Key Verse: But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. (2 Cor. 2:14)
Victory parades are times of celebration. No one puts on a parade to celebrate defeat. We have seen—at least, on TV or in movies—parades to mark the end of wars or major sporting events or even a spectacular local high school victory. The ancient Romans had victory parades called ‘Triumphs.’ Paul probably would not have seen a Triumph in his day. He was martyred a few years before the Triumph of Vespasian and his son Titus in 71 AD for their victory in Judaea. But Paul would have learned of such parades in school. In any case, as he wrote this passage, he had a vivid image of such a victory parade in his mind.
These parades varied in detail, but they all had some of the same elements. Paul would have seen in his imagination the Roman officials followed by trumpeters, and then those carrying the spoils of the war. Then there would be priests with all their paraphernalia, followed by the captives, soon to face execution. Behind them would be musicians and more priests swinging censers wafting a sweet incense over the scene. Finally, the general himself standing in a four-horse chariot and leading his army would appear to those along the route, and the people would send up thunderous cheers.
Paul sees himself and his fellow-Christians as part of the parade—as those who have been captured by Christ the Commander, but they are willing captives. These captives are marching with their heads held high, not trudging in terror of what is to come. The glory is being given, not to the captives, but to the Commander. It is “Christ’s triumphal procession.” Then Paul smells the incense, “an aroma that brings life,” and he imagines the perfume carrying the gospel to all those around.
His mind must have been lifted to heaven by these thoughts, but then he pauses and thinks, “To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life. The gospel can have very different effects. It divides those who receive it from those who reject it. In Luke 12, we learn that Jesus said the gospel would even divide families.
All this does not happen without some effort on our part, however. We are not just marching in a Sunday afternoon parade. Paul asks, “Who is equal to such a task?” We are to wave the sensors to spread the aroma of the gospel. We are to spread the word. Yes, we march in a triumphal parade, but we are to spread the word to the onlookers. Jesus has won the victory; we are to tell the world. It’s great news; are you spreading it to those around you? Are you spreading it with a sense of victory? We are marching in a Triumph.
Prayer: Lord, help me to see the message as a message of victory and to spread it where I am. Help me to let those around me know the war is won and the Victor offers terms of peace and security to those who will bow the knee to Him. Let me boast about the Victor and spread his fame.
Author: Lindsay Hislop was raised in southern Scotland and southern Ontario and now lives in the southern United States. He worked in the engineering field for 15 years (mostly in Canada) before pursuing an academic career. He has taught for over thirty years at Columbia International University. He also serves as an elder in his church, where he teaches and preaches regularly. He is married to a wonderful wife Pam and has two terrific children, Holly, who lives in Canada, and Doug, who lives in Columbia. His four grandchildren, Isaac, Madeline, Lindsay, and Dolan, are also pretty special. He likes doing carpentry and odd jobs around the house.
