Jesus in the Old Testament is a series of posts that will offer my readers a chance to consider pictures or shadows of Jesus in the Old Testament. As mentioned in the introduction to this series, some may be obvious, some may be not so obvious, and some may simply be a facet of the Lord those reading may not have considered previously.

I hope as we venture through this series, we will see the Lord in many wonderful pictures throughout the Old Testament.

We often think of Daniel as a man of great faith, a man fully committed to God, a man who served kings and rulers well, by serving God faithfully. And well we should for he is one of the greatest men of faith in the Old Testament!

Yet Daniel was born into royalty, a man of nobility, a man of privilege, a youth that was destined for a life of authority, power and advantage.

He was granted status by his relationship with royalty. He did not attain to royalty by effort or talent, but simply through bloodlines. To be Daniel was to be of nobility.

Jesus also was born of royal lineage, and the gospels of Matthew and Luke provide two genealogies to show His status as Royalty.

Matthew teaches us of Jesus legal lineage to the throne, through Abraham and King David and Joseph. Luke teaches the biological lineage of Jesus to the throne, not through Solomon but through Nathan, David’s son through Bathsheba. (It is interesting how the lineage of Jesus avoided the curse of Jeconiah, but that is for a different time!)

Both Daniel and Jesus were born of royalty. Though Daniel never exercised any authority through this privilege of great bloodlines, he did attain to greatness by depending on God (and not his unearned status), eventually being offered a seat of royalty in the Babylonian empire, and counselling kings of nations.

Jesus exercised His authority as King, as He walked amongst us, proving his sovereignty over nature, sin and death many times. He commanded and “things got done”.

Nature obeyed.

Sickness obeyed.

Even death knelt before the King.

How amazing that we Whom He came to rescue have yet to appreciate, nor understand His Kingship.

Matthew 23:37 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!

Jesus, as King of kings, is willing to gather. We are not willing. And yet He is patient, reigning over all to the benefit of all and to the glory of God.

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