Our Intercessor

JESUS OUR INTERCESSOR

(GRACE IN THE OLD TESTAMENT)

By Muriel Larson

A man who held a high office stood before the great judge, his head bowed low. His clothing was filthy.

"This man is guilty!" cried the prosecuting attorney. "Just look at him! He is covered with dirt. He ought to be thrown out of office in disgrace!"

"I reject your accusations, "the judge said sternly to the prosecutor." In fact, I intend to show mercy not only to this man, but to the people he represents.

Turning to one of his assistants, the judge said, "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."

Throw away the filthy garments from him!" Then to Joshua he said, "I will clothe thee with change of raiment."

Who was the man who stood filthy and condemned before the bench? It was Joshua, the high priest of the Jews. Who were the people he represented? The Jews.

Who was the prosecuting attorney? Satan. Whom does he accuse? Not only Joshua, for Joshua was representative of the Jewish priesthood, as well as the Jewish people--and you and me as well.
Then God revealed the ultimate meaning of this revelation: "I am going to bring my servant, the Branch and I will remove the sin of this land in a single day."

GOD THE FATHER IS THE JUDGE

The above is an account of a vision that the prophet Zechariah had about 500 years before Christ's advent. See Zechariah 3.

Actually Joshua was a dedicated man of God. He, along with Zerubbabel, had led the children of Israel out of the Babylonian captivity back to Jerusalem. Shortly after they returned, Joshua and Zerubbabel rebuilt the altar of God so that burnt offerings could be made on it according to the law of Moses. After that, they led in the rebuilding of the temple.
Joshua, just like all of us human beings, was a sinner. As Isaiah, the godly prophet, said, "'But we are all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags" (Isaiah 64:6). We have nothing in ourselves to commend us. Yet, isn't it wonderful? God loves us anyway (Romans 5:8).

Satan accuses us both before and after we put our faith in Christ (Revelation 12:10). However, God the Son is our mediator, our defender--1 Timothy 2:5. "Jesus" is the New Testament Aramaic form for the name "Joshua."

GOD THE SON TAKES OUR PUNISHMENT AND CLEANSES US

In Zechariah 3:4 the Lord promised Joshua deliverance from sin and to clothe him with rich garments. It is indeed rich apparel, for our clean covering has been bought with the lifeblood of God's Son. First John l:7 says the blood of Jesus Christ, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.

No wonder the Bible says "God is love." Without the love of God in us, would we love someone filthy within and without so much that we would give our lives for that person? How our hearts must be moved by such remarkable love!

After Joshua has been clothed with the righteousness of Christ, the LORD Almighty tells him, "If you will walk in my ways, and keep my requirements, then will you govern my house and have charge of my courts, and I will give you a place among these standing here" (Zechariah 3:7)

WE ARE A ROYAL PRIESTHOOD

According to First Peter 2:9, every true Christian is a royal priest of God: "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."

The Bible also says that God "has saved us and called us to a holy life-not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time" (2 Timothy 1:9).

Zechariah was stirred to pray for Joshua, that he be given a clean turban. This turban stood as the badge of Joshua's high office. Christians also receive a head covering as a badge of their high office: "the helmet of salvation" (Ephesians 6:17).

Matthew Henry says about this helmet of salvation: "A good hope of salvation, well founded and well built, will both purify the soul and keep it from being troubled and tormented by Satan."

Furthermore, when others see the evidence of salvation in the words and actions that spring from a Christian' s mind-heart, they will recognize him as a true representative of Christ's (Matthew 5:16; Luke 6:45).

One priestly ministry is to intercede for other human beings, even as Zechariah prayed for Joshua. So we must pray for one another, especially that we might be filled with the Spirit and worthy representatives of our Lord's.

OUR HIGH PRIEST

Our high priest, Jesus Christ, whom Joshua also symbolized, took our filthiness upon himself when he died for us on the cross. The Bible says, "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God" (2 Corinthians 5:21).

God then removed those filthy rags of ours that were laid on his Son, whom he raised for our justification (cp. Zechariah 3:4, Romans 4:25). Christ not only made the sacrifice for our sins himself, but as our high priest he continually intercedes for us. How much we who trust him have to be thankful for!

The Old Testament is full of examples of God's grace toward men and living pictures of his future plan to redeem us by sending his Son to earth to die for us. All those of us who have trusted in Christ as Savior are bound by the invisible fellowship of grace and love we have through Christ (John 13:35). If we are filled with this love for Him and one another, we will experience the peace and joy only Christ can give.

And in the Old Testament the prophet Isaiah gives us a picture in chapter 63 of something wonderful: our Lord's returning to earth as King and Conqueror. And we will be with him, clothed in white.

Dr. Muriel Larson, D.R.E., MKLJOY@aol.com