Zechariah

Zechariah continues the theme of the temple, the church and the one who rules over it, the Messiah. The whole idea of the return of the captivity to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem was to await the coming of Messiah. The encouragement of Haggai and Zechariah to those who had returned from the captivity was that although the rebuilt temple had no glory compared to Solomon’s temple, Christ would come to it and this was what their work was for, a far better restoration.

Just as Zerubbabel was a type of Christ, so too was Joshua, the high priest in Jerusalem after the return from Babylon. Israel had been in Babylon because of judgement. They had broken the law. When God returned them to Jerusalem Satan stood to oppose them claiming that by the law they should not return. They were still guilty. God answered showing that He was doing this through Messiah, not by law. This would be a temple of grace, not of law (Zech 4:6, 7).

And He showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him. And the Lord said to Satan, The Lord rebuke you, O Satan; even the Lord that has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you; is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?

Now Joshua was clothed in filthy garments and stood before the angel. And He answered and spoke to those who stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And to him He said, Behold, I have caused your iniquity to pass from you and I will clothe you with a change of raiment…

Hear now Joshua the high priest and your fellows that sit before you; for they are men wondered at; for, behold, I will bring forth My Servant the BRANCH. For behold the stone that I have laid before Joshua…I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day…In that day shall you call every man his neighbour under the vine and under the fig tree. (Zech 3:1-10).

This passage shows several things:

1. It shows what spiritual warfare is. Once Joshua’s clothes were cleansed Satan was unable to oppose him. That is, once we are made righteous by the New Covenant Satan’s opposition is defeated.

2. The stone laid before Joshua was a sacrifice stone common in those days. Animals were killed for sacrifice on the stone. By presenting the stone, God was telling Joshua that He would provide the sacrifice for Joshua’s sin and for the sin of the whole land.

3. This sacrifice was the Messiah, the Branch, meaning the stem or branch of Jesse’s household, the Seed of David. He would take away the sin of that land in one day, just as Daniel said (Dan 9:24).

4. Every man sitting under his fig tree (i.e. is secure in the land) is a symbolic picture of the redemption under the New Covenant, as it is in all the prophets. This redemption (Christ) is our land. The day that Jesus takes away our sins is the day we inherit our land.

5. This is the clothing Rev 19:8 speaks of, given to the bride through the gospel.