Peter Misselbrook's Blog

Nov 21 2019 - Zechariah 3 – Clean garments for the high priest

In a prophetic vision, Zechariah saw Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord in what appears to be a scene from a court-room drama. Satan was standing at the right hand side of Joshua ready to accuse him before the Lord and before the angel of the Lord. But the Lord sent Satan packing with the words, "The Lord rebuke you, Satan! The Lord, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebuke you! Is not this man a burning stick snatched from the fire?" (v. 2).

The phrase in the old Authorised or King James version was, "is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?" John Wesley referred to himself as "a brand plucked from the burning", referring to his experience as a five-year-old child when he was trapped in his burning home and only saved by neighbours climbing on each other's shoulders to snatch him from a window. Wesley used this phrase as a description also of the way in which the Lord had rescued him from judgment and brought him to faith in Christ. He saw his childhood experience as a picture of a far more serious and lasting salvation.

Back to Joshua the high priest who is dressed in filthy rags, perhaps as a result of being snatched from the fire. The Lord then tells him, "See, I have taken away your sin, and I will put fine garments on you" (v. 4). Joshua, now freshly clothed is told, "If you will walk in obedience to me and keep my requirements, then you will govern my house and have charge of my courts, and I will give you a place among these standing here" (v.7): i.e. in the court of heaven. However, Joshua is then told that he is a symbol of one who is to come, the Lord's servant "the Branch".

This vision points us forwards to the Lord Jesus, our great High Priest. Remember that "Jesus" is the Greek form of the name "Joshua". The high priest of Zechariah's day would have failed to be perfectly obedient to all God required of him. But where we and the Old Testament priests failed, our Lord Jesus has triumphed. He has proved perfectly obedient to the will of the Father. When tempted and accused by Satan, he again succeeded where we have failed. He took upon himself the burden of our own sin and guilt and clothed himself in the filthy rags of our own "righteousness" as he hung there on the cross. But all the accusations of Satan failed. God raised our Lord Jesus from the dead, clothed him in glory, set him in the place of highest authority in the courts of heaven and appointed him as our Saviour and Great High Priest.

And through him, we also have been snatched from the fire of God's judgment. Our sins have been forgiven and we have been clothed in the glorious robes of Christ's perfect righteousness. The sins of all God's people were removed in that single day when Jesus died for us. And when Satan whispers his accusations in our ear…

When Satan tempts me to despair,
And tells me of the guilt within,
Upward I look, and see him there
Who made an end of all my sin.
Because the sinless Saviour died,
My sinful soul is counted free;
For God, the Just, is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me.

Father God, we thank and praise you for our Lord Jesus, your Suffering Servant, the Branch you raised up from the line of David, Joshua our great High Priest who died for our sin and was raised for our justification and who ever lives in the courts of heaven to plead for us. Give us a clearer view of all that he has done for us that we might be filled with joy and peace in believing. And help us by your Spirit to tell the world of the one who can snatch them from the fire of your holy judgment and present us before your glorious presence without fault and with great joy.

Nov 21 2020 - John 13:31-14:14 – Do not let your hearts be troubled

Jesus has been telling the disciples of his imminent betrayal and death. As if this were not enough to trouble them, he has also told Peter that before the night is out he will deny all knowledge of Jesus – three times! How could they be anything but troubled as they heard these things?

Jesus says that they need not fear. They can trust him, even in the face of such horrors. He assures them that all will be well. He is returning to the Father and will prepare a place for them in his Father’s house. He will ensure that they are brought safely home so that where he is, they may be also.

As so often, the disciples are puzzled at Jesus’ words. They don’t understand where Jesus is going and so don’t understand how they can follow him there. Jesus responds by saying, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). He is the way to the Father’s house; he will not only prepare a place for his disciples, he will also lead them safely home. Those who trust in him are safe in his keeping now and for eternity. They can rest secure in his promises for he is the truth; he is the real thing. Trusting in him they will have life – life that will last.

The disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ can face life without fear – their hearts need not be troubled. The apostle Paul learnt this lesson in the face of hard experience. He writes, “I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39).

But the Christian life is not a passive waiting for glory. Jesus has also entrusted us with the task of making him known. Jesus had come from the Father and everything he did was through the Father’s presence and power at work in him (14:10). In the same way, Jesus is now sending out his disciples to witness in his name. And he sends them out with the remarkable promise, “Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father” (14:12). This becomes a reality as Jesus lives in them and continues his work through them – and us!

Jesus calls us not simply to believe in him, or to be known by his name, but to learn from him as disciples from a master. The master artists of the past would often have their pupils work with them on their paintings. It is not always easy to tell where the work of the master ends and that of the pupil begins – so well might the pupil have gained the skills and learnt the style of their teacher. The disciple is to reflect the character of the master. The signature of the Christian is the character of Jesus stamped upon them.

One of the most powerful ways in which we bear witness to Christ and make him known is through our love for one another; “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (14:35). How well are we learning Christ?

Lord Jesus, still my fears and fill me with the assurance that you are able to bring me safely to the Father’s house. May this confidence fill me with joy and peace in believing and empower me to live and work as your disciple. Help me to learn of you; may your character be more fully formed in me. And may your love, made visible in me, draw others to come to you and learn of you.

Peter Misselbrook