Daniel Foreshadows Easter – Bible.org Blogs
"Easter is a particular time we set as a celebration of our God of the gospel—Christ dying on the cross for the payment of our sins, God accepting Jesus’ payment by raising Him from the dead, and the Holy Spirit’s transformative work in our lives for righteousness. One of the beautiful impacts of Easter on my life took form as I reflected on a particular incident."
"My regularly scheduled Bible study provided me with a unique and unexpected Lenten and Easter preparation. I probably learned this years ago in seminary but hearing it anew in a sermon from my former pastor1 cemented the truth that Daniel chapter six contains a foreshadowing—a type—of Jesus Christ.
"A “type” in the Bible is “a person or thing in the Old Testament that foreshadows a person or thing in the New Testament.”2 How amazing that God intentionally pointed to Jesus from the very beginning and throughout history.
"Here are some ways that Daniel foreshadows the death and resurrection of Christ.
Daniel
Jesus Christ
Daniel was a royal son of Judah whose superior wisdom and excellent spirit set him apart from his peers (Daniel 1:3, Daniel 6:3)
Jesus was a royal son of Judah whose superior wisdom and excellent spirit set him apart from humankind (Matthew 1:1, Acts 10:38)
Daniel’s intended appointment as chief ruler over Babylon angered the other leaders who were envious of him. (Daniel 6:3)
As King of the Jews, Jesus’ claim to the throne angered the other leaders who were envious of him. (Matthew 2:1–2, John 1:49, Matthew 27:18)
The officials conspired against Daniel (Daniel 6:4)
The priests and the elders conspired against Jesus (Matthew 26:3–4)
. . ."Of course, Daniel does not match Jesus in every way. No type is meant to. While Daniel was human and thus a sinner, Jesus was divine and never sinned (1 Peter 2:22). Daniel experienced the possibility of death whereas Jesus truly died (Mark 15:37). Daniel prospered temporarily (Daniel 6:28) and later died as an old man but Jesus resurrected and was elevated to the right hand of God the Father where he reigns forever and ever (Mark 16:19).
"How might God be foreshadowing Jesus’ death and resurrection in your current reading or experience? What do you need to remember this Easter?
"Lord Jesus, like Daniel I face a roaring lion on the prowl looking to devour me (1 Peter 5:8). But this Easter, I remember that you are my Lion of Judah (Revelation 5:5) who willingly gave your life for me (John 10:15). Deliver me from evil (Matthew 6:13) as you did for Daniel."