The book of Esther gives us a glimpse of who Jesus is in the Old Testament (O.T).
The book in which the word ‘God’ is not mentioned even once (Acts 17 – Unknown God; Psalm 19: There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard), yet His character is evident through all of the events that transpire in this time frame where Esther is made the queen of Persia.
Also, did you know that the land of India is mentioned in this book (Esther 1:1 – Ahaseurus reigned from India unto Ethiopia, from Persia). Sandwiched between the 1st and 2nd return of the people of God from Babylon (led by Zerubbabel and Ezra) and the 3rd and final return (led by Nehemiah), to the remnant that chose to remain in Babylon, God raises his ruler so his people can be saved. As we look for Christ in the book of Esther, we are often told about how Mordecai, Esther’s cousin, typified Christ from the very last verse in this book – Esther 10:3
3 For Mordecai the Jew was next unto king Ahasuerus, and great among the Jews, and accepted of the multitude of his brethren, seeking the wealth of his people, and speaking peace to all his seed.
Which can be used to reflect
For Jesus, the Jew was next unto the King of kings (God the Father) and the greatest among all Jews, accepted by many, seeking the wellbeing of his people and speaking peace to all his children.
But I want us to focus our attention today on the title character – Esther.
One of my favorite movies of all times is “A few Good Men”. In that there is a dialogue that takes place between Jack Nicholson (playing Colonel Jessup, the marine) and Tom Cruise (playing Lieutenant Kaffee, the prosecuting attorney).
JESSEP: I ordered Markinscn to have Santiago (the marine who is killed that causes this entire investigation) transferred off the base immediately.
KAFFEE: Why?
JESSEP: I felt that his life might be in danger once word of the letter got out.
KAFFEE: Grave danger?
JESSEP: Is there another kind?
The scriptural record in Esther brings to our attention, Haman, who was promoted to be prince over Persia, an evil man who sought to annihilate all the Jews i.e. put the Jews in GRAVE danger. Daniel 10:13,20 talks about how the prince of Persia (a demonic force) delayed God’s messenger from bringing the message to Daniel, God’s servant for 21 days, eluding to spiritual battle. Mordecai, Esther’s cousin intervenes and plans the salvation of his people by making Esther intercede with the King. When Mordecai asks her to speak up for her people, hoping that Esther has probably been established by God FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS (Esther 4:14)
Note Esther response – If I perish, I perish
Similar to Jesus’ words, I lay down my life for my sheep (John 10)
Esther was made for such a time as this.
Jesus’ words before he endured to the cross willingly – the hour is come (Mark 14:41). Earlier in John 2:4 – Jesus tells his mother, my hour is not yet come.
Jesus was God made in the image of man, for such a time as this, for such a people (you and me), saving us from DANGER UNTO DELIVERANCE (deliver us from the evil one – in the prayer that Jesus taught us to pray).
In Esther, Jesus is our Intercessor and Salvation (for such a time as this, for such a people).
After the Super Bowl XLIV game (February 07, 2010) was over, one of the final statements in Super Bowl XLIV, made by the Most Valuable Player (MVP) Quarterback Drew Brees of the winning New Orleans Saints team, was amidst all the celebration a one-liner, wherein he said, “God is Great”. In the movie, “Slumdog millionaire”, the brother of the main character, as he is shot in the end, takes his last dying breath by expressing “God is Great”.
One of the songs that we jam to, on Guitar Hero World Tour, is the ever famous “Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor (1982), the same song that is the backdrop to Sylvester Stallone’s movie – Rocky. Listening to this song, got me thinking as to what was so special about the Eye of the Tiger. Undoubtedly, it is 