Thanks as Captives in Christ’s triumphal procession (Thanksgiving: 2 Cor 2)

2 Cor 2:14-3:6

Key Verse 2:14 14 But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ's triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere.

In Lev, the thanks offering is a part of fellowship offering. When one approached the Lord, the first and most basic offering is the burnt offering, this may be followed by sin offering. Having done these two offerings, the fellowship offering is offered as the conclusion to establish a relationship between God and his people. So thanks offering is a token or mark of being one. Thanks offering belongs to one of the fellowship offerings. So thanks offering is the last offering that one offers to the Lord. This is because giving thanks to the Lord is the ultimate expression of man's relationship with the Lord of Heaven and earth. The reason why this must be preceded by the burnt offering and sin offering is because only after the burnt offering and sin offering God would accept one as His and impart his blessing. According to John the Apostle, it is being one with Jesus and then being one with God the father.

Happy Thanksgiving to you all! How things have been with you this year? Is your heart filled with joy and thanks to the Lord and ready to celebrate Thanksgiving with many? Paul says in his letter to the Thessalonians. : 1 Thessalonians 5:18 “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.” According to his word, we are to give thanks to the Lord in ALL Circumstances. But more often than not, our hearts are filled with all kinds of unfulfilled tasks, unmet desires, and unhappy feelings on various matters of life. Especially this is true when our hard labor to serve others are returned back to us with rejections, blames, and even hostility. In such a situation as this can we give thanks to the Lord?

Paul faced such a situation after establishing the Church in Corinth. His apostolate authority was questioned, his integrity as the servant of God was discredited and demeaned. He worried and concerned about the spiritual well-being of the many believers of the Church. In addition, he faced a life-threatening situation on his journey. The one and only joy or happiness as the Servant of the Lord was receiving the fruits of his labor, i.e. turning many hearts to the Lord and seeing their spiritual growth. But at this time, by an attack from one of those to whom he preached, and seeing the church was going astray, his heart was loaded with burden, fear, and uncertainty. It would not be improbable that in the depth of his heart, he raised a serious question, “Is my effort in line with God’s will?” Am I too rigid or uncompromising? Is my love not enough?”

As a last resort to solve the problem in the Church at Corinth, Paul sent Titus. But when he did not see him at Troas, at the time when they were to meet, he was even more worried if something worse happened. So in a hurry, he went to Macedonia to look for him. While traveling to Macedonia, he himself faced a life-threatening situation and barely escaped death. These were a long and dreary moment of his mission life. But finally, he found Titus in Macedonia and heard the good news that the man repented and the church accepted Paul again as their shepherd. Remembering this moment of joy and relief, Paul said, this;

14 But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ's triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere.

He was not out of the woods yet because the church was still invaded by some interlopers, claiming to be super-apostles. Nevertheless, out of his mouth came thanks to the Lord. This joy and thanks came out of his heart not just because he saw Titus with a good news but because through these series of troubles, he came to see deeply God’s mighty hands with an utmost will for His purpose. Jesus said to his disciples, if you know the truth, the truth will set you free.  Then what did Paul see about God’s power and will for him or for the believers?

1.       God always leads us.

When he heard the troubles in the Corinthians, he was in Ephesus and the ministry in Ephesus was going so remarkably. It was the most successful ministry in his entire life. The Gospel and its power swept the entire region of Asia Minor. His mind and heart were flying with joy and victory because of the immense success that he neither planned nor dreamed. Near the end of this ministry, he got the news about Corinth and he was on his toes from this point on to keep up with the problem there. Even with his efforts, the trouble in Corinth deepened. His character and his apostolic authority was brought into question. Simply he faced the worst situation in his entire ministry. When he visited the church, the church totally rejected him and had to leave powerlessly. As I mentioned above, the success and joy in the work in Ephesus were replaced by worries and concerns, even anxiety. He was even put into a situation whereby his life was in danger.

In all these, he might have raised a serious question, how much I have to suffer or how many hardships do I have to go through? Have I gone through enough trouble already? Do I need more difficulties and hardships? As he met Titus and heard good news from him, he came to know and deeply felt that even through so many troubles after troubles, God ALWAYS leads ‘us’. He was not alone; God was with him and He led the way for his life. Troubles in life are the best time and place to see and experience the outworking of God’s might hand in His love for us. GOD is with us ALWAYS!

2.       God leads us as captives

In the passage in the original language Greek, there is no word ‘captives’. But the meaning is there.  Also 1 Cor 4:9 and Eph 4:8 are grounded on the idea that we believers are like captives of Jesus.  Before this letter, Paul already depicted the lives of the apostles as captives of a military procession in the previous letter:

9 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. We have been made a spectacle to the whole universe, to angels as well as to human beings. (1 Cor 4)

 A triumphal procession was offered to a Roman general who defeated a major enemy and conquered a large piece of land like a country. It was not offered to a general who defeated small regional enemies involving a small piece of land. So the triumphal procession is a symbol of a major victory over mighty forces of enemies and a large number of the captives speaks of the major victory. Near the end of the procession follows the captives in chains. As captives, they were beaten, injured, and even crippled.  They would end up in slavery, prison or execution. So, death was well expected. Simply they were losers of the war. In them, no one can find anything good or desirable. 

But strangely Paul compared his life to these captives of the Roman triumphal procession.

What did he mean being a captive? A captive is led by the captor. Here the captor is Jesus for he was arrested by Jesus’ love and was compelled by that love. So it was not his personal desire or will to follow Jesus but the love that kept him in the procession of Jesus’ triumph as he said:

1 Corinthians 9:16 For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! (1Co 9:16 NIV)

2 Corinthians 5:14 For Christ's love compels us because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. (2Co 5:14 NIV)

Captives are the losers of the war and their lives are pitiful for eventually, they would end in prison or execution. But captives of Jesus is totally different from the captives of this world.

Ephesians 4:8 This is why it says: "When he ascended on high, he took many captives and gave gifts to his people." (Eph 4:8 NIV)

Jesus, the victor, carries his captives by His grace; totally unlike from the Roman generals. Also in His grace, he gave his captives many gifts and the important gifts are the life and truth with him.

How was the life of a captive, Paul?

23 Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. 24 Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea,

26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers.

27 I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. 28 Besides everything else, I face daily (2Co 11 NIV)

No one wants to go these troubles in life. But as a captive, Paul went through for he was compelled by the captor’s love. Then how was Paul’s inner being? Was it full of sorrow or anguish?

2 Cor 6: 8 through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report;
genuine, yet regarded as impostors; 9 known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; 10 sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich;
having nothing, and yet possessing everything.

As we see in these passages, prevailing victory over all difficulties in life. Death and threats of death from the world could not snub out the life in him. Actually, in the midst of suffering, life in him stood out more clearly and powerfully. The result is clear; the joy in victory over the threats of death made a deep current in the depth of his heart.

Then, why did God let Paul go through these troubles and trials of life? Paul went through so much sorrow when he was rejected by the Church at Corinth. He feared the worst, losing the church itself to the world. But the moment he saw Titus and heard the news that they repented and accepted Paul again, his heart was overwhelmed with joy and said ‘thanks be to God’.  He came to grasp God’s transcendent will that was far above and beyond his realm of thought that analyzed the current treacheries in life.  This was the source of joy and thankfulness to the Lord. In addition, he found a remarkable truth that God wrought in Paul’s life:

15 For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.

The life of a captor displayed a remarkable truth about life and the truth that connects one to God the father of life and truth. The captives are the full exhibition and revelation of the power of the captor. Jesus, the captor, victor, and commanding general, demonstrated his power, the power of life, in his suffering and death.  Likewise, the ragged life of Paul, the captive, shall display the same power, the power of life overall forces and threats death.  At first, the Corinthians misread the Gospel. It was a gospel of success, prosperity and easy life in comfort as many of today’s nominal Christians do. This misunderstanding became clear when Paul rebuked them of their ungodly and sinful life.  How could this misunderstanding be corrected? As we noted, Paul went through difficulties as he tried to persuade them with the truth. He had sent three letters to them and this is the fourth one. Also, he sent two delegates (Timothy and Titus) with messages. He himself visited them and was rejected. In these processes, not only the truth and love that Paul stood by in the Gospel sharpened and clearly delineated, but also the truth and love of the Gospel were demonstrated in real life to the believers in Corinth. That is to say that Paul’s life itself became the message of the Gospel. This is most starkly revealed in his word;

 2 Cor 6: 8 through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; 9 known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; 10 sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.

The captives of the warlords of this world have nothing but the things that we hate to have. With the eyes of the world or with such periscope, the captives of Jesus, the Lord of heaven and earth, were not much different. They are ragged, beaten, wounded and naked. There is nothing that they can desire. But to the eyes of those who seek life, the truth of God, they could see something far more than what was seen outwardly. It was the life flowing with undying strength, power and resilience underneath the surface filled with so many troubles and trials of life. Rejection, defamation, and threats of death did not do much in countering or mustering the spirit of life and truth in Paul. If Paul did not go through so many troubles and trials, all these jewels of life would be left hidden and all the Corinthians could not see this truth and did not have the strength to counter the ungodly desires looming in and among their lives. Thanks be to God! In His unlimited wisdom and knowledge, he not only led the Corinthians to the full power of salvation but also imparted Paul the unsearchable wisdom and will of God in his life. In sum, what is Paul’s life?

15 For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.

It is interesting that the idea of captives is turned into the pleasing aroma of Christ.  God told Israel the ultimate principle of the Law and sacrifices. In Exo 20:24, in order for the name of the Lord to be honored, Israel must give a burnt offering and fellowship offering. In other words, without a burnt offering and a fellowship offering, no one can honor the Lord and can receive God’s blessing. Out of this burnt offering comes a pleasing aroma to the Lord. Paul confessed to the Corinthians about his life experiences;

 23 Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. 24 Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. 27 I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. 28 Besides everything else, I face daily (2Co 11 NIV)

This is a picture of the life in which one burned his passions, desires, wills, and all his likable. Literally, it was a life of living sacrifice. In this ragged life is a pure respect and honor to the Lord of truth in obedience with full submission. God wants all that he chose to live a life that is being given to the Lord as a pleasing aroma. To those who are perishing, Paul’s life is filled with smells of death. But many who seek the truth in life can smell of life, the life that thrives in power, truth, and love. It is because such seekers are able to see the things underneath of what is visible. The power and truth of God who is invisible is being seen in this ragged life of Paul. Paul’s so much troubles generated a very pleasing aroma to the Lord and fragrances of life smelled to all those who saw him close by. This was God’s purpose. In it is God’s transcendent will that he never fathomed. As this light shined into his heart, his heart was overwhelmed with joy and thankfulness. So he exclaims, thanks be to God! Thanks be to God for His amazing grace and love!

3.       God leads us as captives in a triumphal procession

A triumphal procession is as a whole is a celebration of victory. It is led by a victor General. The procession is toward the city of the king through the gate. The victor cannot celebrate his victory without the display of the large spoils of the war and the most important one among them is the captives.  

No matter how troublesome life Paul was going through, he was in the triumphal procession. The procession was to present themselves to the king as the ones who won the victory for the king. Here are the pride and sense of direction and hope. Being part of this glorious and triumphant procession, Paul was not disappointed and did not lose his sense of direction of his life. It was toward the Lord. Even long before he reached the city of the king or the Palace, the victorious general, Jesus, gives away many gifts for his captives;

Ephesians 4:8 This is why it says: "When he ascended on high, he took many captives and gave gifts to his people." (Eph 4:8 NIV)

The most important ones are the truth that transcends all human knowledge and wisdom, and the love that overcomes the power of death. Again, as Paul captured these gifts in his hearts, his heart was overwhelmed with joy; thanks be to the Lord!

I know many of us are going through difficult times. Yet we all are in this procession; the triumphal procession marching toward the one and only King of the world, the God of the heaven and earth. We must not lose our focus, sense of direction and purpose. Our march is to the King. The commanding general is Jesus the one who won the fight against our enemy the Satan the prime agent of death. We have gifts, the truth that can muster all human wisdom and knowledge, and the love that empowers us to overcome even the power of death.  Also, we are not alone for we are all together in the procession and this procession is one train, heading toward one direction, to the Lord King of the Universe. Praise God and thanks be to the Lord!