The task must have seemed overwhelming to God’s people. Yes, they had returned from their exile, but the walls of Jerusalem had been broken down, and God’s Temple had been completely destroyed. Worst of all, they knew that their fathers’ sin had brought all this devastation on them (Zechariah 1:6). What could they possibly hope to do about such a mess?

Nothing, really. No, they were no more fit for God’s service than Joshua the High Priest was in Zechariah’s vision in chapter 3. Yes, he was standing before the angel of the Lord, but his clothes were filthy. He wasn’t worthy to come into the Lord’s presence to offer sacrifices, because he hadn’t first washed himself – and the Law of Moses made it clear that any priest that entered the Tabernacle without washing would be condemned to death (Exodus 30:17-21).

And we may seem similarly overwhelmed and helpless when we look at the mess our world is in: all the violence and hatred, all the selfishness and envy and greed. What can we possibly do or say to make things better? And why should the unbelieving world trust us when we are so full of sin ourselves?

But the good news is that God removed not only Joshua’s filthy clothes, but all his sins as well (Zechariah 3:4). And God put beautiful clothes and a clean turban on him, making him fit for service in God’s presence. It is God Who would do all of this – Joshua was only to respond to God’s grace with obedient trust (Zechariah 3:7).

In the same way, God promised that He would make it possible for Jerusalem to be restored. God promised that His Temple would be rebuilt (Zechariah 1:16) because He would once again choose Jerusalem as the place of His dwelling (Zechariah 1:17).

Yes, that’s the good news for God’s people even today. For cleansing God’s people and building God’s kingdom will be accomplished, “Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit” (Zechariah 4:6). And in Jesus Christ, the Son of David and the Great High Priest, God has kept all His promises.

So, yes, let us return to the Lord (Zechariah 1:3). But let us turn to Him with the confidence that He will forgive us and love us and make all things new.

Zechariah 3:1-5 (NASB)

Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him.
2 And the LORD said to Satan, “The LORD rebuke you, Satan! Indeed, the LORD who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is this not a brand plucked from the fire?”
3 Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments and standing before the angel.
4 And he spoke and said to those who were standing before him saying, “Remove the filthy garments from him.” Again he said to him, “See, I have taken your iniquity away from you and will clothe you with festal robes.”
5 Then I said, “Let them put a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him with garments, while the angel of the LORD was standing by.