Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the Angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to oppose him.And the LORD said to Satan, “The LORD rebuke you, Satan! The LORD who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is this not a brand plucked from the fire?” Zechariah 3:1-2
One of the most amazing scenes in the Bible is here and most people don’t even talk about it. Very similar to the scene in Job where Satan, (Job 1:6-12)the accuser, comes to the throne of God , to condemn Israel.
The first thing to notice is the “Angel (Messenger) of The Lord (Yahweh) is Christ himself standing at the throne of His Father with Lucifer, known as Satan (Isaiah 14:12) the fallen angel, who is looking to condemn everyone because he is already condemned.
One detail I think many miss is this high priest figure named Joshua, who is representing the nation of Israel. Is it a coincidence that his name is Joshua, which in Hebrew can be translated as Yeshua or better known in our English language Jesus? While there is speculation about who this figure is, I believe this is a prophecy of the Messiah which will be named Yeshua, which Jesus is literally standing there to rebuke Satan.
Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and was standing before the Angel. Then He answered and spoke to those who stood before Him, saying, “Take away the filthy garments from him.” And to him He said, “See, I have removed your iniquity from you, and I will clothe you with rich robes.” Zechariah 3:3-4
Notice now the Messiah figure Joshua (Yeshua) was clothed with filthy garments, which represents the sins of Israel and the world. The Messiah will take the penalty for our sins as prophesied by Isaiah But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. Isaiah 53:5
The sins of the world were removed by God because of the sacrifice of the Messiah (Christ) “See I have removed your iniquity from you”
God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21
And I said, “Let them put a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head, and they put the clothes on him. And the Angel of the LORD stood by. Zechariah 3:5
The clean (sinless) turban putting on the head of the Messiah, represents Joshua (Yeshua) is the priests of all priests, the perfect high priest who sacrifice himself once and for all, for the sins of the world, we see this explained in the book of Hebrews
For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens; who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people’s, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. For the law appoints as high priests men who have weakness, but the word of the oath, which came after the law, appoints the Son who has been perfected forever. Hebrews 7:26-28
