Just like Jesus

I'm getting ready for Sunday, preaching on faithfulness. I'm looking at a few Old Testament stories to illustrate this part of the Fruit of the Spirit. One that I'm using is Daniel and the lion's den.

As I was reading Daniel 6 I noticed something that I hadn't seen before. Daniel 6.10-17 (NASB)

10 Now when Daniel knew that the document was signed, he entered his house (now in his roof chamber he had windows open toward Jerusalem); and he continued kneeling on his knees three times a day, praying and giving thanks before his God, as he had been doing previously. 11 Then these men came by agreement and found Daniel making petition and supplication before his God. 12 Then they approached and spoke before the king about the king’s injunction, “Did you not sign an injunction that any man who makes a petition to any god or man besides you, O king, for thirty days, is to be cast into the lions’ den?” The king replied, “The statement is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which may not be revoked.” 13 Then they answered and spoke before the king, “Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, O king, or to the injunction which you signed, but keeps making his petition three times a day.”

14 Then, as soon as the king heard this statement, he was deeply distressed and set his mind on delivering Daniel; and even until sunset he kept exerting himself to rescue him. 15 Then these men came by agreement to the king and said to the king, “Recognize, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians that no injunction or statute which the king establishes may be changed.”

16 Then the king gave orders, and Daniel was brought in and cast into the lions’ den. The king spoke and said to Daniel, “Your God whom you constantly serve will Himself deliver you.” 17 A stone was brought and laid over the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the signet rings of his nobles, so that nothing would be changed in regard to Daniel.

Do you notice what's missing? Look at Matthew 26.62-63, Mark 14.60-61, and Luke 23.8-10,

" 62 Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?” 63 But Jesus remained silent."

"60 Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?” 61 But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer."

"8 Now Herod was very glad when he saw Jesus; for he had wanted to see Him for a long time, because he had been hearing about Him and was hoping to see some sign performed by Him. 9 And he questioned Him at some length; but He answered him nothing. 10 And the chief priests and the scribes were standing there, accusing Him vehemently."

Do you see it now? Daniel, like Jesus, makes no defense against the accusations. Both men had no fault that could be found in them. Both of them were only guilty for how faithful they were to God. They let the lives they lived speak for them.

I wonder, could we do the same thing? Could our lives speak for us? If people tried to accuse us would the only thing they would be able to accuse us of be living for God too much? What would happen if we lived lives like this? Lives just like Jesus?

Peace be with you