Led in Christ’s Victory

Nov 11

Where are we in Christ’s Victory Parade? Are we the victorious army celebrating behind Him, or are we captives, humbled and surrendered to the Conqueror who’s won our souls? Discover how we’re challenged to embrace the humility, surrender, and joy of following Christ in His triumph.

“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. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things?”

Christ’s Triumphal Procession

In our passage, Paul transitions from his greetings to the church in Corinth to an encouragement to the church to recognize Christ’s triumph in Paul’s own life as their leader. Alongside this is Paul’s encouragement to see Christ’s victory in our own lives as well. In these verses, we find ourselves, as followers of Jesus, in a parade.

“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. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things?” 2 Corinthians 2:14-16

Christ always leads us in triumphal procession.

Consider the imagery here: I picture myself marching proudly alongside Jesus in a parade through the streets, maybe even with a marching band behind me, all in celebration of His great victory over sin.

But this isn’t really that kind of parade. In these verses, Paul uses the metaphor of a Roman triumphal procession celebrating a major military victory over a mighty enemy of Rome.

Josephus and Plutarch describe these parades as weaving through the streets of Rome. While the order wasn’t always consistent, typically, the treasures and animals collected from the conquered kingdom were presented at the front of the parade. The animals would be sacrificed at the end of the parade as a thank offering to the gods for the military victory, and some of the treasure would be divided amongst the soldiers, but much would end up in the emperor’s treasury.

Priests followed, burning incense to express gratitude and praise to the gods. The smell of incense also glorified the great, victorious general, his greatness permeating the streets before his appearance. Later, during the sacrifices, this incense would mingle with the smells of sacrifice, covering up the odor of burning flesh and death.

Next came the defeated enemy king, led through the streets as a captive in utter humiliation. He was powerless, his kingdom destroyed, and his treasures captured. Behind him were the remnants of his grieving family and followers. This conquered king, along with his family and followers, was being led to execution at the end of the parade. Once a mighty enemy of the Empire, he was reduced to utter humiliation amid the power of the general who conquered him.

After this sad scene, in a moment of contrasting fanfare and triumph, came the great, victorious army general dressed in regal robes and riding in a chariot of gold to emphasize his magnificence. He was closely followed by his own army, singing the praises of their great general.

In this vivid metaphor that Paul uses, it should come as no surprise that Jesus takes the place of the victorious Roman general, exuding His glory and surrounded by the praise of His followers. The big question that has caused some debate is: Where does Paul place you and me (and himself) in this parade?

Here is where different Bible translations vary. Since the original texts of the Bible weren’t written in English, we must wrestle with the tension of what each word of the text says and what the words meant to their original audience when they were strung together.

Some translations of the Bible, like the English Standard Version (ESV), that we read prioritize word-by-word translations, while others, like the popular New International Version (NIV), prioritize thought-by-thought translations. Both are important and valuable to our understanding of Scripture.

The ESV we referenced earlier makes it sound like Paul is placing us, as followers of Christ, in the victorious army singing God’s praises but thought-by-thought translations state this differently. This is how it reads in the NIV:

“But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession.” 2 Corinthians 2:14

Are we part of the victorious army singing praises to Jesus? Or are we the captive king, who was once an enemy of Jesus and now, through our humiliation and humility, displays Jesus’ great strength over our very lives?

Based on the bulk of scholarly research and an understanding of the early church, I believe that Paul definitely places us in the role of the captive enemy.

How do we reconcile with the fact that Paul places us as captive enemies of Christ who are being led to our deaths?

Direct Defiance to God

To answer that question, we must understand that this isn’t new material for Paul. In his other letter to the church in Corinth, Paul wrote:

“For it seems to me that God has put us apostles on display at the end of the procession, like those condemned to die in the arena.” 1 Corinthians 4:9

Paul paints a similar word picture as that in our passage, 2 Corinthians 2:14-17. Additionally, in Paul’s other writings, there are countless references that all humans, before conversion, live in direct defiance of God’s good plan and purpose for humanity; thus, we are enemies of God for whom Christ died to reconcile (Romans 5:10).

Accepting Our Surrender

Paul was willing to place himself as the humbled enemy of God. He often humiliates himself by recounting his past as a persecutor of the early church who sought to destroy it. In 1 Corinthians 15:9, he wrote: “For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle because I persecuted the church of God.”

Paul’s words call us to follow Paul’s example and admit that each one of us who is redeemed by Jesus Christ had to come to the point, like that conquered enemy king, where the personal kingdoms we built around us were destroyed. We must acknowledge that the treasures we made idols of were taken away. Ultimately, we must admit that we were greatly humbled by God.

Paul was candid about his humiliation at God’s hands that led him into the arms of Christ. In Paul’s story, we see:

He led campaigns of Christian persecution.
He was confronted by Jesus Himself.
Struck blind and helpless on the road to Damascus.
Needed to be led like a child for the remainder of his journey.
Submitted to Ananias, someone he would’ve previously considered his enemy.
Received prayers from his enemy to regain his eyesight and find healing.

Paul’s past as an enemy of Jesus haunts his writings. However, he doesn’t do this with shame but with great humility so that he can glorify the One who conquered his life with grace, love, and mercy.

Jesus humbles us, tears down our personal, temporary kingdoms, and crumbles our treasured idols. He does this to bring us into His Kingdom, which is guaranteed never to crumble or fall to dust. It’s a Kingdom where we will live and flourish for eternity.

The Fragrance of Christ

At some point, God smashes every metaphor we use to explain Him. When Jesus, as the great, almighty, victorious One, stepped out of the metaphorical golden victory chariot and allowed Himself to be executed in place of the enemies He conquered, God rocked the earth, tore the veil, and ripped open the sky.

That death was meant for His enemy, which is to say, that death was meant for you and me. However, in return His death gives us redemption, reconciliation and a new life living in our conqueror’s kingdom. In His sacrifice and grace, Jesus moves us from the place of the captive, to the place of His army following close behind, singing His praises.

And here’s where the rest of our passage comes into play:

“…through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things?” 2 Corinthians 2:14-16

Here, we see Paul placing us in one more position within this Roman triumphal procession. We are the fragrant incense that is spread as the parade passes through the streets.

The fragrance of incense mingles with the fragrance of sacrifice. When we become captives of Christ’s love, we smash and sacrifice the treasures, idols, and things we trust in. The smoke of these sacrifices mingles with the incense of our worship of Christ to present an aroma pleasing to God. As Christ’s captives, we spread that pleasing aroma.

Like the conquered king, when we feel humbled and weak but continue to place our trust and faith in Jesus, we spread the aroma of knowing God. As the redeemed, following behind the victorious Christ, we sing the praises of the Christ who captured and led us. He uses our words, stories, and lives to spread His fragrance (the aroma of knowing God).

This parade has no room for spectators because anyone redeemed in Christ is called to spread Christ’s aroma. If we’re called to be disciples who make disciples, our very lives must spread this aroma.

How do we smell? To God, we are the fragrance of Christ, which delights Him.

For those who are receiving the Gospel, this is the best news possible! Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross offers us life! We smell of redemption, of God picking up trash and miraculously making it His treasure. We smell of God captivating us with a love that transforms and never lets us go.

But, for those who are perishing, we are an aroma of death. The gospel doesn’t seem like good news to those who don’t want Christ. Remember, Christ’s fragrance is one of sacrifice and dying to oneself; this humiliation, weakness, and smashing of personal kingdoms smells like death. To many, the Gospel of Christ is utter foolishness, and as believers, we are fools.

Are we willing to live out the gospel when it jeopardizes what others may think, say, or believe about us?

It’s important that we embrace humility and remember that we don’t follow Christ because we’re stronger, smarter, or more righteous than those who remain enemies but because Jesus has already plucked us out of the mire of our former sinfulness. This reminder should always be at the forefront of our faith and witness.

At the end of our passage, Paul asks: “Who is sufficient for these things?”

The simple answer is no one, not anyone, in their own strength. Paul is clear about the horrors he experienced in his life when operating on his own strength.

But the better answer is that if you and I live for Christ. We’re qualified through the Spirit of God that dwells inside of us and equips, prepares, and empowers us for God’s good purposes and the glory of His great name.

There is nothing that the captured enemy can do to get out of the humiliation, grief, and execution in a Roman triumphal procession. His destiny lies completely in the hands of the glorious, victorious general who has displayed His power over the treasures, kingdom, and life of His enemy.

Praise be to God that our Lord and Savior stepped out of eternal glory to die a death He didn’t deserve to save us from a death we do deserve—We’re no longer enemies of Jesus! He calls us friends. He calls us to follow, worship, and spread His fragrance. This is the calling of every person, reconciled and redeemed by our great and victorious Savior!

TL;DR

Paul describes believers as captives in Christ’s victory parade, a symbol of our humility and surrender to Jesus, the victorious Conqueror.
Just as Paul accepted his past as an enemy of Christ, we are to humbly recognize our transformation through Jesus’ mercy.
Like the defeated king in the Roman procession, we surrender our personal “kingdoms” and idols to Christ’s authority.
Following Christ means submitting to His lead and sharing His fragrance in our words, actions, and lives.
Though we’re insufficient in our own strength, the Spirit equips us to fulfill God’s purposes and spread the aroma of Christ’s redeeming love.