Victory Parade

Victory Parade

Bible: 2 Corinthians 2:14-17

Reading

But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession (V.14).

When Leicester City won the Premier League in 2016 for the first time (and against odds of 5000-1), hundreds of thousands of people lined the parade route and gathered at Victoria Park to celebrate. Victory parades are not a new thing. A famous ancient parade was the Roman Triumph, in which victorious generals led their armies and any captives through crowded streets. These kind of parades were probably in Paul’s mind when he wrote to the Corinthian church thanking God for leading believers “as captives inChrist’s triumphal procession” (2 CORINTHIANS 2:14). I find it fascinating that in this imagery, followers of Jesus are the captives. However, as Christians we’re not forced to take part, but are willing ‘captives’; willingly part of the parade led by our victorious, resurrected Saviour.

As Christians, we celebrate that through His victory, He is building His kingdom which the gates of hell will not be able to stand up against (MATTHEW 16:18). Sharing Jesus’ victory on the cross and the freedom it gives His people spreads the “aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere” (2 CORINTHIANS 2:14). Whether people find the gospel to be a pleasing smell of victory or a stinky smell of their own loss, the power of Jesus’ victory is everywhere we go. Even today as we follow Him in school or at home, we can share His victory—the victory that makes salvation available to everyone we meet.

JESUS IS OUR VICTORIOUS KING.

Youth Edition – Our Daily Bread Ministries