Take a look at this picture. It’s an illustration of the scene from our Gospel lesson this morning where Jesus was standing before the Roman governor Pilate. Now let me ask you this question. Who’s in charge here? Is it Pilate who sits on his throne with expensive clothes and the authority of the Roman Empire behind him? Or is it the beaten and bloodied Jesus who is standing there with hands bound? Wouldn’t most conclude that Pilate is the one in charge? But as Christians we know that even then Jesus was the one in charge. He was allowing himself to be put on trial so that Pilate would condemn him to death, and through that death Jesus would free us all from sin and give us the promise of everlasting life.
But not even Jesus’ disciples thought that he was in charge on that Good Friday morning. It’s also something we struggle to believe when we look at all the evil going on in this world. When ISIS agents can casually walk into Paris and kill over a hundred people in a night, and when Boko Haram agents in Nigeria can set off a bomb at a bus station killing over thirty people we wonder, “Who’s in charge here? Lord, I thought you were!” This morning we’re going to look at a vision God gave to the prophet Daniel. This vision gives us clarity regarding the present and the future. It assures us that our Lord Jesus is always in charge.
This vision came to Daniel when the prophet was about 75 years old. Daniel saw four beasts come out of the sea. The first beast looked like a lion with wings and represented the kingdom of Babylon. That was the kingdom in power when Daniel received this vision. The second beast looked like a bear that was gnawing on some ribs. It represented the Medo-Persians who succeeded the Babylonians. After the bear came a leopard with four heads and four wings characterizing the empire of Greece and Alexander the Great. Finally the most terrifying beast of them all, one with the power to destroy everything in sight, stepped out of the ocean. This beast symbolized the Roman Empire.
One thing these empires all had in common was their origin. They all came from the sea. This was God’s way of telling Daniel that these kingdoms, as terrifying as they seemed, were only earthly kingdoms and therefore limited in power. In contrast to the earthly powers, Daniel saw “one like a son of man” riding on the clouds of heaven to whom was given all power. Who was this individual from heaven? It was Jesus. We know this because Jesus called himself the Son of Man 72 times in the New Testament.
Unlike the earthly empires which were described as horrible beasts that shed blood wherever they went, there was nothing frightening about Jesus’ appearance. He wouldn’t shed the blood of others and wreak havoc. Instead he would shed his own blood to bring peace to all. That’s why Jesus meekly subjected himself to Pilate’s authority so that he could accomplish his mission of giving his life to pay for the sins of the world.
Understanding Jesus’ mission will help us make sense of what we see happening in the world now. You see Jesus didn’t come to give us freedom from sickness and trouble, or to make us rich. He didn’t even come to bring peace on earth—at least not the kind of peace the world is looking for. Many want peace so they can do whatever they want. But that doesn’t lead to lasting peace. The reason for that is because there is a day of judgment coming when we will have to answer for all of our thoughts and actions. Take a look at what else Daniel saw in his vision. “As I looked, thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was as white as snow; the hair of his head was white like wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze. 10 A river of fire was flowing, coming out from before him… ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. The court was seated, and the books were opened” (Daniel 7:9, 10).
The Ancient of Days is, of course, God the Father. Does that title make God sound like he’s weak and feeble and stooped with age? Isn’t that how many people picture God? They see him as a kindly grandfather who really doesn’t know or care what’s going on among his grandchildren. Although the white hair may further the impression that God is old and the wheels on his throne may make it sound like he’s sitting in a wheelchair, the river of fire emanating from his throne tell us that God is no weakling. He is the authority in the universe. Sure he looks old but that’s because he is. He’s been around forever, literally. That means that there’s no chance of fooling him, of pulling the wool over his eyes when we stand before his judgment throne. He’s seen all the tricks. He knows what we’ve all been up to. And his throne, by the way, is not a wheelchair; it’s a chariot. So there’s no running from God.
This is the God before whom we will one day have to stand, and the court that God presides over is no kangaroo court. God has done his homework and has books filled with evidence he needs to make judgment. What’s in your evidence book? Would you be willing to have that book, which contains a record of every moment of your life, made into a movie? If so, what would that movie be rated? Would it be suitable for general audiences? Would you let your children or your parents see that movie? I don’t think so. But God has already seen the “movie” and so when he looks at us he sees people who deserve to be eternally burned by the river of fire that flows out of him.
But Daniel saw ten thousand upon ten thousand standing before God (Daniel 7:10b). Sure, some of them must have been angels, but the book of Revelation describes a similar scene and makes it clear that it’s not just angels who are with God. There are people there too, dressed in white (Revelation 7). Why are they not burned by the fire coming out from God? Because they believed that Jesus took the blame for their sins so that all the pages in their evidence book which once listed all theirs sins have been ripped out and replaced with Jesus’ flawless record! These people are just as holy as the fire that flows out of God.
If the sermon ended right now, we would have reason to rejoice. Our eternal future is secure because of Jesus. But I might give the impression that Jesus’ work is done and that he has gone into retirement. Listen to how Daniel’s vision continues. “[The Son of Man] was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed” (Daniel 7:14).
Here again we see another difference between Christ our king and the powers of this world. While the kingdoms in Daniel’s vision like Babylon and Rome wielded great power, their power was limited and temporal. Jesus’ power on the other hand is universal and eternal. No one can escape his influence. There is nothing that can stop him from doing what he wants. So just who is in charge now? Jesus!
But if that’s true, then why doesn’t Jesus get rid of ISIS? Why doesn’t he destroy the drug dealers and gangs in our cities? Well for one thing, God loves those sinners too and wants them to repent of their sins. He’s patient with them even as he is patient with you and me when we turn away from him.
But just as the evil governments that popped up in Daniel’s day and beyond came to an end one after another, Jesus will one day put an end to every evil activity. In the meanwhile the Bible tells us that he is limiting evil’s influence and bending it to serve his will. One example of that is in regard to the refugees fleeing Muslim countries torn apart by violence. I can’t imagine what it must be like to have to leave the place where you grew up and go to a country that doesn’t share your language or culture. But for some of the refugees who have made their way to Germany, this has been the best thing to happen to them. For while in Germany they have learned about Jesus. Those who were once Muslim and were once forbidden to read the Bible have been able to do just that and have come to learn that Jesus is not just a great prophet, but is in fact their God and their Savior from sin!
So when bad things happen to us, the question to ask is not, “Lord, where are you?” because he’s right there in the middle of it all. The better question to ask is “Lord, where am I?” Have I become so enamored with this world and its pleasures that I can’t bear it when life gets hard? Have I become so materialistic that I don’t appreciate the eternal treasures of forgiveness and the promise of a heavenly home? Have I become so absorbed in my own suffering that I have forgotten just how much my Savior suffered for me? If we have become so self-focused, then it’s a good thing when Jesus rocks our boat to wake us up and remind us of what’s really important—continued faith in him. (Doug Koehler)
No, it didn’t look like Jesus was very much in charge when he stood before Pilate. And it doesn’t seem as if Jesus is very much in charge today. But he is. He decides how long governments lasts and he continues to use them to his own ends and for the benefit of his people. In fact one of the greatest comforts from our text is how Daniel reports that he saws “thrones” (plural). Daniel doesn’t tell us how many thrones he saw but we can assume that there was one for the Ancient of Days and another for the Son of Man. But according to a similar vision in Revelation 20 there is a throne for every believer. This is what the Apostle John: “I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God…They [lived] and reigned with Christ…” (Revelation 20:4)
Who’s in charge here? Jesus is. But through faith in him we are also ruling. That’s why we don’t have to sweat when bad things happen around the world. Jesus will limit the harm done to us. And if he allows the violence to sweep us away in death, we know that will simply be the vehicle by which Jesus brings us home to him. So rejoice, fellow believers. Jesus is in charge! Always and forever and for you. Amen.
SERMON NOTES
Summarize Daniel’s vision. What did you learn about earthly powers? What did you learn about THE heavenly power?
Explain: Understanding Jesus’ mission will help us make sense of what we see happening in the world now.
What details about the Ancient of Days frighten you? What details are comforting to you?
Daniel saw a multitude of people standing before the throne. How were they able to do that if God’s righteousness was flowing out from the throne?
Our text assures us that Jesus is in charge even now. How do you explain that to someone who asks, “So why is there so much evil in this world?”
Explain: When bad things happen, it’s better to ask: “Lord, where am I?” rather than “Lord, where are you?”
The Apostle John saw a similar vision to Daniel’s of God’s throne room. Both saw many thrones. Who is seated on those thrones? How will that truth help you get through this coming week?
