There are passages in Scripture that reveal the devastating consequences of sin. Then there are passages that reveal the greatness of God’s heart. Zechariah 3 does not begin with a man seeking God, but with God revealing Himself to a sinner who has nothing to offer.
In the opening verse of Zechariah 3, the prophet sees Joshua the high priest “standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him.” It is a scene that appears to leave no room for hope. Joshua stands before the Holy One while the accuser is ready to point out everything that testifies against him. What is remarkable is that Scripture does not say Satan is there to tempt or deceive him. He stands there to accuse him. That means there is something to accuse him of.
The next verse leaves no doubt about it. Joshua “was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel.” For a high priest, this was unthinkable. He was called to represent the people before God and to appear in His presence wearing clean garments. Instead, he stands clothed in garments that openly reveal his uncleanness. The text softens nothing. God knows exactly who is standing before Him. He sees not only the garments, but the guilt they represent.
We would expect the Lord to turn away from such a man.
But that is not what happens.
Before Joshua says a single word, and before Satan can present his accusation, the Lord Himself speaks. In verse 2 He declares, “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 does not defend Joshua by denying his sin. Neither does He remind Satan of Joshua’s good works. Instead, He points to something entirely outside of Joshua himself: “The Lord that hath chosen Jerusalem…” The hope of God’s people has never rested in themselves. It has always rested in God’s gracious choice to make them His people. That is why He calls Joshua “a brand plucked out of the fire.” A burning stick does not rescue itself from the flames. Someone else reaches in and pulls it out. In this, God reveals His heart. He sees people who cannot save themselves, and He acts on their behalf.
When we come to verse 4, we hear one of the most beautiful declarations in the Old Testament. The Lord says, “Take away the filthy garments from him.” Then He explains why: “Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment.”
It is significant that God does not first speak about the garments, but about the guilt. The garments could be changed, but if the guilt remained, nothing would truly be different. That is why He does not say, “I have changed your clothes.” He says, “I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee.” The new garments are simply the visible evidence of a far greater reality. God does something that no person could ever do for themselves. He removes what stood between Himself and the sinner.
Then, in verse 5, Zechariah asks that a clean mitre also be placed upon Joshua’s head. Nothing is done halfway. The Lord does not leave the high priest standing before Him only partially cleansed. The work He begins, He completes. Joshua now stands fully clothed before the Angel of the Lord. Where the chapter began with filthy garments, it now presents a man whom God Himself has prepared to serve Him.
The Lord then speaks solemnly to Joshua. Verses 6 and 7 call him to walk in His ways and to keep His charge. These words come only after his guilt has been removed. God does not require obedience in order to be gracious. He calls a person to obedience because He has already shown grace. This is how God has always dealt with His children. His grace always comes before His commands.
Then the Lord lifts the veil even further. In verse 8 He says, “Behold, I will bring forth my servant the BRANCH.” Suddenly we realise that Joshua’s cleansing is not the climax of the vision. It points beyond itself to Someone else. Long before Bethlehem, the Lord already had His Son in view. Everything He does here points forward to Christ.
That is why the wonderful promise of verse 9 follows: “I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day.” The Lord does not say that He will gradually lessen their guilt or slowly take it away over time. He promises a day on which He will remove it completely. That day arrived when Christ cried out from the cross, “It is finished.” The guilt symbolised by Joshua’s filthy garments was carried there by the perfect High Priest, who never stood before His Father clothed in filthy garments Himself, yet willingly took upon Himself the guilt of others.
The chapter closes in verse 10 with a beautiful picture of peace: “In that day… shall ye call every man his neighbour under the vine and under the fig tree.” This is the rest God gives when guilt no longer stands between Himself and His people. It is a peace that is not achieved by human effort, but flows from God’s work of redemption.
Zechariah 3 begins with a sinner who has nothing to say, and it ends with a God who has said everything and done everything. He rebukes the accuser. He removes the guilt. He clothes the sinner. He promises the Branch. He promises the day when sin will be completely taken away.
This is the heart of God.
He has never taken pleasure in sending the sinner away.
He delights in taking away the sinner’s guilt.
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