BBC Sermon Cast

Daniel 10–12 comprises one long section, in which Daniel received his final vision. It was a vision of a coming conflict and, by far, the most detailed vision in the book. As we consider these chapters together, we must not miss the overriding message, which was to highlight God’s sovereignty so as to provide comfort and hope to his people despite present appearances. God remains sovereignly in control, and continues to fulfil his plan, despite the unexpected moments of life.

When Christians experience affliction, they often wonder, “What’s the point?” If you ever have asked, or currently are asking, this question, you will be able to relate to Job 3. In this chapter, Job asks, “What’s the point?” in a three-fold way: “Why was I born?”, “Why can’t I just die?”, and “Why am I living?” The good news is that we who live on this side of the incarnation have a clear answer.

Daniel’s famed prophecy of seventy weeks is one that has aroused a great deal of discussion amongst Christians. While the prophecy contains a mixture of good and bad news, from Daniel’s perspective, it is ultimately a prophecy of the best news every delivered to the human race: the news of an Anointed One who would make reconciliation for iniquity and bring in true righteousness. We will consider both the context and the content of the good news as we consider this prophecy.

The Roman philosopher, Seneca, once said, “The bravest sight in the world is to see a great man struggling against adversity.” If that is true, then Job serves as a fitting example. He was a great man (1:3). Even more so, he was a truly good man (1:1). The book of Job asks, “Will a great man continue to be a good man even when he ceases, in the eyes of the world, to be a great man?” After the events of chapter 1, so far, so good. How will this great and godly, and therefore good, man respond in chapter 2 when his afflictions boil over?

The book of Job is considered Old Testament “Wisdom Literature.” The story concerns a godly man experiencing unparalleled trouble and seeking answers to important questions—seeking wisdom. Confused by the actions of his Creator, he seeks clarity. The result is that he is exposed to the various types of wisdom offered in his land of Uz.

We live in an age of seeker-sensitivity. We are told that our churches must make things accessible and unoffensive to those who are “seeking God.” Daniel 9 gives us some insight into what it means to “seek God”—and how to do so by prayer. The chapter teaches us some valuable lessons.

There is more to the Christian life than justification. Justification is where the Christian life begins. The same Jesus Christ who is our justification is also our sanctification, who has secured our eventual and ultimate glorification upon our resurrection from the dead. These three are inseparable from a growing, meaningful, experiential, personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul drives this home in Philippians 3:12–21, where he emphasises the Christian’s pursuit of holiness.

Jesus is life. Without Jesus there is only death. The way you respond to that statement will reveal whether you are alive or dead. John 11 highlights this truth.

We live, as someone has said, between the Easter of Christ’s bodily resurrection and the Easter of our future, bodily resurrection. We live in a time of spiritual resurrection through the gospel, but the spiritual resurrection we experience in Christ is but a foretaste of a fuller hope. True Christian victory will be fully realised at the resurrection of our bodies, when all of creation will be brought into subjection to Christ. That future victory has powerful practical implications for the way we live in the present.

Paul was deeply offended by anyone who minimised the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. He lived to glorify Christ, who rose from the dead and ascended to the right hand of the Father. As he put it in Philippians 3:10, he was passionate to know Christ and the power of his resurrection—and passionate that others should share his passion.