All Roads Lead to Rome... Well, Almost All

Jesus is triumphant. Did you know that? Jesus is triumphant even over this crazy world we live in. Jesus is triumphant over COVID-19. Jesus is triumphant over your sin. Let's talk a little more about what that might mean, though.

The famous saying "all roads lead to Rome" is a proverb many of us have heard a thousand times. Typically we use this when your situation is that which many choices you could make will all reach the same conclusion. Of course this was derived from the notion that Ancient Rome had the best engineering the world had ever seen. Aqueducts, road systems, bridges and beautiful architecture are what described Rome's provinces. Likewise, being that Rome was the epicenter of the vast Republic-turned-Empire, it would make sense that all roads lead there!

The fact that Rome was able to dominate the Mediterranean during the time of Christ should call to the front of our minds that when we are reading the New Testament, in many ways, we are being given a glimpse into Greco-Roman culture. We aren't here to talk about why or how Rome was able to accomplish the military feat of conquering most of the West, but rather how they celebrated it

You might be asking yourself "Alex, why should I care about how a bunch of old smelly Romans celebrated military victory?" Excellent question! Well... here is the beauty of the biblical text: The authors of the New Testament were not immune to their surroundings. They were Gentiles, Jews, Roman citizens. Their views of God, Jesus and the Scriptures are all influenced by their context the same way we are influenced by modern western culture. I love that God was so willing to use these people in spite of their perspectives to write down His Word.

Now here's the meat of what I want to talk about today. Jesus is triumphant over sin and death. That includes disease and sickness, by the way. So I want to examine a complex picture the author of Luke gives to us.

Luke 19:28-40, Jesus triumphant entry into Jerusalem.

28 After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.29 As he approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, saying to them,30 “Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here.31 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it.’”32 Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as he had told them.33 As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?”34 They replied, “The Lord needs it.”35 They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it.36 As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road.37 When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives,the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:38 “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!”[a]“Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!”40 “I tell you,”he replied,“if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”

What a wonderous scene this would have been to witness! Jesus' entry into the great city which had such a large crowd of people welcoming him with praise and honour. Laying down of cloaks and praises to God in heaven with a mighty roar. It brings to my mind images of Revelation 5 where the host of Saints and Angels alike singing their worship in a mighty chorus.

Have you ever asked yourself though, why this story is included within the Gospels? How can Jesus be triumphantly welcomed into Jerusalem in such a grand way yet we know within a short time he will be executed?

You see, the word "Triumph" is actually derived from an Ancient Roman practice. A Triumph was an event that displayed the greatest honour and power upon an individual that Rome could possibly give. Effectively, a Triumph was a parade and party that put Times Square at New Year's Eve to shame. In fact, the highest position in Roman politics during the Republic was the position of Consul. You can imagine Consul as being kind of like the Prime Minister of Rome for a year. Yeah, that was a powerful chair to hold! However, if you were ever awarded a Triumph by Rome's political class, the honour of that much outweighed the honour of being a Consul. If none of that made any sense to you - simply know this: No honour under heaven was greater than being awarded your own Triumph parade, and very few people would ever receive such an honour.

If you wish to learn more about the profundity of a Triumph, click here

So, yeah, this was a big deal to be honoured with a Triumph. Are you starting to see where I'm going with this? 

Jesus' entry into Jerusalem is painted as if he is a Triumphal General riding into the city of his people. Only, it wasn't Rome. It was Jerusalem. There are an incredible amount of similarities between Jesus' entry into Jerusalem and a Roman General entering Rome during a Triumph, there is an obvious comparison by the author of Luke going on here. The colt that had never been ridden before, the royal garb, the laying of branches and cloaks on the ground, the praises to the Triumphant individual and the praises to God, all of which are the same. Obviously Jesus wasn't a military leader, but a spiritual leader. The world's greatest Pastor, evangelist, healer and prophet. Jesus didn't conquer new land, but Luke 19 is showing us how he is spiritually conquoring death and sin! Naturally, a first century Jew, or Gentile reading this account in Luke would have fully understood this comparison without explanation. This is why understanding the historical context of the Bible is so important.  

So Luke 19 is supposed to invoke an image in your brain of the highest honour the mightiest Empire on earth could grant, given to Jesus! In this sense, Jesus is shown to us as greater than the Emperor himself! I hope you understand just how profound this actually is. This is one of the greatest ways which the author of Luke could possibly depict Jesus to us. The Triumphator over sin and death.

So, I encourage you to reflect on this. Who is Jesus to you? Is he triumphant? Have you given your worry, fear, anxiety to him? Yes, these are uncertain times. However, this is simply an example of how much we can trust in God and His Son. The only one who is given triumph over everything we'll face.

Pastor Alex