Zechariah 3 reminds me of the best thing about having a big brother. Younger siblings catch a lot of grief from their older brothers or sisters, but when targeted by a tough guy, a big brother can end the disagreement by stepping in front of you. Big brothers have a way of making scary bullies look weak and helpless in a hurry. In today’s chapter we are given an incredible picture of the spiritual realm that most of us miss completely. The prophet is again given the ability to see what is hidden. It begins, “Then He showed me Joshua the high priest standing before The Angel of the Lord, and Satanstanding at his right side to accuse him“. Freeze that picture in your mind. There are many names for Satan, among them are, “the Liar”, “the Deceiver”, and “the Thief”. Do not miss the point; we have all done dumb things; the Accuser continuously puts them between us and God. Satan wants you to doubt your value. We treat valuable things with care, while we treat junk harshly. Have you ever thought, “How could anyone love me?” Feeling worthless often leads to doing harmful things. Friend, did you know that God says, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you” (Jeremiah 1:5)? You are the “Pearl of great value” in Matthew 13:46. For you, He “sold everything he had and bought it“. Jesus Christ is the intercessor. He stands between us and the accuser, and with a word, chases the weak bully away. The chapter continues, “The Lord rebuke you, Satan!“
Too many people think Satan is in a battle with God and the outcome is uncertain. Nonsense! Satan is craftier than mere humans, but he is a created being. God has total dominion over all of His creation. On the cross, Jesus defeated Sin, death and hell. Romans 8:34 explains, “Christ Jesus who died more than that, who was raised to life is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us“. No matter what lies Satan whispers, Christ stands in front of us, reminding us, that His blood covers all of our sin. The fight is over.
The chapter continues with Jesus speaking with authority, “The Lord, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebuke you“. He describes this earthly priest as “a burning stick snatched from the fire“. Alone we are kindling for the fires of hell. Do not believe the lies! There is no unpardonable sin for those who ask in faith. We are then given another cool image. The Priest is “dressed in filthy clothes“, and we read, “Take off his filthy clothes… I have taken away your sin, and I will put fine garments on you“. Ephesians 5:26 tells us this is what Jesus does for His beloved church, “cleansingher by the washing with water through the Word, and to present her to Himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless“. The priest is told “walk in obedience to Me and keep My requirements“. God made a promise here that He fulfilled 500 years later, “I will remove the sin of this land in a single day“. Philippians 2:10-11 tells us, “God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father“.Friend, is it time to call on Jesus to intercede?