In God’s Courtroom

Every day, Satan, our adversary and prosecutor in God’s heavenly courtroom, challenges us, while Jesus Christ, our defense attorney, forgives and cleanses us, allowing God the Father to declare us “Not Guilty.”

This is vividly portrayed in Joshua’s vision.

“He showed me Joshua, the high priest, standing before the Angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at His right hand to accuse him.” (Zechariah 3:1)

Joshua sees himself standing before the Angel of the Lord, who is none other than the pre-incarnate form of Jesus Christ.

And while Satan is accusing Joshua, the Lord rebukes him saying, “The Lord rebuke you, Satan! The Lord who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is this not a brand plucked from the fire?” (Zechariah 3:2)

Fire is symbolic for judgment, and none other than Jesus Christ, who died upon the cross for our sins so we can be cleansed and forgiven, has plucked us from the judgment of sin and death.

This cleansing is portrayed in how the Angel of the Lord, Jesus, had the filthy garments Joshua was wearing, which represents sin, removed, and then He had the robes of His righteousness placed upon him.

“‘Take off his filthy clothes.’ Then he said to Joshua, ‘See, I have taken away your sin, and I will put rich garments on you.’” (Zechariah 3:4)

Jesus takes away our sins, and places upon us His righteousness.

Jesus then completes the ensemble by placing upon Joshua’s head a clean turban. It is the turban worn by the High Priest, which would have contained the words, “Holy to the Lord,” or more literally, “Set apart by God for God.”

We are therefore cleansed by Jesus’ death upon the cross, clothed in His righteousness, and crowned for His service.

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” (1 Peter 2:9)