GOSPEL NUGGET # 94

Zec 3:1 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.

Zec 3:3 Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and was standing before the Angel.

Zec 3:4 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."

Though these verses refer to God's future blessing to Israel as a nation (Joshua is made to represent Israel), it is a picture of a saved sinner and Christ as his Advocate in the New Testament. "Angel of the Lord" oftentimes refer to the pre-incarnate Christ in the OT. Reading the OT, you will notice that more than once, Old Testament saints refer to the "Angel of the Lord" as LORD (Yahweh). Yahweh is one God in three persons. Christ is also Yahweh.

Anyone with an eye for Christ and His salvation in the Bible cannot fail to notice a picture of Christ and His salvation here, especially His being the saved sinner's Advocate.

We can imagine it to have happened this way:

Satan our accuser before God: "Look at this despicable sinner! Look how vile he is, dressed in filthy garments. His sins cannot be numbered. His righteousnesses are filthy rags! Condemn him!"

The Lord Jesus, the saved sinner's Advocate before God: "It is true that he is sinner. He is dressed in rags. It is true that he is worthy of condemnation. But I have died for him, I shed my precious blood for all his sins. And he has placed all his trust in Me."

And God says: ""Take away the filthy garments from him."

And to him God says: "See, I have removed your iniquity from you, and I will clothe you with rich robes all because of My Son."