Series: Unveiling the Bible StorySeeing Glory & Walking in Grace

Today: All Roads Lead to Jesus (Zech 3; for next wk Hab 1-3)

Key Bible terms/themes: “clean garments”, “My servant”, “the branch”,  & “stone”

 

Intro: 

  

***  Zech 3 points forward to how Jesus, our great high priest, fully & completely _______ us.  Zech 3 points forward to how Jesus, our great high priest, fully & completely:

 

I.  … _________ us from Satan’s many ________________ (3:1-2). 

 

  

II.  … ___________ us from all our sinful _______ (3:3-4). 

 

 

III.  … _____________ us for a life of practical __________ (3:5-7). 

 

 

IV.  … __________ us into a future of perfect ______________ _______ & joy (3:8-10).      

 

  

Concl: 

 

Digging Deeper into Zech 3   by Pastor Jeff

Here are a few suggestions for digging deeper into Zech 3.  Reflect on the following:

 

1.   Many Bible passages use the imagery of God’s salvation being like having dirty clothes exchanged for clean, Zech 3:3-4 with Is 64:6, Job 29:14, Ps 132:9, Is 11:5, 59:17, 61:10, 62:2-5, Mt 22:12-13, Rev 19:7-8, 1 Pet 5;5, Eph 5:22-25 & Col 3:8-10.      

 

2.   The word “filth” in Zech 3:3-4 is the strongest Hebrew word for filth of the most vile & loathsome kind.  It is often used of excrement (Dt 23:14, Is 36:12, Eze 4;12) & sometimes of vomit (Is 28:8).  A different but equally offensive description is used of our “righteousness”, apart from Christ, in Is 64:6.  All our righteousness is said to be like “polluted rags” (literally  used “menstrual rags”).  The point is not to demean a normal female function, but to highlight the pollution of even our best acts apart from God’s redeeming grace.        

 

3.  Notice the uses of Zech 3 in Jude (Jude 9 & 23 in particular).            

 

4.  Notice the following 3 “Messianic” terms in Zech 3:8 -

·         “Servant” is often used in Scripture of the coming Messiah as in Is 42:1, 49:3, 52:13-53:12; Eze 34:23-24 & 37:24-26 among others

·         “Branch” is also a “type” of the Messiah to come in many texts including these:

  (this material borrowed from Zechariah by Walt Kaisar, p. 325) 

o        Jer 23:5 describes the “Branch” as Royal King corresponding in some sense to Matthew’s presentation of Jesus as King (“Behold your King”)

o        Zech 3:8 describes the “Branch” as Servant corresponding in some sense to Mark’s presentation of Jesus as Servant (“Behold my Servant”)

o         Zech 6:12 describes the “Branch” as Fully Man corresponding in some sense to Luke’s presentation of Jesus’ humanity (“Behold the Man”)

o         Is 4:2 describes the “Branch” as Fully God corresponding in some sense to John’s presentation of Jesus as deity (“Behold the Son of God”)

·          “Stone” is probably also a Messianic term in Zech 3:8.  It certainly is in Is 8:14-18, 28:16, Ps 118:22-23, 1 Pet 2:4-10 & Eph 2:19-22.           

 

Z