DECEMBER 14
DANIEL 7:1–18

The entire biblical story marches toward
the coming of the Son of Man.

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If you were to introduce Jesus to someone who had never heard
of him before, what would you say? If you had to summarize
who he is and what he has done, what would you write? When you
preach the gospel to yourself—and you should—what do you say
to yourself about the Jesus who is at the center of that gospel? The
central character and eternal hope of the biblical narrative is Jesus.
All of the promises of God balance on his shoulders. Everything
that we need is supplied in and through him. He is the hope of the
Old Testament and the conquering hero of the New Testament. By

grace our little stories are embedded in his great victorious narra-
tive. The Bible is the biography of Jesus. It is the revelation of his

character, power, wisdom, holiness, and redeeming work. At the
center of all the promises of God is the promised Son.
Daniel 7–12 records the apocalyptic visions of Daniel. These
visions are meant to assure the people of God at that time, as well
as us, that despite persecution and hardship God still reigns, his
plan still marches on, and his promises are still trustworthy. At the
beginning of Daniel’s visions is a vision of the reign of Jesus:
there came one like a son of man,
and he came to the Ancient of Days
and was presented before him.
And to him was given dominion
and glory and a kingdom,
that all peoples, nations, and languages
should serve him;

his dominion is an everlasting dominion,
which shall not pass away,
and his kingdom one
that shall not be destroyed. (Dan. 7:13–14)
This amazing scene should make your heart pump, your jaw
drop, and your mind fill with awe and wonder. God sits on his holy
and royal throne as the sole ruler of the universe he created. The
one like a son of man is presented to him. This description of Jesus
is a reminder to us that he is fully God and fully man. After Jesus is
presented to the Father, God grants him everlasting dominion over
all humanity and a kingdom that will never be destroyed. This is
a gloriously encouraging and hope-infusing description of the one
in whom you have placed your hope.
It is important that we think of Jesus not only as the sacrificial
Lamb but also as the risen, ascended, and reigning King. What
happens after the resurrection is very important. Jesus ascends on
a cloud to be seated at the right hand of the Father to reign forever
and ever (Acts 1:9). His reign is not a future promise, but a present

reality. We have hope right here, right now because his reign guaran-
tees that he has the power and authority to deliver to us everything

that his work on earth purchased for us. His present reign guaran-
tees that he will someday usher in the final kingdom, where we will

be blessed with uninterrupted peace and righteousness forever.
Today, celebrate the reign of your Savior and go out and live with
courage and hope.

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Prayer

Ancient of Days, you are great and glorious. All power and author-
ity belong to you. And yet you have given your kingdom to your

Son, one like a son of man, that all peoples, nations, and languages
should serve him. I praise you for including me in that kingdom,
that I might forever praise the one who lives and reigns even now.
I pray in the name of this great King, Jesus, amen.