Words of Grace

By Rev. Mahlon Nevel

The prophet Zechariah, in a vision, saw Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord. Satan was also there to resist him.

Then Zechariah heard the Lord rebuke Satan as he was opposing all that God was doing for Jerusalem. “Is this not a brand plucked out of the fire?” he asked the devil.

The prophet was shown the high priest Joshua clothed with filthy garments as he stood before the angel. He then heard the Lord say to those who stood there:

“Take away the filthy garments from him.”

After declaring this, he said, to Joshua, “Behold, I have caused your iniquity to pass from you, and I will clothe you with a change of raiment.” (Zechariah 3:1-4)

Just as Joshua was clothed with filthy garment, so are
all of us, according to Isaiah 64:6. “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all of our righteousnesses are as filthy rags.”

And all of us, just like Joshua, need to have a change of raiment. We need to have our filthy garments taken from us, and to be clothed with the righteousness of God.

It has been said that when Jesus suffered and bled and died for us on the cross, a great transaction took place.

Jesus took all of our sin upon himself. In return, he gave us all of his righteousness.