Series: Resilience
Message: Hope
Preacher: Japhet De Oliveira
Refresh: Open with prayer. Read or listen to Psalm 20.
Read: Daniel 9 - Re-read in the ESV translation for new insights/questions.
Reflect: In Zechariah 3, the old prophet saw a vision of Joshua the High Priest in the Most Holy places. Joshua was the first priest after they were freed from Egypt. He represents Israel in this vision. The temple was divided into three parts: Inner Court; Outer Court; and Most Holy. It was in the Most Holy that the Ten Commandments were kept, that the Mercy Seat rested on, and the presence of God was known. No one could just approach that. Once a year, though, the High Priest was allowed to enter on the Day of Atonement, called Yom Kippur. This day was incredibly special. The preparation was intense. For a whole week before, the High Priest was secluded from everyone else. He had to stay clean. Only the clean food was brought to him and he would wash himself and prepare his heart. The night before, he stayed awake all night in prayer. Then in the morning, he took a bath again and dressed in pure white linen. He went in three times to sacrifice, once for himself, once for the priests, and then for the people. Each time he bathed and put on fresh, pure white linen clothes. It was all done in the public. A thin screen allowed all to watch and see, and for them to cheer for him, too. That is why in Zechariah you are overwhelmed with shock as the High Priest, Joshua, who represents Israel, is covered in excrement. The vision continues; there is no hope for Israel; our home is not only broken inside, but outside as well. Then the vision turns and the filthy excrement-laden linen clothes are exchanged. And the Branch removes all the dirt and they live under the fig tree, a symbol of peace and safety. It was 500 years later, another Joshua shows up, another Yeshua, Jesus. It is the same name in Aramaic, Greek and Hebrew. He is preparing Himself to make us One with God. He prepared for a whole week beforehand. The night before, He did not sleep. But instead of everyone cheering as the High Priest enters in, Jesus was denied and abandoned. His linen clothes were taken from Him. He was washed in blood and spit. He was crucified outside of the city, in the rubbish tip of Jerusalem. In that moment, God took over the only thing we have to lose, life. He dealt with everything in the heart.
Recalibrate:
Respond: Pray for forgiveness.
Research: Where else has the word Atonement been used?