One of the old hymns of the church written by Charles Wesley describes the desire to praise God, that even a thousand tongues to sing His praise is insufficient since He has caused us to triumph in His grace.
O for a thousand tongues to sing
my great Redeemer’s praise,
the glories of my God and King,
the triumphs of his grace!
2 Corinthians 2:14 (ESV) — 14 But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere.
The term “triumph” refers to a military parade celebrating a victorious campaign, regarded as the highest honor for Roman generals and their troops. To qualify, the general had to be present on the battlefield, and the campaign needed to advance Rome’s interests. Once these criteria were met, the celebration commenced: crowds cheered, streets were adorned with flowers, and the procession moved toward the capitol. Political leaders led the parade, followed by musicians and singers. Spoils of war were displayed, a white bull was presented for sacrifice, and priests carried incense. War captives were paraded before the crowd, and the commanding general, dressed in a purple and gold tunic, rode in a chariot. His relatives and victorious soldiers followed, all proclaiming, “Triumph!”
Think about it as you face your day as a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ who came, who saw, and who conquered our enemies of sin, Satan, and even death. No wonder Paul said that Christ leads us in triumphal procession. He is the victor; we enjoy the spoils of His victory in the many benefits we enjoy in Him, and the multitude of gifts He bestows upon us.
This picture of a triumphal procession is also found in Colossians, and Paul recounts the magnitude of enemies and obstacles that have been defeated on our behalf by our conquering King.
Colossians 2:13–15 (ESV) — 13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.
Our Lord Jesus Christ is the conquering Commander. Believers will join His ultimate triumphal parade, but Paul pointed to the fact that He leads us in “triumphal” procession now. No matter how hard life may be right now, we can live considering this vision. He also brings His followers gifts.
Ephesians 4:8–12 (ESV) — 8 Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.” 9 (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? 10 He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) 11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,
How fitting as the apostle Paul builds again on this scene of the triumphal procession in the fact that the Lord Jesus Christ, the mighty Conqueror, brings gifts for His church, namely the gifts of men in the church to teach, lead, and care for the flock. Specifically, we are told that these gifts are to equip the saints for the work of the ministry and ultimately for the edifying of the body of Christ.
Let’s go back to the scene of the triumphal procession and take another look.
2 Corinthians 2:14 (ESV) — 14 But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere.
Following the mighty Conqueror is a fragrance of the knowledge of Him. Think about it as we follow in this triumphal procession, rehearsing in our minds and hearts the great victory won by the Lord Jesus Christ, then we are helping to spread the fragrance of victory wherever we go. As we follow His blessing as He gave gifts to the church, then we are ready to be equipped for service so we can participate in the building or edifying of the church. How does that look?
Ephesians 4:13–16 (ESV) —13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
It all flows from the triumphal procession of the mighty Conqueror, the Lord Jesus Christ. It’s no wonder when Paul closed out his treatise on the resurrection (1Corinthians 15), that he reminds his readers of the victory and how we participate in the triumphal procession.
1 Corinthians 15:57–58 (ESV) — 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
Godspeed,
Bob Brubaker, Pastor
Christ Community Presbyterian Church
Clearwater, FL
