Just outside of the Colosseum in Rome are massive arches built by the emperors in the Roman Forum. Five arches were built but only three remain. These arches were built to commemorate various victories and events in Roman history. The two oldest were the Arches of Augustus and Tiberius. The Arch of Tiberius was constructed in 16 AD.
The oldest surviving arch is the Arch of Titus that was built in 82 AD by emperor Domitian following Titus’s military victories which included the siege of Jerusalem. Our Lord prophesied of this siege in Matthew 24. In 203 AD, the Arch of Septimus Severus was built after his defeat of the Parthians. And lastly, the Arch of Constantine was erected to the honor of Constantine following his victory over Maxentius at the Battle of Milvian Bridge in 312 AD. All these arches are massive structures, the Arch of Constantine measures 69 feet in height, 85 feet wide and 24 feet in depth. The oldest of which has survived almost 2,000 years.
Returning triumphal armies would have marched through these arches to the great fanfare of Rome’s citizens. Great treasures would have been brought back with them as well as many captives. All of Rome would have turned out to see this great spectacle.
Though the last three arches were built after Paul’s time, the first two would have still been standing in his lifetime. With this said there is an interesting verse that is found in 2 Corinthians 2:14 which says, “Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.” Whereas to be a Roman captive would have been humiliating, it is not so for the Christian who is led in spiritual triumph. It is a glad time by which we have given ourselves up to the reign of Jesus Christ.
In like manner, Paul stated in Romans 5:10, “For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.” Prior to our surrender to Christ, we were considered enemies of God. Yet now through Jesus Christ, we have been reconciled to God. Whereas many of those who were captives of Rome were either sold or put to death, Paul said that we as Christians are “saved by His life.”
Though many may despise the idea of being made captives of Christ and committing ourselves to His righteous will, to the Christian it is a wonderful and joyful event. Paul stated, “For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God” (1 Corinthians 1:22-24). He would later write concerning his own conversion by saying, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”
In the Church of Christ, when one is baptized into Christ for the remission of their sins (Acts 2:38), we often sing the hymn, “Oh Happy Day”. Why? Because it is a happy day when one surrenders to the Lord and we are no longer an enemy of God.
Unlike the howling mobs of the Roman triumph, in the Lord’s triumph, the crowds are encouraging us on in our faithfulness to the Lord. Following the wonderful list of faithful men and women in Hebrews 11, the next chapter begins by saying, “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us…”. When we become Christians, we are surrounded by fellow brothers and sisters in Christ as well as a heavenly host who desires the best for us and wants us to see our faith through to the end.
As Christians, let us be thankful to God who leads us in triumph, whose journey’s end is in heaven itself.
If you would like to know more about the salvation that God has for you through His Son Jesus, please let us know.
Roy Knight
