Passage: Zechariah 3:6-10
The Big Idea
After Joshua is made clean, God calls him to serve. But serving God can’t be done out of our own resources. Zechariah 3 points us to the Branch and the Stone: Jesus, the One we abide in, and the One who removed sin in a single day.
Burned-Out Servants
Studies of pastors paint a sobering picture. Surveys have found many ministers suffering from burnout, depression and stress, many with no close friends, many feeling unqualified, overworked and under pressure to have a perfect family. Large numbers say they would leave ministry if they could.
A lot of people, not just pastors, are trying to serve God out of their own resources. Out of the flesh, not in the power of the Spirit.
When We Feel Too Far Gone (Zechariah 3:6)
The Angel of the Lord speaks solemnly to Joshua.
Sometimes we feel like we’re too far gone, like we just have to live this way: dead and disappointed. We lose hope and can’t see how anything could change.
I believe that’s when Jesus takes our face in His hands, makes us look at Him, and promises He will save us, restore us, fix things and make them right. It depends on His actions, not ours.
Consequences
Still, there are these little things called consequences, and I hate them. When I sin, bad things happen. Are they God’s fault? No. They’re mine. Sometimes God mercifully spares me from them. Other times He lets me experience them so I can learn to trust Him.
There’s an old fable about a pig that ate its fill of acorns under an oak, then started rooting around the tree. A crow warned, “If you dig up the roots, the tree will die.” The pig said, “Let it die. Who cares, as long as there are acorns?”
God warns us of consequences, and then uses even those consequences to build character in us.
There’s a song by the band Relient K about this very thing: running from God to avoid the consequences, then finally stopping, hearing Him say “I miss you, come home,” and discovering His love was bigger than anything we’d hoped for, with no “I told you so.”
Why do we run from the One who can heal us and make all things new?
Called to Serve (Zechariah 3:7)
God says: if you walk in My ways and keep My charge, you will judge My house, have charge of My courts, and I’ll give you a place among those who stand here.
In other words: “Joshua, you’ve been made clean. You’re standing before Me. But I have bigger plans for you. I want to use you to serve Me and serve My people.”
It echoes what God told the other Joshua: be strong and courageous, don’t turn to the right or left, and you will prosper wherever you go (Joshua 1:7).
So how does God want to use you? You’re saved, yes. Now He wants your life to be full of the deep things of God: loving Him and loving others in His name. Look at what Joshua is given charge of:
- My house: God’s family.
- My courts: God Himself, His presence.
- Those who stand here: all His people.
God wants to use you, but He can’t use you if you’re not available. Sin and selfishness make us unavailable. Don’t just come to church to study the Bible. Come to love and serve God’s family.
God promised Joshua privileged access to His presence. That’s not surprising for a high priest. But we have the same promise: come boldly to the throne of grace to receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need (Hebrews 4:16).
The Branch (Zechariah 3:8)
God tells Joshua and his companions that they are a sign: He is bringing His Servant, the Branch (Zechariah 3:8).
Those who want to serve God, listen up. This is how it gets done.
The Branch is a common name for the Messiah:
- The Branch of the Lord will be beautiful and glorious (Isaiah 4:2).
- A Branch will grow out of the roots of Jesse (Isaiah 11:1).
- God will raise up for David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely (Jeremiah 23:5; 33:15).
A branch speaks of life and fruitfulness. Jesus is the true vine, and His Father is the gardener (John 15:1). A branch can’t bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine. Neither can you, unless you abide in Him. Without Him you can do nothing (John 15:4-5).
Is serving God about how smart or talented you are, or which program you use? No. It’s about abiding in Christ, remaining with Him all day. “That doesn’t sound too hard,” you say. Right!
The Stone with Seven Eyes (Zechariah 3:9)
God points to the stone He has set before Joshua, a stone with seven eyes. He will engrave an inscription on it, and He will remove the iniquity of the land in a single day (Zechariah 3:9).
Here’s another picture of Jesus. How could people miss Him when He came, with all these signs? Hard hearts. How do we soften a hard heart? Prayer and the water of the Word.
Jesus the Stone
- The stone the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone (Psalm 118:22).
- He is a sanctuary to some and a stone of stumbling to others (Isaiah 8:14-15).
- God lays in Zion a tested, precious cornerstone; whoever believes will not be in a hurry (Isaiah 28:16).
- Jesus applied Psalm 118 to Himself: whoever falls on this stone will be broken, but whoever it falls on will be crushed (Matthew 21:42-44). It’s your choice: fall on Him in humility, or have Him fall on you in judgment.
- Peter says we come to Him, the living Stone, and we too, as living stones, are built into a spiritual house and a holy priesthood (1 Peter 2:4-8).
How do we become that spiritual house and priesthood? By coming to Him.
Seven eyes
Seven speaks of perfection; eyes speak of sight and knowledge. In Revelation, the Lamb has seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth (Revelation 5:6), a picture of the fullness of the Holy Spirit. Isaiah 11:1-2 describes the Spirit resting on the Branch.
The engraving
What’s engraved on the Stone? God says He has engraved us on the palms of His hands (Isaiah 49:16). Your name is engraved on Him.
In one day
He will remove the iniquity of the land in one day. What day? The day Jesus died.
Daniel foresaw the Messiah being cut off, but not for Himself, to finish transgression, make an end of sins, make reconciliation for iniquity, and bring in everlasting righteousness (Daniel 9:24-26). Isaiah 53 describes that day in detail: wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities.
One day. One sacrifice. Sin removed.
Under the Vine and Fig Tree (Zechariah 3:10)
In that day, everyone will invite his neighbor to sit under his vine and fig tree (Zechariah 3:10).
The end result of all Jesus’ work is peace, rest and fellowship, sitting together in the shade. Jesus said He would not drink the fruit of the vine again until He drinks it new with us in His Father’s kingdom (Matthew 26:29).
Come, Lord Jesus.
Grace Takeaway
You were made clean so you could serve, but you serve the same way you were cleaned: by grace. Abide in the Branch. Rest on the Stone that bears your name. The work of removing sin was finished in one day, and the fruit will come from Him.
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