Daniel 7 offers us a vision seen by Daniel himself. The vision was of four terrifying beasts, each of which represented a particular nation. These nations have come and gone by our time in history, but they were said to be nations that would battle against the saints or the LORD’s people. The overarching theme of the vision, though, is the Ancient of Days, and His entrusting authority to the Son of Man. This speaks of God the Father, and Jesus. We know this time is yet future even for us, so Daniel was given the opportunity to see visions that related to his time as well as to the end of time. The visions disturbed Daniel, as well they ought to have done. Neither the present nor the future is always easy for God’s people but in the end we win, because God wins. Daniel’s vision made that clear.
Daniel 8 offers us another vision of Daniel. In it, The Medo-Persian Empire is represented by a ram, and Greece is represented by a goat. The goat overcame the ram, just as Greece would one day overcome the Medo-Persian Empire. Many consider Daniel’s message to be written after these events, because they are so precise as to what happened. But if the LORD is the one who gave the vision, then we would expect it to be precise! We’re told even after Daniel was given the explanation for the vision he still did not understand, and it made him sick for some time. Many in our day hurl themselves into the study of the prophecies relating to the end times, and Daniel is certainly among them. The challenge is Jesus told us no one knows the day or time when He will return. Even He didn’t know. That means we must invest the best part of our time in being ready when He retreats, whether it’s today or decades from now. Living in a state of readiness only happens when we put Jesus first and live in the power of the Holy Spirit.
In Daniel 9, Daniel offers a prayer of repentance to the LORD. He admits the LORD was right in sending the people of Israel into exile. He admits the people disobeyed the LORD and didn’t follow the Law of Moses. Yet, he calls on the LORD to show mercy and to restore the people. The prayer is filled with acknowledgement of what the people have done, but calls on the LORD to do what He does: show mercy. That is such a vital reminder for us! We must call on the LORD to forgive and restore us when we turn away from Him.
As we return to Mark 6, we see Jesus returning to Nazareth, His hometown, and while the people recognize Jesus’ authority and ability to heal and deliver people, they reject Him, because they have known him throughout His life. Next, Jesus sends out His disciples to minister in the towns and villages of Galilee. When King Herod heard of the miraculous power of Jesus, he said it was John the Baptist raised from the dead. Then Mark recounts how Herod had been the one to execute John, because of a promise he made to his wife’s daughter at a dinner party. As the chapter continues, Jesus feeds the five thousand, and then sends the disciples on ahead of Him in a boat. This gives Jesus the opportunity to come to them walking on the water. The disciples are, of course, amazed at Jesus’ power to defy the laws of nature. After this, they crossed the Sea of Galilee once again, and landed at Gennesaret. There Jesus healed everyone the people brought to Him. We see God’s Kingdom breaking in everywhere Jesus goes. That is also how it ought to be when we go places where people experience life challenges they can’t handle. As the salt and light Jesus called us to be, our presence ought to change their reality and bring wholeness in their lives, too.