5. Pure and Clean: Reclothing the Filthy
- Pure and Clean: Reclothing the Filthy.
“Now Joshua the high priest was standing before the Angel of the Lord, clothed with filthy garments. And the Angel said to those attending Him, ‘Remove the filthy garments from him.’ And to Joshua 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 priestly turban on his head.’ So they put a clean turban on Joshua’s head and clothed him with pure garments.” (Zechariah 3:3-5).
Zechariah was a prophet in Jerusalem around 520 BC, after the Jews were allowed to return to their homeland. Back home after 70 years in exile, the people were harassed by neighboring countries, and discouraged at their small numbers. A majority of the Jews in exile decided to remain in their new home in Persia/Babylon, so this remnant was on their own in the rebuilding process. While in Babylon, the Jews had lost their spiritual identity. Their faith had been consistently ridiculed and discounted for decades, with no central religious leadership or influence, or even a place to worship together. The Jews had no self-identity to rely on as they settled into rebuilding their lives and their Temple. The newly released Jews were more concerned about bringing their homes and livelihoods back from ruins, and not so much their central religious place where God had once met with them to worship. Here comes Zechariah (and his contemporary Haggai) to the rescue. His job was to encourage the people to once again embrace their faith, and to inspire them to rebuild the all-important Temple in order to enjoy the presence of their God. Through his visions, messages and prophecies, Zechariah succeeded in bringing fresh hope and faith to the exiled Jews, and he brought them to a place where they could once again live into their sacred history as God’s chosen people. Zechariah, which means, “he whom God remembers,” wanted to speak the word of the Lord in such a way as to assure this small band of Jews that they were remembered by their God. Zechariah spoke of their present dilemma of the need for repentance and forgiveness. He also spoke often of the future reign of the Messiah at the end of the age. Zechariah’s book is loaded with references to the future appearance of their Messiah. He foretells the gospel story and the coming of Jesus, and is by far the most messianic of all the “minor” prophets. When it comes to anticipating God’s Messiah/King, Zechariah was nothing less than major.
Angel of the Lord. Zechariah presents another mysterious appearance in the Hebrew Bible of a uniquely designated Angel of Yahweh. In many places in the Old Testament, this particular Angel is specifically identified with the Lord God and yet is distinguished from Yahweh. This heavenly Messenger would appear as a divine visitor to Abraham, a welcome comfort to Hagar, and a wrestling opponent to Jacob. This Angel appeared to Moses in the burning bush, and as a sustainer to Elijah and a redeemer to Isaiah. Most scholars, including the early church Fathers, considered this special Angel of Yahweh to be God in the form of a Man, the preincarnate Christ, Lord God’s unique representative to speak His mind and do His will on earth when called upon. It is safe to say that it is Jesus Himself who is meeting Zechariah and giving him the Word of the Lord.
A Radical Change of Clothes. In 3:1-3, we see Zechariah’s 4th vision… the High Priest Joshua comes to trial in a mysterious heavenly courtroom, with the Angel of Yahweh, Messiah Jesus, being the judge and Satan the accusing prosecutor. Joshua is the High Priest who came with the first group of Hebrew exiles to reestablish Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple as the centerpiece of Jewish identity. As mediator and representative of the nation of Israel, Joshua was wearing filthy clothes symbolizing the abominable wickedness of the chosen people. The Hebrew term here for filthy implies being covered in excrement and completely defiled, which reveals God’s thoughts on their sinfulness and impurity.
Brands Plucked from the Fire. The Angel rebukes the Accuser and declares to him that His people have suffered enough for their sins through the fire of their exile and persecution. The Lord is removing them from their fiery affliction and restoring their chosenness. So, before the Accuser is even able to present his evidence against Joshua and the people, God’s grace declares the prosecuting attorney’s evidence inadmissible. The Lord’s faithfulness is put into play as Joshua is reclothed, the disgusting, dung-covered robe removed and in its place pure, clean priestly garments. A royal spotless mitre of priesthood was then placed on Joshua’s head. This is not just any old turban, but the sacred headdress of the high priest to which was attached the pure gold plate that was inscribed with “Holy to the Lord.” With all these holy garments, Joshua represents God’s full forgiveness of the people and His total acceptance of them in His grace. It isn’t a stretch to picture here Messiah Jesus our great High Priest in His incarnation taking upon Himself the corrupted flesh of humanity, wearing our filthy rags and bearing our sins, accused and judged unjustly for our redemption. Zechariah’s vision anticipates the believer’s robe of righteousness and the full gospel story of the Incarnation, Passion, Resurrection, and eternal priesthood of Christ. Nor do we shy away from the reality that believers in Christ are, like Joshua the High Priest, forgiven and clothed in His purity and goodness through the sheer undeserving mercy of God.
A New Wardrobe in Christ. “Your old life is dead. Your new life, which is your real life, is with Christ in God. He is your life… So you’re done with that old life. It’s like a filthy set of ill-fitting clothes you’ve stripped off and put in the fire. Now you’re dressed in a new wardrobe. Every item of your new way of life is custom-made by the Creator, with His label on it. All the old fashions are now obsolete.” (Colossians 3:1-10, MSG).
Christian Reclothing. Paul loved to use this idea of taking off and putting on, for in the Greek both terms refer to one’s clothing. Paul used this picture of spiritual clothing in other passages as well:
Romans 13:14, “Clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Galatians 3:27, “You are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.”
Ephesians 4:22, “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”
1 Thessalonians 5:8, “But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.”
Colossians 3:12, “Since God chose you to be the holy people He loves, clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”
THE CLOTHES CLOSET. Christians have a holy garment to put on. We put on Christ, we wear garments of His Presence. Faith indeed has a uniform. Following Jesus is like putting on a whole new wardrobe, a new set of clothes. We are now wearing Christ, we have a new identity, a different look, a new style that reflects our heart’s desire. Following Jesus means we are now clothed by a new fashion designer. We have changed wardrobe consultants, and we are now covered in a new garment, a robe of righteousness. We have put on God’s goodness as our garment, and righteousness as our covering. Our new uniform reflects a right standing with God, as well as a pursuit of what pleases God out of our response to His love. Our new wardrobe now reflects God’s nature and character as He transforms us from within. We are now clothed in Christ, displaying the very virtues of God, reflecting a state of righteousness offered through the grace of Jesus. Our uniform has an identity. We want to identify ourselves with Christ. We want our clothes to reflect our faith.
HOLY: Set apart for special use; assigned to a godly purpose; sanctified; consecrated; designated for a sacred function; separated from that which is ignoble or dishonorable. To be holy is to wear a redeemed wardrobe. Isaiah talks about putting on garments of splendor (Is. 52:1). The psalmist refers to being clothed with godliness (Ps. 132:16). Job claims that he has put on righteousness and it clothed him, wearing justice like a robe (Job 29:14). Isaiah once again said that God dressed him with the clothing of salvation and draped him in a robe of righteousness (Is. 61:10).
First, Take Off. Before we put on, we have to take off. We need to strip ourselves of the old Adam as we put on the new Adam. Putting off our old garment starts with repentance, to confess our old nature to God. Our new wardrobe represents repentance, our confession, our desire to strip off the old and put on the new. God’s grace is the only power strong enough to enable us to take off and put on. When we put on our new set of clothes, we need to keep growing, making sure the outside is matching up with the inside. We need to make sure our new identity matches up with our growing faith. It’s easy to simply obey a set of rules, to simply put on holy appearances, a righteous exterior, a superficial goodness. Jesus gave some stern rebukes to those religious leaders who were hypocrites, actors wearing a stage costume of righteousness. Putting on Jesus means we have genuine character on the outside, nurtured by the Holy Spirit, which matches up with the maturing faith on the inside. A mere costume of goodness is not sufficient, because we know that “people judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7).
Not a Costume. We choose a wardrobe, not a costume. A costume is something we wear when we want to play a part, as if we were in some religious play. A costume is put on for appearance’s sake, something we put on and take off depending on the performance. Costumes don’t reflect the person behind the appearance. Costumes don’t reflect the inner person behind the costume. Our new clothing line is intended to reflect our new identity in Christ, God’s character and nature. At the same time, while wearing the character of God, His Spirit is transforming us within. The outer behavior grows in synch with the inner heart of faith.
The Parable of the King’s Wedding Feast. “The reign of God may be likened to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son… The servants then went out into the byroads and rounded up everyone they met, bad as well as good. This filled the wedding hall with banqueters. When the king came in to meet the guests, however, he caught sight of a man not properly dressed for a wedding feast. ‘My friend,’ the king said, ‘how is it you came in here not properly dressed?’ The man had nothing to say in response. The king said to his servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot and throw him into the night…” (Matthew 22:1-14).
The king was very pleased with the full hall, until he saw a man who was still wearing his old traveling clothes, dirty, worn, thread-bare. The hall is filled with the guests who have accepted the king’s invitations, and they are all wearing the wedding garments provided by the king. These guests, of course, just came off the street, so they were not properly attired for the occasion. As usual, the gracious host, the king, had exquisite, beautiful garments provided for all to enjoy.
But the king was outraged to notice a man who didn’t bother to put on one of the king’s provided wedding garments for the feast. This man was invited and came to the feast but for some reason continued to wear his old daily clothes, nothing special, and totally inappropriate. Perhaps the man was ignorant of his situation. Maybe he didn’t bother to read the room. Perhaps he was simply arrogant, and he impudently thought he was above it all. Maybe he thought the wedding feast wasn’t important enough to go to the trouble of donning a new garment. Whatever the reason, the king was justifiably furious. This man’s dress was shameful and disrespectful, a slap in the face of the host. To reject the king’s garment was considered a rejection of the king’s graces. So the king confronted this man and asked him, What are you doing dressed here like that? Didn’t you take my invitation seriously? Why are you choosing to be separated from everyone else at the feast? The garment I provided is free, and you couldn’t stoop to wear it? This is an insult!
This man had not put on the wedding garment graciously provided by the king, as all hosts do at wedding celebrations. This ill-dressed man had no excuses, and the king bound him hand and foot and sent him to the outer darkness, far away from the celebration.
Most readers of this part of the story interpret the wedding garment as the believer’s robe of righteousness promised to all who are in Christ and follow the King and His Son. The kingdom of heaven will only accept the King’s official wedding garment, the robe of Christ, which is provided by the grace of God. Our human righteousness would be inadequate for heaven, nothing but dirty traveling clothes. We must put on the garment provided in order to take part in the wedding celebration. Those who choose not to put it on, who want to gain heaven on their own terms, will be refused. The robe is a free gift for those who follow the Son. We just ask God for the robe, and it will undoubtedly be a perfect fit.
The joyful reality is that we don’t have to wait to start attending the Feast of the Lord. We can begin now to celebrate Him and His presence as Bridegroom. We can put on his robe of righteousness now, and heaven’s celebration can begin right now. We can be clothed in the garment of Jesus. We can begin to put on God’s goodness and start enjoying a life that is in right standing with the King. When we wear his robe, we are never in danger of getting expelled from the wedding hall. When we put on His robe, we are identifying with the Person of Christ, as if we are wearing heaven’s uniform. As we wear Christ, we will be transformed into His likeness. As we put on Christ, we will echo Job, “I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; My justice was like a robe and a turban.” (Job 29:14, NASB).
“So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.” (Col. 3:15-17, MSG).