How many times have you been asked to compare and contrast two things? We are asked to do this a lot in English or writing classes. But why? Why is this looked at as such a good thing to do? It may be because we compare and contrast things in our lives all the time. When we shop for things, for example, aren’t we comparing prices? What is the cost of a bunch of bananas at one grocery store compared to another one? What is the quality of this television compared to a different model? Is this lawn service better than the one I used last year?
We compare things in science too. We look at the differences with certain materials. Which allow is stronger? Which material is cheaper? What is the difference in a porcelain tub vs. a fiberglass one?
In class we may be asked to compare (and contrast) dogs and cats, or stocks and bonds. Maybe it’s watercolors vs. oil paintings. Or maybe we want to look at Judaism and Christianity.
What about Daniel and Lazarus?
We all (probably) know the story of Daniel in the Lion’s Den. Daniel was basically a teacher’s pet to King Darius and the administrators around the king were jealous and afraid of that relationship. So they devised a plan to get rid of Daniel.
Daniel 6:6-9
6 So these administrators and satraps went as a group to the king and said: “May King Darius live forever! 7 The royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers and governors have all agreed that the king should issue an edict and enforce the decree that anyone who prays to any god or human being during the next thirty days, except to you, Your Majesty, shall be thrown into the lions’ den. 8 Now, Your Majesty, issue the decree and put it in writing so that it cannot be altered—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.” 9 So King Darius put the decree in writing.
This story strikes me as an indictment on King Darius than anything else. Here we have a king who listens to his satraps and does what they say without considering the consequences of his actions. He didn’t take the time to reason this out and think about what might this mean for his friend Daniel. He just does what they tell him to do. In contrast, Jesus doesn’t do what his disciples are hinting at in the story of Lazarus.
John 11:4-8
4 When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” 5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days, 7 and then he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.”
8 “But Rabbi,” they said, “a short while ago the Jews there tried to stone you, and yet you are going back?”
The disciples clearly don’t want him to go to Judea. Jesus goes anyway. Back to Daniel:
Daniel 6:16
16 So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions’ den. The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!”
Because of the new law, Daniel has to be thrown to the lions. He only prays to God, not Darius. And Darius is telling him that only God can save Daniel now. This is because Darius is, in my opinion, an idiot. I can think of several ways Darius could have saved Daniel. He could have killed the lions first. The law didn’t way the lions had to be alive. The law didn’t say the lions had to be present either. They could have been removed from the den. Maybe you could have given Daniel an escort of knights. You could also have put him in the den and immediately taken him out. But because of the king’s failing, Daniel has only God for help. It’s a good thing God is enough.
What about the Lazarus story?
John 6:17-22
17 On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. 18 Now Bethany was less than two miles[b] from Jerusalem, 19 and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. 20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home.
21 “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.”
Mary is saying that only God can save Lazarus. And she is right. So both stories agree on that.
Both accounts have a stone that is put in place. Both stories have that stone removed after the fact. And what happened in each story? God saved Daniel by sending an angel to protect him. God saved Lazarus by bringing him back from death.
In each story we get a pattern. Darius hears his advisors, loved Daniel but sent him to his death, was greatly disturbed at the situation, and later asked if he was ok.
Jesus heard about Lazarus, loved him, came to his tomb, wept for him, and called for him to come out.
God hears. God loves. God comes to us. God weeps with us. God calls to us.
Try this in your own bible study. Pick two stories and compare them. They don’t have to have much in common. When you compare and contrast these stories you just might get a better understanding of scripture. You might get a better understanding of your relationship with God too.
God Bless,