Teaching

That was a very interesting video we watched about signposts. Signs help us because they point us toward something and let us know what is ahead. Daniel lived hundreds of years before Jesus, yet the events of Daniel’s life were signposts pointing to Jesus—to the events leading to Christ’s death on the cross and resurrection from the dead.

Children should sit in the middle of the room and turn to face each signpost in numerical order as you discuss them. I have placed signposts of Daniel all around the room. Let’s find the first signpost so we can dig a little deeper into how Daniel’s life pointed to Jesus.

1.  Select a child to read the front of the first sign: Daniel was arrested.

Was Daniel arrested because he did something wrong? No.

He was innocent! All he did was pray! The king’s advisors tricked King Darius into signing a law that would trap Daniel. The Bible says in Daniel 6:4 (cev):

The other men tried to find something wrong with the way Daniel did his work for the king. But they could not accuse him of anything wrong, because he was honest and faithful and did everything he was supposed to do.

This sign has an arrow pointing to something. Please turn it over and read it to us. Jesus was arrested.

What did Jesus do to be arrested? Nothing, He was innocent.

The religious leaders brought false charges against Jesus! The Roman governor said Jesus was innocent. John 18:38b (cev) says,

Pilate went back out and said, “I don’t find this man guilty of anything!”

Both Daniel and Jesus did nothing wrong, but they were arrested!

2.  Where is our second sign? Choose a child to stand up and read the front: The king disagreed.

Yes, King Darius was tricked by his evil advisors who were jealous of Daniel and wanted to get rid of him. The king liked Daniel very much but he had to enforce the law he made.

Please turn over the sign to see how this points to Jesus’ life. The governor disagreed.

The Bible tells us that the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate, didn’t think Jesus should be crucified. He washed his hands as a symbol to show everyone that he wanted to be clean or innocent of sentencing Jesus to die on the cross. Yes, both leaders found the two men not guilty, but had to sentence them to die!

3.  Let’s turn to look at our third sign. Select a child to stand up and read the sign: Lowered into a pit.

King Darius ordered his soldiers to throw Daniel into a pit of lions to die.

Now read the back to see what this points to. Raised on a cross.

Jesus was raised on a cross to die! Two innocent men were sentenced to death! One was lowered, one was raised.

4.  Let’s find our fourth sign. Select a child to stand up and read the sign: Sealed with a stone.

Daniel was thrown into the pit, and a large stone was rolled over the top to close it. The king’s seal was then placed on the stone so no one would open it!

Turn the sign over to see how this pointed to Jesus’ life. Sealed with a stone.

After Jesus died, His body was placed in a tomb. A huge stone was rolled in front to shut it tightly closed. God showed His love for us by sacrificing His only Son to die for our sins!

5.  Let’s look at our last sign about Daniel. Select a child to stand up and read the sign: He is alive!

What, how could that be? The pit was sealed with a stone!

Yes, our SuperVerse tells us that God’s power shut the lions’ mouths. God rescued Daniel by a miracle! When the stone was removed, King Darius was thrilled to hear Daniel’s voice—he was alive! Let’s see how this pointed to Jesus’ life. He is alive!

Jesus did not stay in that tomb. He rose again from the dead! The stone was rolled away so everyone could see Jesus had risen from the dead! And He is alive today!

The power of both miracles pointed to God’s power! The events caused unbelievers to see the truth! When Daniel came out of the pit, King Darius declared in Daniel 6:26–27 (cev):

“I command everyone in my kingdom to worship and honor the God of Daniel. He is the living God, the one who lives forever. His power and His kingdom will never end. He rescues people and sets them free by working great miracles. Daniel’s God has rescued him from the power of the lions.”

When Jesus was crucified on the cross, the Bible says in Matthew 27:54 (cev),

The officer and the soldiers guarding Jesus felt the earthquake and saw everything else that happened. They were frightened and said, “This man really was God’s Son!”

Daniel’s story points straight to the loving power of Jesus who conquered death so that we can live with Him forever! Read Colossians 1:13–14(cev):

God rescued us from the dark power of Satan and brought us into the kingdom of His dear Son, who forgives our sins and sets us free.

Let’s say our SuperTruth together! “God rescues me from trouble.”

Discipleship Challenge/Practical Application

During our first lesson about Daniel, we made wristbands to remind us to pray continually - not just at mealtimes or bedtime, but throughout the day. Did any of you remember to pray as you went about your daily life?

What happened when you prayed? Allow time for children to share testimonies.