Reflections

Today's Reading: Daniel 7:9-14
Daily Lectionary: Jeremiah 31:1-17, 23-34; Matthew 27:1-10
To Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, and all peoples, nations, and languages served Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom is one that will not be destroyed. (Daniel 7:14)
In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. The Trinity is present in Daniel 7. The Spirit is the giver of dreams. He not only gave Daniel visions, dreams, and prophecies, but also gave Daniel the meaning of those things. In this Spirit-given vision Daniel sees the Ancient of Days, the Father. Daniel also sees the Son of Man: Jesus, the eternal Son of God, who became man. Holy Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in this vision.
The Son is getting the Kingdom in this vision. His Kingdom is everlasting and can't be destroyed because His Kingdom is not of this world. His Kingdom of mercy, love, and forgiveness is kicked off at Calvary. There Jesus was enthroned, crucified for you. He was sent from the Father, born of the Virgin Mary. Mary's Son "will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end" (Luke 1:33). The Spirit delivers this Kingdom in the preaching of the Gospel and the delivering of Christ's Gifts. That's what Pentecost was all about in Acts 2, because there were "devout men from every nation under heaven" in Jerusalem that day.
This is where you come in. You're part of the all peoples and nations that are in the Son of Man's Kingdom. He ransomed you back to His Father. He sent the Spirit to you. You've been washed in "the new birth of the Holy Spirit," as Paul says in Titus 3. You will see and enter the Kingdom of God because you've been "born of water and of the Spirit" (John 3:3, 5).
Daniel's vision is all about the eternal reality of your salvation. The Son of Man rules over you, in His Kingdom of forgiveness and mercy--the very things He showers upon you. It's how He would rule through you, too.
Jesus wields His power and authority to save you, not only to die and rise for you, but also to baptize you and to deliver His Word into your ears, heart, mind, and soul. The almighty Jesus uses His authority FOR YOU, for your benefit, and not OVER you in some power play. "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to cherish all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:18-20). In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.
Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Duane Bamsch