Our thought today of a triumph is much different from those of long ago. We often think of a victory or achievement like beating an addiction or achieving a degree. But the old use and meaning of the word “Triumph” is quite different than what we may think, from what I thought.

 

Triumph:
A Roman triumph (Old Latin triumpus) was a civil ceremony and religious rite of ancient Rome, held to publically celebrate the achievements of an army commander who had won great military successes, originally and traditionally, who had successfully completed a war. The triumph was the greatest and most sought-after honour among the hereditary nobility that built and governed the Roman Empire, whose ethics were essentially those of an agriculturalist and militant ruling class.

The normal order of the triumphal parade was:

  1. The Senate, headed by the magistrates without their lictors.
  2. Trumpeters
  3. Carts with the spoils of war to demonstrate the concrete benefits of the victory
  4. White bulls for sacrifice
  5. The arms and insignia of the leaders of the conquered enemy
  6. The enemy leaders themselves, with their relatives and other captives
  7. The lictors of the imperator, their fasces wreathed with laurel
  8. The imperator himself, in a chariot drawn by two (later four) horses
  9. The adult sons and officers of the imperator
  10. The army without weapons or armour (since the procession would take them inside the pomerium), but clad in togas and wearing wreaths. During the later periods, only a selected company of soldiers would follow the commander in the triumph.

 

Colossians 2:6-15

Colossians was written by the Apostle Paul from a Roman prison. Paul would have known what a triumph ceremony was, and he used that in the scripture to describe our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Paul showed Rome, and us, Jesus as the successful commander, in all the glory of a triumph.
Could you imagine seeing that? This big parade through the city with Jesus, his enemies in chains defeated.

 

Colossians 2:6-15
Freedom From Human Regulations Through Life With Christ

 6So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, 7rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

 8See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.

 9For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, 10and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority. 11In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, 12having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.

 13When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 14having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. 15And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

Notice how Paul repeatedly uses “in Him“, “In Christ“, “with Him” in verses 6-12. I truly believe that it is so important that we stick close to Jesus. We must keep our focus on Him. Another thing I realize is that being in Jesus and focused on him are made part of the triumph, in him.

 

2 Corinthians 2:14

14But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. 15For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.

God leads us in triumphal procession in Christ. Which powers or authorities are against you now? Know that God leads us in triumphal procession in Christ, make sure you’re in Christ! And did you know that you are the aroma of Christ!

 

Revelation 5:1-5
The Scroll and the Lamb

 1Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. 2And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” 3But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. 4I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. 5Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”

Jesus Christ, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed and is able to open the scroll.

Jesus IS able. He has triumphed.