ZECHARIAH LESSON 3


     We will begin in Zechariah 3:1 "And he shewed me Joshua the high
priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at
his right hand to resist him."

     In this, Joshua represents the priesthood, and he, also,
represents the people. Standing indicates a judgement. The angel of
the LORD has to do with the Judge of all the world, Jesus. Satan, the
accuser, was standing at the right hand of Joshua. Satan was there to
accuse Joshua to the Judge. Notice, I said that Joshua represented all
the people. It would have, probably, been more accurate to say all the
believers. We, too, will stand before the Judge of all the world and
give account. Satan accuses us constantly to the Father. Jesus is our
intercessor.  He pleads for us. He is our counsel.

     Zechariah 3:2 "And the LORD said unto Satan, The LORD rebuke
thee, O Satan; even the LORD that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee:
[is] not this a brand plucked out of the fire?"

     The LORD is over Satan. When we stand against Satan, it is the
name of Jesus that actually rebukes Satan. He would not listen to any
rebuke that we might bring, but he must bow to the name of Jesus. God
has not turned from His people, just because they have sinned. They
are still His people. Romans 8:33 "Who shall lay any thing to the
charge of God's elect? [It is] God that justifieth."  Romans 8:34 "Who
[is] he that condemneth? [It is] Christ that died, yea rather, that is
risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh
intercession for us."  God had plucked Israel out of the fire of
captivity in Babylon. Satan tries to remind God of their sins.  Jesus
paid the price in full for their sins, and for ours. God had a plan of
salvation.

     Zechariah 3:3 "Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and
stood before the angel."

     These filthy garments symbolize being clothed in sins. Isaiah
64:6 "But we are all as an unclean [thing], and all our
righteousnesses [are] as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf;
and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away."  The filthy
garments is speaking of the sin of the priesthood, but it, also,
speaks of the sins of the people. Any of us that stand before Jesus in
the garments we have provided for ourselves, would be just like this
Joshua.

     Zechariah 3:4 "And he answered and spake unto those that stood
before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto
him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee,
and I will clothe thee with change of raiment."

     The raiment here is Jesus' raiment. Revelation 1:5 "And from
Jesus Christ, [who is] the faithful witness, [and] the first begotten
of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that
loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,"  Revelation
7:14 "And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These
are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their
robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb."  In a sense,
Joshua is just like the believers in Christ. We gave Him our sins
{filthy garments}, and He gave us His righteousness {robe washed in
His blood}. The garment that the LORD provided made him worthy. It is
a robe of righteousness. He took the priest's sins, when he took the
stained garment. He robed Him in His garment of righteousness.

     Zechariah 3:5 "And I said, Let them set a fair mitre upon his
head. So they set a fair mitre upon his head, and clothed him with
garments. And the angel of the LORD stood by."

     The "head" symbolizes the mind. In receiving this fair mitre, he
symbolically took on the mind of Christ. The LORD re-instated him to
his authority and power.

     Zechariah 3:6 "And the angel of the LORD protested unto Joshua,
saying,"

     This is saying, that Joshua must walk in the salvation he has
received.

     Zechariah 3:7 "Thus saith the LORD of hosts; If thou wilt walk in
my ways, and if thou wilt keep my charge, then thou shalt also judge
my house, and shalt also keep my courts, and I will give thee places
to walk among these that stand by."

     This is, possibly, one of the most important things for Joshua to
remember, and for all believers to remember, as well. Salvation is a
daily walk with Jesus. The conditions of his power to judge, depend on
his steadfastness in Jesus. Matthew 19:28 "And Jesus said unto them,
Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the
regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory,
ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of
Israel." Revelation 3:21 "To him that overcometh will I grant to sit
with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my
Father in his throne."   The key word in verse 7 above is "if". All of
his ability to judge, depends on whether he stays in God's path and
keeps His commandments.

     Zechariah 3:8 "Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou, and thy
fellows that sit before thee: for they [are] men wondered at: for,
behold, I will bring forth my servant the BRANCH."

     The "BRANCH" is Jesus Christ. The high priest always had priests
who worked under him. This is the promise of the coming Messiah.
Joshua is to begin telling the priests, that the coming of Messiah is
near. Not only is Joshua to give his attention to this, but he is to
spread the news to the priests, as well. Isaiah 11:1 "And there shall
come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out
of his roots:" Romans 1:3 "Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord,
which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;"
     Zechariah 3:9 "For behold the stone that I have laid before
Joshua; upon one stone [shall be] seven eyes: behold, I will engrave
the graving thereof, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will remove the
iniquity of that land in one day."

     The church of the Lord Jesus Christ is to be established through
this BRANCH. All sin will be abolished, when washed in the blood of
the Lamb {Jesus}. "Eyes" denote wisdom, and "seven" means spiritually
complete. This wisdom is so great, it is perfection. The iniquity is
removed on the day when Jesus shed His blood for the sins of the
world. Jesus actually took the sin of the world upon His body, and sin
died on the cross. Jesus became our substitute. This stone is that
Corner Stone {Jesus Christ}. Colossians 2:9 "For in him dwelleth all
the fulness of the Godhead bodily."

     Zechariah 3:10 "In that day, saith the LORD of hosts, shall ye
call every man his neighbour under the vine and under the fig tree."

     There will be peace in that day when Jesus reigns as King. He is
the God of Peace. There will be prosperity, as well. He will provide
all our needs. Satan will be bound, and there will be no jealousy
among neighbors. There will be plenty of everything for the physical
man and for the spirit of man. The "vine" symbolizes Jesus. John 15:5
"I am the vine, ye [are] the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in
him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do
nothing." The fig tree symbolizes Israel.  We see in this, that
salvation is offered to all of mankind in that day.



























                        Zechariah 3 Questions


1.  Who was standing before the angel of the LORD.
2.  Who was standing at Joshua's right hand.
3.  Who does Joshua represent?
4.  What does the fact that he is standing indicate?
5.  Who is the Judge of all the world?
6.  Who is the accuser?
7.  Who is the Christian's intercessor?
8.  Who rebuked Satan?
9.  The _________ is over Satan.
10. How can we rebuke Satan?
11. Quote Romans chapter 8 verses 33 and 34.
12. Where were they plucked from?
13. What does Satan accuse us of?
14. What do Joshua's filthy garments symbolize?
15. Quote Isaiah chapter 64 verse 6.
16. What is Joshua's new raiment?
17. Quote Revelation chapter 1 verse 5.
18. Those who came out of great tribulation had washed their robes in
    what?
19. How are we Christians like Joshua?
20. The "head" symbolizes the ______.
21. In receiving this fair mitre, he symbolically took on the ________
    of _________.
22. What is verse 6 saying?
23. Quote Matthew chapter 19 verse 28.
24. The key word in verse 7 is what?
25. The "BRANCH" is _________ _______.
26. What is Joshua to tell the priests?
27. Quote Isaiah chapter 11 verse 1.
28. According to the ________, Jesus is descended from David.
29. The church is established through _______ ________.
30. "Eyes" symbolize __________.
31. "Seven" is symbolic of __________.
32. Quote Colossians chapter 2 verse 9.
33. The "vine" symbolizes _________.