Three in One

Did you ever wonder about the deep things of God? Have you ever read parts of the Bible that you wonder, “what does this have to do with anything”? When I first started reading the Bible, this was the case, but often I just read through it anyway, in spite of my lack of understanding. God’s Word says: “when you seek Him with all your heart, He will be found”. (Jeremiah 29:13).

The more I dove into the Word to discern it, mysteries beyond my ordinary comprehension were revealed. I gleaned new realizations reading between the lines with the help of the Holy Spirit. Because God’s thoughts are immeasurable and “higher than the heavens” (Job 11:7-9; Psalm 139:17-18), and His understanding “has no limit” (Psalm 147:5), God’s holy scriptures are for all time, regardless of whom they were originally written for. The Bible is not just a history book. And everything written in the Old Testament is a foreshadowing of the New Testament. (For example, the details in the Passover story in the book of Exodus actually reveals the gospel of Jesus Christ.) But that explanation is for another time.

A Revelation of the Trinity

Only through faith can one glean mysteries above and beyond what’s written in black and white, because the things of God can only be discerned through His Spirit. (1 Corinthians 2: 12-14) The Holy Trinity (three persons in one God) is one of those mysteries hidden within the Word of God. But not until the Lord draws you to himself, will the reading of His Word open the eyes of your understanding. Only then is faith available. For it is written, “faith comes by hearing and hearing by the the Word of God”. One place we find the Trinity mentioned in the New Testament, is where Jesus gave the great commission. “Go therefore into all the world telling them the good news about Him, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.” (Matthew 28:16-20) There are more, but where can we find a foreshadowing of the Trinity in one place in the Old Testament?

When you ask the Lord to open your mind as you read the Scriptures, He shows you promises, “hidden treasures of darkness and riches from secret places, so that you may know He is the Lord” (Isaiah 45:3). So, as I read the book of Zechariah, new revelations came to me. I had read it many times before, but this time it was different.

Zechariah’s Vision

Let me set the stage for you: The scene opens in chapter 3 with Zechariah’s vision; the Angel of the Lord is having a conversation with the Accuser, who is Satan. Here, “the Angel of the Lord” is the incarnate Jesus Christ (before He came to earth to be born of the Virgin). He is mediating between Joshua (the High Priest) and God Most High, who is revealed as “The God of Heaven’s Armies”. All the heavenly host (angels and demons) are subjected to Him, for God alone is Sovereign. He sits on His throne judging the situation where Satan wants to block the rebuilding of the temple by accusing the High Priest of being unworthy because he was not wearing his proper priestly garments.

According to the law of Moses, the High Priest’s duty was to come before God in special attire and intercede for the sins of the people by presenting their sacrifices. This was necessary because it is written, “without the shedding of blood, there can be no forgiveness of sin” (Hebrews 9:22).

Jesus, “The Angel of the Lord”, is interceding for Joshua! I understand this because it is written in 1Timothy 4:5 that Jesus Christ is the only intercessor between God and man. Now here is where it can seem confusing because, in Revelations 19:14 Jesus is also called the God of Heaven’s Armies after His death and resurrection, since He was then given all authority over Heaven and Earth. He is also called the Lord of Lords and the King of Kings (just a few of the many names of God that reveal His character).

As the vision continues, (Zechariah 3:2) the Lord (Most High God) is speaking: “And the Lord said to Satan, “I the Lord reject your accusations, Satan. Yes, the Lord who has chosen Jerusalem, rebukes you. This man is like a burning stick that has been snatched from the fire”. That was the verse that really spoke to my spirit, and I’m leading up to it’s revelation.

After this, the Angel of the Lord told others (angels) standing there to remove the High Priest’s filthy garments and clothe him in new ones. And He said to him, “See I have taken away your sins and now I am giving you these fine new clothes” (Zechariah 3:4).

In trying to discern who’s who, I understood The Lord (Most High-Father God) speaking to the other angels, and the “Angel of the Lord” (Jesus the Son) who was standing by speaking very solemnly to the High Priest. The Angel of the Lord was speaking for The God of Heaven’s armies. I found it so interesting that at different times in various scriptures the Father and the Son take on the same role. Jesus, “the second person of the Trinity” appears as the Angel of the Lord speaking the Words of the Father (the God of Heaven’s Armies) about things that are to come as well as things that have come to pass as we understand them through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. (Remember, Jesus returns as the God of Heaven’s armies in the book of Revelation chapter 19, verse 14.)

Zechariah 3:6-9: “This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: If you follow my ways and carefully serve me, then you will be given authority over my Temple and its courtyards. I will let you walk among these others standing here. Listen to me Joshua and all you other priests. You are symbols of things to come. Soon I am going to bring my servant, the Branch. Now look at the jewel I have set before Joshua, a single stone with seven facets.”

What it all means

This is prophesy that speaks of the Branch who is to come to redeem God’s people from their sin. The symbolism of the Branch as the Messiah is found in the books of Isaiah, Jeremiah and Zechariah. It refers to a branch from the line of Jesse where there will be a king from the lineage of his son David who will reign as King forever. (Hence the names of God, King of Kings and Lord of Lords.) Jesus is the Messiah, the Christ, The Angel of the Lord and He is the Lord, who is also known as the God of Heaven’s Armies. Jesus is also the single stone with seven facets that is set before Joshua in the vision. Have you not read that (Jesus) the Stone that the builders rejected has become the Cornerstone? (Matthew 21:42; Mark 12:10-11; Luke 20:17).

But, the jewel set before Joshua, the single stone with the seven facets, is also the seven aspects of the Holy Spirit: the Spirit of the Lord, the Spirit of wisdom, the Spirit of understanding, the Spirit of counsel, the Spirit of might/power, the Spirit of knowledge and the Spirit of the fear of the Lord. This prophesy reveals that the Messiah/the Branch would be empowered, not by seven individual spirits, but by One Spirit described seven ways. In this way, Jesus and the Holy Spirit are One as Jesus and Father God are One. (John 10:30)

Zechariah’s visions actually prophesy of Father God, coming down as the incarnate Jesus Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit to save mankind and reconcile us back to Himself, for we all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. There you see the Holy Trinity, the three in One God. And here is how this prophesy can pertain to you. You can be like that “burning stick” that was snatched from the fire (Zechariah 3:2), made new, given new garments of righteousness (Zechariah 3:4).

As new creations in Christ, we are considered priests (Zechariah 3:8). For it is written, “You are a royal priesthood, a Holy nation” (2 Peter 2:9) Our bodies have become a temple of the Holy Spirit. We have authority over God’s temple when we follow God’s ways and carefully serve Him (Zechariah 3:7). (Don’t give up your authority)

“Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? (1 Corinthians 6:19)

Jesus has given believers authority over the Accuser, Satan (Luke 10:19), so, as such, don’t let anything defile you. Like a burning stick snatched from the fire, you are purified like fine gold, holy and precious to God. You no longer have to do things in your own strength. For it is also written:

“It is not by force, not by strength, but by my Spirit says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies” (Zechariah 4:6)

With the help of the Holy Spirit also known as the Helper, the Counselor, the Advocate, reading this portion of Zechariah is one place you can recognize three in one as God, the Trinity in His many roles.

When you believe that Jesus is Lord, that He died and rose for the forgiveness of your sin, you can walk in the Spirit of the Lord as an overcomer. Like Jesus, you too will overcome death and the grave and walk into eternal life where “He will wipe away every tear from your eyes. There will be no more death or mourning, or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away” Revelations 21:4).

So, no matter what difficulties you are going through, there is a power from on high available to encourage you, strengthen you, build up your faith, and give you hope. You can hold on to God’s Word because He is Faithful and His Word is true. God is not like man that he should lie. Read God’s Word and be encouraged in Jesus’ name!

I hope this gives you more reasons for “Why the Word”. Until next time, may the Lord bless you and keep you and make His face shine upon you. Thank you for taking time to read my blog.