Jesus Is The Greater Daniel
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Let us pray. Be sober and self-controlled. Be watchful. Your adversary, the devil, walks around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 1 Peter 5, 8

Dear Heavenly Father, we recognize that our adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour. We ask for your protection Lord against every form of temptation, deceit and harm that the enemy might throw our way. Grant us the wisdom to stay vigilant and alert, understanding that we have an enemy seeking our downfall.

God, fortify our faith that we may stand firm in the face of trials and adversities. Strengthen us, Lord, so we can resist the devil and cause him to flee from us. Let your word be our shield and sword, equipping us to stand strong against the forces of darkness.

Please remind us, Father, of the victory we have in Christ Jesus, our Savior, who overcame the world. Let the confidence of this victory be our courage, and may your Spirit guide us in all righteousness, keeping us from falling prey to the enemy's schemes. In Jesus' mighty name we pray. Amen.

Daniel knew praying to God might mean certain death, but it didn't stop him.

He prayed to the Lord daily, seeking wisdom and praising his name. What was the punishment for such a crime? Being fed to the lions. So there Daniel was, standing at the edge of a hole carved into a stone dungeon. He could hear the rumbling of the lion's purr underneath. Darius put a hand on Daniel's shoulder. His voice was filled with regret. I wouldn't have made such a decree if I'd have known.

But now I must follow through. His voice trailed off, and he turned away from his dear friend. May your God deliver you. With those words, the guards threw Daniel into the lion's den and laid a stone over it. Daniel hit the ground with a thud and looked up. A stone was placed over the entrance, blocking out the sun. All was silent until Daniel heard the low vibrations of the lion's growl.

Hello and welcome to another episode of the Stories of the Messiah podcast. I'm Rabbi Schneider from Discovering the Jewish Jesus. I have been your guide through this journey through the Bible's most iconic stories. If you've enjoyed our journey thus far, consider leaving us a review and sharing with a friend. We want the story of the Bible and the hope of Jesus to be spread worldwide. This series of Stories of the Messiah is called Jesus the Greater.

We've been exploring the highs and lows of the Bible's most famous heroes, ultimately showcasing how their stories foreshadow the greatest hero of all, Jesus. So far, we have learned how Jesus is the greater Adam, Cain, Noah, Abraham, Jacob, Isaac, Joseph, Moses, Joshua, Samson, Boaz, David, Solomon, Elijah, and Jonah. Their stories are testimonies to the faithfulness of God.

Their highs and lows remind us that no circumstances, sins, or flaws will ever keep God from accomplishing his purposes. Today we turn our attention to a character whose unwavering devotion got him into trouble. Because of his faithfulness to God, Daniel was condemned to spend a night in a lion's den.

The other governors of the empire were jealous of Daniel's wisdom, favor, and influence on the king. They hated his righteousness and sought to use it against him. Now, I don't need to tell you that this world can be pretty hostile to the people of God. Persecution is rampant worldwide, and we are forced as believers to consider the cost of following Jesus. If we were in Daniel's position, would we stop praying? Would we shrink under cultural pressure and give in?

Daniel's story invites us to ponder those types of questions. Do we have unwavering faith in the face of cultural pushback? Daniel believed losing his relationship with God would be worse than losing his life. He committed himself to pray, knowing that it might mean death. Let's enter back into this dramatic retelling of Daniel's story. Daniel has been thrown into the lion's den. Will this be the end of Daniel? Will God deliver him as King Darius hopes? Let's find out now, then unpack what it means together.

Daniel's sight had not yet adjusted to the darkness. He scrambled onto his hands and feet to find his place. He found a loose stone and held it in his hand. Daniel was prepared to fight for his life. He knew that God could protect him from the lions, but even if he didn't, he would not regret praying to the Lord. He couldn't see anything, but he knew they were there. He could feel the low bass of their growls in his chest.

They were getting closer, stalking him and waiting for the perfect moment to pounce. He prayed for deliverance, gripped the stone and prepared for the worst. He turned around to see the faintest shadow of a lion crouched behind him, prepared to pounce. Just as it was about to attack, a radiant light cut through the darkness like a hot blade. The light illuminated the four lions surrounding Daniel. They all cowered in fear and backed away from the light.

They roared, but the light sprang forth and wrapped around their jaws. The lions submitted immediately. The light vanished from sight, and Daniel was left alone again in darkness with the lions, but he knew they had been subdued. The God of all creation had shut the jaws of death for Daniel. He would emerge out of that den, living and triumphant. Meanwhile, King Darius paced his room, worrying over Daniel.

He did not eat or sleep all night. Instead, he set his mind on the welfare of his friend. He waited for the light to break so he could roll away the stone of the den. As soon as the light touched the bottom of the horizon, Darius put on his clothes and rushed to the cave. He and all the men raced together and pulled away the stone. All was silent. Darius approached the entrance to the den. He looked down and listened for any sounds. He could hear nothing.

He worried and shouted, "Daniel, servant of the living God! Has your God delivered you from the lions?" There was a long pause. Darius' heart was beating fast. Then, a small voice echoed up to the entrance. "Oh, King, live forever!" "Of course I'm safe, for I was blameless. My lord upheld me and shut the mouth of the lions."

The story of Daniel in the lion's den is famous for a reason. It's a story of courageous faith and providential protection. What I love about Daniel's character is that he was fully prepared to die if that's what God had for him. He didn't pray with the certainty that God would save him from the lions. He prayed because it's what gave his life meaning. Let me encourage you, friends. It's better to live a short life on fire for the Lord than living a long life apart from him.

A relationship with God is what gives this life vibrancy and is what carries us into eternity. Daniel understood this, but also believed that God would protect him from the lions if that was his will. Daniel's story teaches us the value of trust and steadfast devotion. Daniel faced various trials throughout his life, yet he never stopped trusting God's sovereignty.

Whether interpreting dreams for a king, serving in a foreign government, or facing lions in a den, Daniel had faith in God's control over all circumstances. He believed that God was in control even when things seemed chaotic or dangerous. This encourages us to trust God's plan for our lives, even when we can't see the bigger picture. In the darkness of the lion's den, it was hard to see, but God's light eventually broke through. It's the same for us when we are facing darkness.

Daniel also teaches us how to stand firm in our convictions. Daniel's life was marked by his unwavering faith and commitment to his beliefs, even when those beliefs directly contradicted the governing powers. From his refusal to eat the king's food because it violated Jewish dietary laws, to his defiance of a law that forbade praying to anyone but the king, Daniel stood firm in his convictions.

The lesson is that personal integrity and faithfulness to our beliefs are more important than conforming to societal pressures or expectations.

This is especially important in today's culture, when the pressure to compromise our beliefs and integrity is at an all-time high. At Discovering the Jewish Jesus, we understand that stories like Daniel's hearken to something even greater. Daniel's journey into the lion's den and out into the light point us toward Jesus, who had his journey into darkness. Let's immerse ourselves into a short retelling of Jesus' resurrection,

when death's jaws were shut to save the Son of God. Jesus knew that he had done nothing wrong. Driven by jealousy, the leaders of Israel condemned him to die. He hung on a cursed cross, but his death was not a defeat. The grave was always his destination.

Death roared like a lion and sank its claws into the Son of God, but death's grip could not hold him long. For three days, Jesus lay in a tomb in the garden. Guards were placed at either side of the grave to keep people out. Little did they know they would need to keep Jesus in. Christ's followers had lost hope, and the enemy thought he had achieved victory.

But death had no power over Jesus. The dark skies gave way to the morning sun on the third day. For the first time since his death, light broke through. The sun crept over the horizon, its rays spilling over the hills like liquid gold. The two guards lounged in the coolness of the morning mist, lazily watching the sun's rays ripple through the misty air. The sunrise was ahead of them, illuminating the rest of the garden.

As its rays reached the gravesite, another light emerged from behind. The guards recoiled and looked back. The earth began to tremble, knocking the guards down on their backs. They turned and watched the stone roll away. A glory beyond words cascaded from the dark tomb. The radiance swept through the air with such might that it sent the guards flying backwards.

They reached for their spears, but not before another surge of power broke forth from the darkness. They ran back into the trees and remained on the ground. Death's mouth was sealed shut, and Jesus Christ emerged from the grave victorious. No scheme of man or power of hell could hold him back. 1 Peter chapter 5 tells us that the enemy prowls like a lion seeking who it may devour.

The enemy certainly tried its best to devour Jesus. On the cross, death's cruel jaw sunk its teeth into Jesus and dragged him to the grave. But on the third day, Jesus emerged victorious. The lion's den in Daniel 6 is a metaphor for the grave. Jesus, like Daniel, rose from the lion's den and displayed the power of God. Jesus' victory over death gives us hope that we, through Christ, can have victory over sin, death, and shame.

Perhaps there are some of you today who feel like you are trapped in a lion's den. The enemy has tried to take your heart as well. Well, my friend, it is my joy to remind you that you don't have to be a victim to your sins or to the sins of society. Romans chapter 8 tells us that we are more than conquerors in Christ Jesus. We follow the God who shut the mouths of lions and rose Christ from the pit of death.

Whatever sins you struggle with or trials you have faced can be conquered. Dare to be a Daniel and face the struggle head on. Dare to stand boldly in the lion's den. Jesus has given you victory. Because Jesus rose from the grave and shared his victory with you and me, we are confident that Jesus is the greater Daniel. Join us next time where we will explore the most unlikely hero of all, you.

We will learn about God's deep and abiding love for you and how your shortcomings allow God to display his glory. Don't miss our final episode to discover how Jesus is the greater Peter.

If you want more resources on Jesus and the Old Testament, visit us at discoveringthejewishjesus.com. Another resource you might find impactful is my new book, Messianic Prophecy Revealed, Seeing Messiah in the Pages of the Hebrew Bible, which can be found on my website. If you enjoyed today's podcast, leave us a review and share it with a friend. We want the story of the Bible and the hope of Jesus to be spread worldwide.

To make prayer a priority and hear more stories to inspire hope, visit Pray.com.