Based on Daniel Zine Chapter 6: The Lions’ Den
Juliette Alvey
Dear Grown-Ups,
Daniel and The Lions’ Den is one of the most famous stories in the Bible, especially to teach to children. It’s got everything: a bad guy, a hero, and ferocious lions! We love to tell children how brave Daniel was and how God was mighty to save. But… what if we’re not feeling brave? Sometimes when we hear a sensational story like this one, we may question ourselves and wonder, “If I was threatened to be thrown into a lions’ den, would I be faithful like Daniel?”
When faced with this question, I often worry that I am less like Daniel and more like Peter. I mean, he was all over the place… going from super-bold to scaredy-cat at the drop of a hat. Peter sees Jesus walking on water and steps out of the boat in faith, but when he sees the wind and waves around him he freaks out and starts sinking (Matt. 14). He boldly proclaims that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God! And within a sentence or two, Jesus is calling him Satan for trying to stop him from accomplishing what he came to do (Matt. 16). He tells Jesus he will go with him, even to death… only to then deny him three times when it really counts (Matt. 26).
After Jesus died, Peter and the disciples hid themselves in a locked room. When I am honest with myself, I think that’s probably where I would be if my life was in danger, not openly praying with windows wide open, like Daniel.
However, we know from the book of Acts that the disciples did not stay hidden for long. History and tradition tell us that almost all of them were eventually martyred, except for John, who was exiled to the island of Patmos where he wrote the book of Revelation.
So what happened?! What changed these cowardly disciples into bold proclaimers?
Well, as we know, the story did not end with Jesus dead and the disciples locked in a room. The risen Lord appeared to them in bodily form within those locked doors. He showed them his scars and breathed on them. He ascended back into heaven with a promise that the Comforter would come. And soon after that, the Holy Spirit descended on them with tongues of fire, giving them a fire in their souls and a boldness to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ to the world.
What changed them was solely the resurrection of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit. Without that, all they had was their own bravery, which did not get them far.
This is the same God who saved Daniel in that lions’ den. As great as Daniel was, he did not have the power to save himself, and that is a comfort to remember when we start playing the comparison game.
We don’t have to fear that our bravery will not be enough… we already know that it’s not. What a relief! Now we don’t have to rely on ourselves but rather on the One in whom our faith is in.
Jesus prepared the disciples for the trials they would later face by saying: “Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit” (Mark 13:11).
Will I have the strength to face ferocious lions or other terrible evil? By my own courage or will-power, most definitely not! But thanks be to God that it is not my strength that is needed, but the Holy Spirit who promises to show up at just the right time.
