Jesus is the Model…Paralleling Daniel and Jesus

Jesus is the Model…Paralleling Daniel and Jesus (Matthew 26:36, 39)

Matthew 26:36, 39, “Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder. And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.”

Notice the parallels between Daniel and the Lord Jesus in the Gospels.

Thinking of Jesus. He, too, had an excellent spirit, for He came as the wisdom of God (I Corinthians 1:20-31). And when Jesus was conspired against, like Daniel, His integrity held fast (Matthew 27:14; Mark 15:3-5). The entire Sanhedrin conspired against Him. The chief priest rose up in alliance with worldly powers to undo Him. Yet, His response was to go into the garden to pray (Luke 22:39-46). Like Daniel, this was his life pattern (Daniel 6:10).

The Lord was confronted by Pontius Pilate. The Gospels record that Pilate attempted to do everything in his power to see that Jesus was released, but, like Darius, to no avail. In the end, he washed his hands of the matter and delivered Jesus over to crucifixion. Just as in the end, King Darius “Then…commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions” (Daniel 6:16). On the cross, Jesus would quote (Psalm 22; Matthew 27:45-46) as He cried out, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” A psalm includes these words, “Save me from the mouth of the lion!” (Psalm 22:21).

All that King Darius could do for his favored servant is commend him to his God, and hope for his deliverance. The man who had allowed himself to command he be treated as a god (Daniel 6:7) now had to hope that the God of a conquered people would do what he could not, and “deliver you!”


And so, over the mouth of what must become Daniel’s tomb “a stone was brought and laid … and the king sealed it with his own signet and with the signet of his lords, that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel” (Daniel 6:17). A large stone was pushed over the opening so no one could get out or in. Christ arose from the tomb regardless of the stone covering the entrance of the grave. No stone of men will stop God. HE is the ROCK OF AGES!

· This is true of Jesus, so then we who are in Christ must exercise the gift of His Spirit given to us.
· We must be willing to pray, even if ruled against.
· We must be ready to obey Him, even if obedience is in some way outlawed.
· In Christ, you and I must hold fast to our integrity when others rise up against us.
· And in Christ, we are empowered to do that very thing.

The highest goal of our lives should be obedience to God in all circumstances. This is not easy or perfectly attainable in this life, but Christ gives us hope. Like Jesus, we can pray for courage and a spirit of complete obedience. God gave it to Daniel—and He will give it to us.

Prayer: Lord, my desire is to be submissive and obedient to You and to those in authority over me. Forgive me for those times I have chosen my will over Yours. Lord, I commit myself to You and the guidance of Your Holy Spirit.

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