This dream is God’s answer to Daniel. So, how does it encourage him (and us)? It shows him that a day is coming when the trampling of God’s people will end. History is going somewhere. One day, God’s people will no longer be victims of wicked rulers, but will themselves share in God’s righteous and just rule of the world. And yet, this will come about through a surprising set of circumstances. Hundreds of years later, Jesus Christ stands before the high priest on trial. The high priest attempts to lure Jesus to incriminating Himself by admitting He is the Christ, the Son of God. Jesus instead chooses to respond by claiming a different title. He says, “from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.” Jesus is claiming to be “the Son of Man” from Daniel 7. And — this gives me chills to think about — but He views this moment—the moment that the high priest is going to condemn Him to death as the moment that He will ascend to the right hand of power. In other words, when Jesus is lifted up onto the cross, it is actually the moment He proves His worth to sit on the throne. Jesus is saying, “I am the Son of Man. I am bringing God’s kingdom. I am here to deal with all of humanity’s wickedness… all of humanity’s evil… and all of humanity’s violence…” And, how? 65
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