IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Daily Bread

The Branch

Date: Dec. 10, 2014

Passage

Zechariah 3:1-10  (ESV)

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.

And the angel of the LORD solemnly assured Joshua, “Thus says the LORD of hosts: If you will walk in my ways and keep my charge, then you shall rule my house and have charge of my courts, and I will give you the right of access among those who are standing here. Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, you and your friends who sit before you, for they are men who are a sign: behold, I will bring my servant the Branch. For behold, on the stone that I have set before Joshua, on a single stone with seven eyes, I will engrave its inscription, declares the LORD of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of this land in a single day. 10 In that day, declares the LORD of hosts, every one of you will invite his neighbor to come under his vine and under his fig tree.”

Daily Bread

Key Verse: 3:8b

Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, you and your friends who sit before you, for they are men who are a sign: behold, I will bring my servant the Branch.

First, I have taken away your sin (1-5). Zechariah's fourth vision involved Joshua the high priest. Joshua co-led the rebuilding of the temple. Satan stood by Joshua and accused him before God. Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes and was unfit to stand before the LORD. But the LORD himself intervened and rebuked Satan. The LORD had rescued the Israelites and Joshua as one snatches a burning stick from the fire. God took away Joshua's sin. His dirty clothes were replaced with fine garments and a clean turban.

Second, My servant, the Branch (6-10). If Joshua obeyed the LORD, he would be blessed. Joshua and his associates symbolized what was to come. God would send the Branch, a reference to Jesus. The high priest and his associates served in the temple to ceremonially atone for sin, but only Christ can completely remove our sin in a single day. In Jesus we have true peace with our neighbor and blessing.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for rebuking Satan, rescuing us from hell and taking away our filthy sins. Help us to be a kingdom of priests.

One Word: Jesus takes away our sins

Daily Bread

Two Wicked Kings; One Repents

2 Chronicles 33:1-25

Key Verse: 33:12

And when he was in distress, he entreated the favor of the LORD his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers.

Read More

Intro Daily