“Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the Angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to oppose him. And the LORD said to Satan, ‘The LORD rebuke you, Satan! The LORD who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is this not a brand plucked from the fire?’
Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and was standing before the Angel.
Then He answered and spoke to those who stood before Him, saying, ‘Take away the filthy garments from him.’ And to him He said, ‘See, I have removed your iniquity from you, and I will clothe you with rich robes.’
‘And I said, “Let them put a clean turban on his head.”
So they put a clean turban on his head, and they put the clothes on him. And the Angel of the LORD stood by.”
Zech. 3:1-5
In many places in Scripture we see someone called the Angel of the LORD, who is identified also as the LORD (Gen. 22). We studied this idea of theophanies or appearances of the pre-incarnate Christ previously (in Genesis).
In this instance we have a vision of a courtroom scene. Satan is at the right side in the role of prosecuting attorney, which is appropriate since he is also called the “accuser of the brethren” (Rev. 12:10). The Angel of the LORD is the Judge and Joshua the High Priest clothed in filthy garments.
Joshua appears as one polluted, but he is purified. We are filthy in God’s sight until we are washed and sanctified.
God sees our filthiness but He doesn’t send us away or overlook it. He does something about it. He clothes us in the righteousness of another, Jesus Christ. White robes signify the righteousness of the saints.
The LORD rebukes Satan, claiming Joshua as a brand plucked from the fire. He then orders his servants to remove Joshua’s filthy garments (which represent his sin), and then He clothes him with rich robes and a clean turban. These represent the righteousness of another imputed to him.
“For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” 2 Cor. 5:21
“And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses.” Rev. 19:14
“And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.” Rev. 19:8
He pronounces him justified. Jesus is our Advocate before the Father, so when Satan accuses us before God, and points out our filth, which we have, Jesus claims us as clothed in His righteousness and hidden in Him.
“My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” 1 John 2:1
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The Scarlet Thread 