If you grew up in church, you’re probably familiar with the story of Esther. The king of the Medo-Persian empire, Xerxes, chooses Esther, a Jew, over all the other women in his 127 provinces to be his queen. Esther’s identity as a Jew remains hidden from the king per her cousin Mordecai’s advice. An evil nobleman named Haman finds out Mordecai is Jewish, and out of sheer jealousy and hatred, convinces the king to write an edict for the murder of all Jews. Mordecai tells Esther of this plot to kill the Jews, urging her to appear before the king and appeal for mercy for her people with the oft-appearing-on-Christian-coffee-mugs line, “Perhaps you were born for such a time as this.” Esther, after 3 days and nights of fasting, bravely approaches the king, risking her life for her people, and wins the king’s heart over, eventually leading to his calling off the slaughter of the Jews. Esther and Mordecai succeed in not just saving their people, but in giving them days of plunder and the slaughter of their own enemies.
As a child, I heard this story of Queen Esther many times. I think there was even a Veggie Tales episode about it. As an adult, I have to say I’ve wondered why this book is in the Bible. The book is famous for never mentioning the name “Yahweh” or God, though clearly all of the events in the book are orchestrated, designed, and sovereignly directed by God.
But another thought came to me this time as I was reading the book of Esther. I think Mordecai and Esther are supposed to be Christ-types, a picture of who Jesus is and what He came to do. I think as Christians (especially Christian women) we often imagine ourselves as Esther, bravely conquering the issues of the day, whether that’s with a bad boss, a stubborn child, or just the world in general. However, I think we had best see ourselves as what we really are - spiritually, children of God and His chosen people - yet practically, helpless when it comes to the evil conspiring to take hold of us and put us to death, as Haman sought to put the Jews to death. It’s interesting that the Bible makes no mention of the Jewish exiles having anything to do with their salvation. It rested solely on Mordecai’s request of Esther, whose courage in approaching the king led to the Jews being set free. I honestly think this is more than just a story of good vs. evil. It’s a story of us, helpless in our sin, being seen and advocated for by Jesus before the throne of God above, whose wrath is upon us for very good reason. Unlike King Xerxes, whose initial edict of the Jews was unjust, God’s wrath on us is perfectly just. Unlike Esther, we are unable to approach the throne of God the Father. We are disqualified because of our position as unrighteous sons of Adam. “Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned.” Romans 5:13
But the righteousness of Jesus is perfect. Jesus did not only humbly approach God the Father to ask for our freedom. He willingly went to the cross, despising its shame, and now He lives to make continual intercession for us so that we may approach God’s throne of grace. Jesus didn’t just fast for three days. He laid in the grave for three days, before the Holy Spirit breathed life back into Him, raising Him from the dead because He lived the perfect life and willingly died an agonizing death. Jesus didn’t just take a risk on whether he might die or not. He went to the cross knowing that He would suffer and die, and He did it anyways, because of His great love for us. “While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8
The enemy of our souls, Satan, wants us to die. But Jesus came so that we might have life, and have it abundantly (John 10:10). Let us rejoice that Jesus came, bled, and died, “for such a time as this.”