Plucked From The Fire

Cariad group

February 6

Hi everyone, we're in Zechariah today almost at the end of the Old Testament. Zechariah was a prophet and priest whose ministry was around 520-516 BC. His prophecies were given to encourage the remnant of Israel, about 20 years after their return from exile in Babylon. They were struggling to rebuild the temple and Jerusalem against much opposition. Zechariah's prophecies are quoted many times in the New Testament and it's estimated ( not by me) that 54 passages occur in 67 different places including Matthew, Mark, John, Ephesians and Revelation. Many were fulfilled in Jesus' life and death in great details like His entry into Jerusalem riding on a donkey and being sold for 30 pieces of silver. There are many more still to be fulfilled in His second coming.

However, I want to talk about one vision in particular in chapter 3:1-5 because it's very precious to me. There's a permanent bookmark in my Bible, it was preached on at my baptism and I've told my family that I want it at my funeral.

Zechariah 3:1-5

"Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him. And the Lord said to Satan, "The Lord rebuke you O Satan! The Lord who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is not this a brand plucked from the fire?" Now Joshua was standing before the angel clothed with filthy garments. And the angel said to those who were standing before him " Remove the filthy garments from him." And to him he said "Behold, I have taken your iniquity away from you and I will clothe you with pure vestments. "And I said "Let them put a clean turban on his head." So, they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the Lord was standing by.

So why is this so precious to me? Well, it's obviously a wonderful picture of what happens when we come to know the Lord, which is why it's often preached at baptisms. By nature, we are filthy in our sin and no we wouldn't be fit to stand before God. But Jesus took it all away from us, bore it for us and took the punishment we deserve in our place. He also clothed us in his righteousness so that we are clean before God.

But we need to constantly go back to this and remind ourselves of it. I don't know about you but I foolishly thought when I was converted that not sinning would get easier the longer I was a Christian. But it's coming up to 46 years and believe me it doesn't. In fact, I would say that I'm more aware of my sin now and discovering things in myself that I never even realised were sins. The temptation is to beat myself up and feel guilty when the same enemy Satan accuses me. He'll tell me that I can't pray ( the very thing I need to do) after doing, saying or thinking that. I end up feeling that I can't serve the Lord because I'm not good enough. But that's the point, I'm not. None of us are even on our best days and even our good works are as filthy rags. I listened to a sermon on this passage about us being brands ( burnt sticks) pulled out of the fire. They said that it's like Jesus is saying " Of course they're dirty, I knew they were and they will be but I don't intend to leave them like that "

Joshua was standing there ready to serve because he was the high priest but he had no righteousness of his own. Like him the Lord clothes us in his spotless robe of righteousness which never wears out or gets dirty. My 40-year-old wedding dress is now brown but This robe never changes. Yes, we need to confess our sins and repent daily but in His robes, we can be fit serve him and we need to constantly remind ourselves of our standing in Jesus.

These words are taken from an old hymn. The words are old fashioned but explain it beautifully:-

Jesus thy blood and righteousness

My beauty are, my glorious dress,

Midst flaming worlds in these arrayed

With joy shall I lift up my head

Bold, shall I stand in that great day

For who aught to my charge shall lay

Fully absolved through thee I am

From sin and fear from guilt and shame

This spotless robe the same appears

When ruined nature sinks in years

No age can change its glorious hue