How Esther Foretells the Gospel of Jesus

For many of us, the story of Esther is a favorite because of the "girl power" and the royal aesthetic. We love the idea of a hidden orphan rising to the throne "for such a time as this." But when we pull back the royal tapestry, we see something much deeper than a historical drama.

Esther is a "type" of Christ—a shadow cast by the Light of the World before He arrived on the scene. From the three-day fast to the ultimate defeat of the enemy, the patterns between Esther’s rescue of the Jews and Jesus’ rescue of humanity are breathtaking.

The Three-Day Wait

When Esther realized her people were marked for destruction, she didn't rush into the throne room immediately. She asked the Jews to fast and pray with her for three days and three nights.

In biblical symbolism, "three days" is almost always a signal of transition from death to life. Just as Esther and her people sat in the shadow of death for three days before she approached the King, Jesus lay in the tomb for three days. Both Esther and Jesus emerged after that third day to bring a message of hope and life to a...Continue Reading