Read today’s texts first: Zechariah 1-3; Luke 11
The “Accuser of the Brethren” likes to make us feel
As a kid growing up, I looked forward to Wash Day! Being slightly hyperactive and living on the edge of a forest meant I frequently looked like Linus on Peanuts, trailing a cloud of dust and dirty footprints behind me into the house. Mom would make me take my clothes off in the laundry room and head straight to the bath. It was good to get cleaned up, but even better to put on freshly cleaned clothes, smelling good and feeling warm, right out of the dryer.
The book of Zechariah, with all of its Messianic prophecies, talks about a spiritual Wash Day. Joshua, who represents Israel (and the church) is told to “take off his filthy clothes” (3:3) in exchange for “rich garments’ and a “clean turban”. This is all made possible because of the coming Messiah who “will remove the sin of this land in a single day” (9), a reference to either the first or second coming of Jesus. Thank You Jesus for making it possible for me to be completely forgiven and spiritually clean! Unlike the Pharisees in the Luke 11 reading, we are to be clean inside and out.
This chapter opens up, though, with a rare direct reference to Satan. We see him as the “accuser of the brethren” (Rev 12:20) standing at the right side of Joshua before the “angel of the Lord” (Jesus), ready to accuse him. But the “Lord” (that’s how we know the angel is Jesus) rebukes him. He says that Joshua (applies to Israel and us) has been chosen, snatched out of captivity, and is no longer subject to shame. Satan’s favorite tactic is to remind us of our past, our failings. And when we feel like dirt, he can drag us back to our old mud-hole. But Jesus rebukes those thoughts, and reminds us of who we are now in Him.
“Lord, today and everyday is Wash Day. You personally cleaned and placed these royal robes on me, so remind me to keep them clean.”
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