read in Hebrews 10:10, “By this will, we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all time.”

    The apostle John picks up on this imagery in 1 John 2:1, “My little children, I am writing you these things so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ the righteous one.” Our hope is in our faithful, pure, and victorious advocate.

    This may be one of the most clear articulation of justification by faith in the Messiah in the OT. The Messiah’s mission has always been about making sinners clean. The exchange of the guilt of sin for righteousness is a transaction that only the Branch can complete. Once for all, it was done. So we have peace with God.

    Taking It Home

    Sinners need to be made clean. This image of the changing of the clothes of Joshua the high priest is a powerful picture of the forgiveness that God offers. Specifically, that God removes sin and its guilt from his people.

    Sometimes we deny we are dirty. There’s no benefit in that approach, deep down we know we’ll have to answer to the Lord for our sin. The better (only) option is to confess our sin for what it is.

    As we confess, however, we must guard against sinking into despair or depression. Yes, we are sinners, but that’s not the end of the story. Yes, Satan will accuse us, but we have an advocate with the Father!

    Most importantly, we must resist the urge to try and make ourselves clean. The whole point of this vision is that our hope is not in ourselves, but in the provision of God for us through the sacrifice of Jesus.

    If you’ve never felt clean, felt the burden of guilt lifted, felt at peace with God, then perhaps you are still trying to make yourself clean. Maybe you need to finally let go of the burden of making yourself clean, and trust entirely in Jesus.

    Pray

    • Confess any sin in your life before the Lord. Acknowledge your failures, knowing that God is your defender.
    • Praise God for the unified story of the Bible. Praise him for prophecies of the Messiah, and thank him for faithfully fulfilling his promises. Thank God for designing the sacrificial system to point to the work of Jesus.
    • Praise God for the substitutionary sacrifice of Jesus on our behalf. Thank him that he died to remove our sin, and that by his resurrection he provides us with holiness. Praise him for being our advocate, and for answer Satan’s accusations against us.