When we fix our eyes on Jesus, He promises to transform us. When we fix our gaze on Him problems, fears, shame, guilt, and cares of the world fade. We need to behold our King.

Daniel serves under a new king and new kingdom. The Persians have overthrown Babylon. Even in the midst of shifting kingdoms and leaders and circumstances, Daniel is the same person. He is faithfully following Yahweh. His actions in this chapter reveal the best way to witness to a pagan world. We can get it in our minds that our ability to share about Jesus is mostly about our words, and while those are important, Daniel's life reveals who God is and Darius sees that and glorifies the God of Daniel. It is my hope tonight that students will be encouraged to consider how they witness, not only through their words, but in how they go about their lives.

Daniel was a comforting presence in the life of King Nebuchadnezzar. It's strange because Daniel had been someone who had defied the King's orders and someone whom the King had tried to kill on at least one occasion. But still, when the King was afraid, Daniel was someone the King believed could help him. Daniel's presence was a redemptive presence. He was gracious, but fearlessly honest with the King. And ultimately, Daniel's presence led to a pagan King believing in Yahweh and worshiping Him at the end of his life. This is our role in the lives of those who do not believe as we do. We are to have a redemptive presence. To be people that are substantially different in every way, but still the people, pagans want around when things aren't going their way. 

Daniel chapter 3 is one of the most popular stories in all the scriptures. There’s something special about people standing up to a bully. But these 3 men don’t do so to prove a point, but to be faithful. Not fearing the king, the culture, or the death. They know deliverance is coming for them in life or in death. We need more followers of Jesus like this. Willing to rebel against the cultural tides in our time so to experience the fame and deeds of God in our time. 

Daniel exuded a humility that was unlike anything Babylon had ever seen. With an opportunity to elevate himself, Daniel instead, chooses to deny credit and give it to the God of Israel. This experience leads to incredible outcomes in the life of the Babylonian king and nation. This type of humility is not something Daniel was born with, but something that was developed over time. As followers of Jesus we need to live with this redemptive humility that doesn't shout, "look to me!", but rather "look to Him!" We'll discuss why and what this looks like for our students.

Daniel and his friends had every reason to abandon God or rebel against the Babylonians. Instead, they chose to live with a redemptive edge and take a redemptive risk that God used to bless them and bless a pagan, polytheistic nation. This is the call for us today. To be willing to risk standing out, going against our cultural moment to remain faithful to our God and trust that He is already working to bring about incredible things in the lives of those around us.

Everything that was prophesied has come true. But not everyone is experiencing what's universally available: Hope, peace, joy, light in their darkness. The Messiah has been born and only a handful of foreigners find Him, while those that know the scriptures the best miss out.

Christ’s coming is the light in our darkness. Jesus' names in Isaiah 9 connect to His glorious light that serves as our hope.

Jesus came to be with us. One of the reasons was to bring us peace. This is great news because we long for peace, but often settle for simply feeling good. We feel good temporarily and then we continue to long for something greater, something lasting, something that Jesus longs to give us. Peace. 

Those who feared Jesus during His earthly ministry wondered if He was a revolutionary and a threat to the Temple powers and the Roman authorities. Yet, Jesus had consistently talked about loving our enemies, praying for those who persecute you, and non-violence. Those who hated him could never prove that He was a revolutionary because of this. But then we see these passages where Jesus tells the disciples that, "two swords will be enough." And when Jesus is being arrested, one of those swords is used to cut off the ear of one of Jesus' accusers. Jesus, now, looks like what they thought He was all along and He is arrested and condemned. The only reason Jesus would allow swords to be present is so that they would have evidence for His arrest. He wanted to be arrested and He wanted to be condemned. Jesus' plan, all along, was to get Himself condemned, so that He could get the condemned set free.