The Father Restores the High Priest
Joshua the high priest stands in filthy clothes with the Accuser at his elbow. The accusation is not answered by argument: our Father has the filthy clothes taken off him, clean robes given, the land's guilt removed in a single day, and the Branch announced.
3 1Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the messenger of our Father, with the Accuser at his right hand to accuse him.
2And our Father said to the Accuser, "May he rebuke you, Accuser! May he who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is this man not a burning stick snatched from the fire?"
3Now Joshua was dressed in filthy garments as he stood before the messenger. 4He said to those standing before him, "Remove his filthy clothes." Then to Joshua: "See, I've taken your guilt away, and I'll dress you in fine robes."
5Then I said, "Put a clean turban on his head." So they put it on his head and dressed him, while the messenger of our Father stood by.
6Then the messenger of our Father solemnly charged Joshua:
7"This is what the Father of heaven's armies says: If you walk in my ways and keep my requirements, you will govern my house and oversee my courts, and I will give you a place among these standing here. 8Listen now, Joshua the high priest, you and your companions seated before you, for they are men who are a sign: I am about to bring my servant, the Branch—Jesus. a a v8 The Branch is one of the Old Testament's clearest names for the coming Messiah, fulfilled in Jesus, the Servant our Father sent (Jeremiah 23:5; Isaiah 11:1). 9Look at the stone I set before Joshua: seven eyes on that one stone. I will engrave its inscription, declares the Father of heaven's armies, and I will remove this land's guilt in one day. b b v9 The seven eyes on the stone represent God's complete, watchful care over the whole earth. 10In that day, declares the Father of heaven's armies, each will invite his neighbor under his vine and under his fig tree."
