The answer is: Clean garments

Zechariah 3:3-5 - Joshua’s filthy garments were replaced with clean ones, symbolizing the removal of sin. This foreshadowed Christ’s work in justifying sinners, clothing them in righteousness rather than their own unworthiness.

In Zechariah’s vision, the scene is striking: there stands Joshua, the high priest, dirty and defiled in his garments, representing the stain of sin and the burdens people carry. Yet, there’s a radical transformation—a swapping of filthy clothing for clean garments—signifying purity, forgiveness, and a new beginning. Isn’t it remarkable how God can strip away our shame?

This imagery of garments runs deep in Scripture. Remember Adam and Eve? After their fall, they tried to cover themselves with fig leaves, but God provided them with garments of skin (Genesis 3:21). It’s the raw truth that only God can dress us rightly to approach Him. In the New Testament, we see echoes of this transformative clothing in Jesus’ parable of the wedding feast. He discusses a guest who arrived improperly attired, highlighting how we need to be clothed in the right spirit to enter God's presence (Matthew 22:11-14).

Interestingly, clean garments were also tied to the priests’ functions and their ability to serve in the temple—another echo of restoration and holiness. This transformation underscores the biblical narrative—it’s not merely about guilt and shame, but about elevation and hope. Just as Joshua donned those clean clothes, believers today can embrace the understanding that transformation is always possible, reflecting a restoration that makes us fresh and ready for the journey ahead.