Throughout the period of Israel’s exile in Babylon, there were no priests. But on their return to Jerusalem, the temple worship was going to be revived and a priest would therefore be needed. And this priest was Yeshua (Greek: Jesus). However, he who was going to represent Israel before God was dressed in ‘filthy’ clothes. This symbolized sin and unworthiness. Satan was there to accuse him, and his accusation was true! Satan is the ‘accuser of the brethren’ and he seizes every opportunity to show us to be filthy and unfit to be vessels in God’s hands.
How does God react? When we belong to God through Jesus Christ, He takes up our cause, and justifies us through the wideness of His mercy and forgiveness. He took off Joshua’s filthy clothes and replaced them with fine new ones. These are the righteousness and holiness of God and they are entirely the Lord’s own initiative. What God requires of us is to sincerely repent and ask for His forgiveness. He then cleanses us of all unrighteousness and draws us to Himself, making us fit for His own use.
-By Jokpeme Joseph Omode
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christianity
