Today’s message is about Zechariah 3:4. It is a word of the Lord to the high priest Joshua, one of the leaders who guided his people to rebuild the Temple and worship God there again.
Before we get into Zechariah, let’s recall what we learned about the book of Haggai. The theme of today’s message is uncleanness. The question we will ask is, Can an unclean people worship a holy God? The main point I want to make is that God accepts an unclean people as they are and cleanses them from sin. The book of Haggai described a people who recognized their uncleanness and worshipped God. It’s not surprising that this people, who had returned from exile, came into contact with sin and became unclean themselves. What matters is that they recognized it and decided to obey God and start anew. “Give careful thought from this day on,” is a key phrase of Haggai in 2:15 and 2:18. What kind of worship was temple worship? It was to offer up animals so that the worshippers’ sin could be forgiven. Through the sacrifice of animals, they could receive God’s pardon and stand before Him in right status. And they prayed to become a people who obey God’s word once again. That was the kind of hope they came with to temple worship. But worship in our New Testament era is different. For we believe that it is Christ on the Cross who enables us to be forgiven. In Haggai, the people were exhorted to rebuild the temple, worship God, and be cleansed from their sins. God would then pour out blessings them. That was the message of Haggai. Meanwhile, in Zechariah, as we will read today, the message clearly points to Christ; that it is Christ who will purify us.
Before we do that, let’s look again at Haggai’s encouraging message about rebuilding the temple. I talked about it before, but let’s read it one more time.
Haggai 2:4 says, “But now be strong,’ declares the Lord. ‘Be strong, all you people of the land and work. For I am with you.” 2:5: “And my Spirit remains among you. Do not fear.” 2:9: “The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house. And in this place I will grant peace.” 2:15: “‘Now give careful thought to this from this day on—consider how things were before one stone was laid on another in the Lord’s temple.”
Now, Haggai 2:11-14 says: “This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Ask the priests what the law says: If someone carries consecrated meat in the fold of their garment, and that fold touches some bread or stew, some wine, olive oil or other food, does it become consecrated?’ The priests answered, ‘No.’ Then Haggai said, ‘If a person defiled by contact with a dead body touches one of these things, does it become defiled?’
‘Yes,’ the priests replied, ‘it becomes defiled.’ Then Haggai said, ‘So it is with this people and this nation in my sight, declares the Lord. Whatever they do and whatever they offer there is defiled.’”
This is shocking. Haggai is talking about all the things his people have made with their own hands. All they offer is defiled. God wants the people of Israel to recognize that. And, therefore, to think carefully about what to do from this day on. How was their previous life in Babylon? Didn’t they feel empty living a life without worshipping God? To be accepted by God and transformed into a people of God, they must live a life of worship and be forgiven of their sins. They are to know God’s forgiveness and grace while keeping the law of Moses. And to think about what kind of blessing will come from rebuilding the temple, and hold on to that hope.
Haggai 2:18-19 says this: “From this day on, from this twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, give careful thought to the day when the foundation of the Lord’s temple was laid. Give careful thought: Is there yet any seed left in the barn? Until now, the vine and the fig tree, the pomegranate and the olive tree have not borne fruit. From this day on I will bless you.” They are to lay a foundation, resolve to become a people who worship God again, and rebuild the temple with hope. And look towards the future while waiting quietly for God’s timing. God’s grace and blessings surely come to those who worship him.
Haggai 2:23 says, “‘On that day,’ declares the Lord Almighty, ‘I will take you, my servant Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel,’ declares the Lord, ‘and I will make you like my signet ring, for I have chosen you,’ declares the Lord Almighty.” God chose Joshua the high priest and Zerubbabel the governor for the purpose of rebuilding this temple. To achieve a goal, it’s necessary for leaders and the people to share the same vision.
Now we will look at the book of Zechariah, which was written about the same time period as Haggai. Let’s start reading from Zechariah chapter 3 verse 1 to 5: “Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right side to accuse him. The Lord said to Satan, ‘The Lord rebuke you, Satan! The Lord, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebuke you! Is not this man a burning stick snatched from the fire?’ Now Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood before the angel. The angel said to those who were standing before him, ‘Take off his filthy clothes.’ Then he said to Joshua, ‘See, I have taken away your sin, and I will put fine garments on you.’ Then I said, ‘Put a clean turban on his head.’ So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him, while the angel of the Lord stood by.”
Let me summarize the passage. Satan is accusing Joshua. Accusing him of being unclean. The burning stick mentioned here describes the condition of the exiles returning from Babylon. They managed to return after enduring much difficulty. It’s natural that their clothes should be filthy. The Lord says, “Take off his filthy clothes.” And then, “See, I have taken away your sin, and I will put fine garments on you.” They also put a clean turban on his head.
Friends, this is what the Lord does. He makes us clean. Let’s continue reading. Verse 7: “This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘If you will walk in obedience to me and keep my requirements, then you will govern my house and have charge of my courts, and I will give you a place among these standing here.” To be standing there means to stand before God as a worshipper. God commands Joshua to walk in his ways.
Verses 8 and 9: “‘Listen, High Priest Joshua, you and your associates seated before you, who are men symbolic of things to come: I am going to bring my servant, the Branch. See, the stone I have set in front of Joshua! There are seven eyes on that one stone, and I will engrave an inscription on it,’ says the Lord Almighty, ‘and I will remove the sin of this land in a single day.’” This servant, the Branch, mentioned here is Jesus Christ. Zechariah prophesies about part of the Lord Jesus’ ministry. He prophesies that the animal sacrifice of temple worship will be replaced by worship of gratitude for Jesus’ atonement of our sins.
Friends, let us earnestly take to what we read in Haggai 2:9—“The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house”—and also Haggai 2:15—“Now give careful thought to this from this day on.” The era of temple worship has ended. There is no need for that temple. Through Jesus’ victory on the Cross, we who were made God’s children can now worship anywhere, and obey God’s word and live according to his will.
Back when my family used to live in a rented house and we were planting a new church, we sometimes got Jehovah’s Witnesses coming to our door. After listening to them, I would say this: “I’m a Christian and I believe in Jesus Christ. I have joy from being forgiven, thanks to what Christ did on the Cross. I want to worship God out of this joy.” It’s sad, but Jehovah’s Witnesses do not have the same kind of joy of having their sins forgiven. Friends, I hope we can worship God out of overflowing joy and thankfulness.
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