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.
SEEING JESUS IN
Daniel
Powerless Enemies
Daniel 6:8 Now, O king, establish the injunction and sign the document, so that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and the Persians, which cannot be revoked.”
Daniel 6:13 Then they answered and said before the king, “Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, O king, or the injunction you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day.”
John 18:31 Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.” The Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death.”
As we have discussed in previous posts, the one condemning the righteous man (Daniel or Jesus), was sentenced to death by an unwilling judge (see Jesus in the Old Testament – Daniel – 7)
Out time this morning will consider the ones using this poor man. For both of these injustices were initiated and fueled by the envy of powerless men.
Consider Daniel’s enemies.
They could not find anything wrong with Daniel and had to deceive the king, the ultimate and only authority in the nation that could complete their plans. These men were powerless to accomplish their desires. Though they were powerless in authority, they found opportunity to achieve their plans through flattery and an appeal to the king’s ego.
Consider Jesus’ enemies.
These men also could find no sin in Jesus, other than the breaking of their own religious man made laws. This forced these religious men to appeal to the occupiers of their nation, the Roman governor, for the nation had been stripped of the right of capital punishment by the Romans.
Though the motivation of envy was similar for both of these powerless groups, with Jesus enemies, they were not on friendly terms with this authority they had to appeal to. Though powerless, they gained their objective of killing Jesus (at least for a couple days!) through political blackmail and threats. For Pilate to be threatened with not complying with Caesar, was equal to extreme punishment from the supreme ruler of Rome.
Both groups of men were powerless, yet were able to steer the one who could exercise authority over their enemy. For both of these powerless groups, they were ale to temporarily achieve their goals, but consider the cost they both suffered. But that will be for a future posting!
Both groups of men seeking the death of their enemies were powerless in and of themselves. They achieved their goals through reluctant authorities, manipulating them through a feigned loyalty to the king or to Caeser.
It is much better to have a real loyalty to the only King of Kings. Let us look to Jesus as our King, and in this trust, realize where the only power that counts resides!
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