Christians and non-Christians, including people from cults and world religions, can and do turn to the Bible for instruction and inspiration. But, the Christian has a distinctly unique focus when studying the Bible. For the Christian, the center of the Bible is Christ. Jesus Christ modeled this very thing for us. After His resurrection from death, the last chapter of Luke’s gospel in the New Testament says that Jesus taught two different Bible studies, including the prophets like Daniel, and revealed how every page of the Old Testament was ultimately about Him.
For the Christian, the Bible is not primarily about us. The Bible is about Jesus, but for us. Here are a few ways that the book of Daniel connects to Jesus Christ:
- The point of preserving the nation of Israel was to bring forth Jesus Christ as the Savior of the whole world.
- The Second Coming of Jesus is prophesied in Daniel 7:13-14: “I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.” This title, “son of man” was Jesus’ favorite title, referring to Himself some eighty times by this title as the fulfillment of Daniel.
- In many ways, Jesus is the greater Daniel. Both went from the glory of royalty to the humility of poverty and returned to glory in royalty. Both went from their home to enter into a world that was dark and opposed to them and all that they believed about God. Both were filled with the Holy Spirit. Both travelled with a few faithful friends through adversity and hardship. Both had tremendous wisdom for making ethical decisions under duress. Both were given incredible authority, helping rule over the kingdoms of Babylon (Daniel) and Heaven (Jesus). Neither married a woman or fathered children. Both were forced to walk to their doom in chains. Both stopped to pray for wisdom throughout their arduous journey through this world. The Bible has nothing bad to say about either man. Both men were wrongly accused and arrested on false charges, even though the political leaders overseeing the process declared them innocent. Both men were placed in a tomb/pit with a stone covering the entrance from which they were both miraculously delivered alive. And, both men had exemplary character, humbly stood against demonic evil, and suffered greatly for their loyalty.
Which of the things listed above most surprised you?
In addition to this introduction to and overview of Daniel, you can find the corresponding sermons, daily devotions, men’s ministry resources, and hundreds of additional sermons and Bible teaching resources for free at markdriscoll.org or on the Mark Driscoll Ministries app.
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