Parallel between Cross of Christ and Daniel’s Lion’s Den

Parallel

Daniel

Christ

Filled with the Spirit

Daniel 6:3 …an excellent spirit was in him

Luke 2:40  And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him. 

Jealousy of other leaders

Dan 6:4  Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom;

Matt 27:18  For he knew that for envy they had delivered him. 

Leaders joined together against to hail only one god – the king. They seek to do it subtly

Dan 6:7  All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions. 

Matt 26:3-4  Then assembled together the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people, unto the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas,  (4)  And consulted that they might take Jesus by subtilty, and kill him.

The King signs the decree

Dan 6:9  Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree. 

Dan 6:12  Then they came near, and spake before the king concerning the king's decree; Hast thou not signed a decree, that every man that shall ask a petition of any God or man within thirty days, save of thee, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions? The king answered and said, The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not. 

Rome already had a decree to prevent any rival claim to kingship. The Jews tried to prove his violation of this law.

Luke 23:2  And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a King. 

Making petition 3 times before sent to death.

Dan 6:10  Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime. 

Matt 26:44  And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. 

King seeks to release but the jealous ones warn the king.

Dan 6:14-15  Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him: and he laboured till the going down of the sun to deliver him.  (15)  Then these men assembled unto the king, and said unto the king, Know, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is, That no decree nor statute which the king establisheth may be changed.

John 19:12  And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar's friend: whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar. 

Ruler reluctantly hands over prisoner

Dan 6:16a  Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel,

Mar 15:15  And so Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified. 

The Lions Den and the Cross

Dan 6:16b  …and cast him into the den of lions.

Psa 22:13  They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion. 

Psa 22:18-21  They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.  (19)  But be not thou far from me, O LORD: O my strength, haste thee to help me.  (20)  Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog.  (21)  Save me from the lion's mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns.

Parallels of the den and the tomb.

Dan 6:17  [1] And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; [2] and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; [3] that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel.

Matt 27:60 [1] …and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed. 

Mat 27:66  [2] So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch. 

Mat 27:64  [3] Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day,

An very early morning visit

Dan 6:19  Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions. 

Luk 24:1  Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. 

The Lord’s Angel

Dan 6:22a  My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me:

Matt 28:2-3  And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.  (3)  His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:

Innocent

Dan 6:22b forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt. 

Rom 1:4  And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: 

Raised up with person unharmed

Dan 6:23  Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God. 

Acts 2:27  Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

Plotters are destroyed in the very manner they tried to destroy

Dan 6:24  And the king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the den.

Luke 21:20  And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. 

Proclamation of True God goes to whole dominion

Dan 6:25-26  Then king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.  (26)  I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end.

Col 1:23  If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;