Call in the Flower Girls, We’re Going to Need More Petals
[14] But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. [15] For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, [16] to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things? [17] For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God’s word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ. 2 Corinthians 2:14–17 ESV
What do you think being “led in a triumphal procession” looks like? That fragrance being spread around is a whole bunch of maidens throwing flower petals around like hyper flower girls at a wedding. Something like that is sure to draw a crowd, and it won’t take long for them to start celebrating too. It’s hard not to smile when a clown walks by and throws candy to your kids. In modern America, a parade has a known course because we’ve filled out paperwork with the police, the city council, the parks department, the sheriff, the BMV and the historical plant society. In Paul’s day, a triumphal procession went wherever it wanted, picking up celebrants as it meandered through a city.
Sounds fun, doesn’t it?
The neat thing is, this isn’t what it would look like if you passed Paul and his friends on the road to Macedonia. That’s where he was when he wrote this letter. He just mentioned in 2 Cor 1:8–9 that they all thought they were going to die from what they were going through. He says the felt like they had a death sentence put on them. They are leaving Ephesus and traveling to Macedonia and Paul writes this letter to encourage (the first half) and rebuke & instruct (the second half) the church of Corinth.
Now about this triumphal procession. At the end Paul describes himself as part of “men of sincerity, commissioned by God, in the sight of God, speaking in Christ.” Oh that we could really wrap our heads around that kind of thinking! We make choices in spite of our circumstances all of the time.
When you’re shouting at your kids one second, but then dinner guests show up and you’re happy as a lark, you made a choice.
When you’re having a pity party for yourself and then you show up at work, you lighten up because you made a choice.
When you walk into church and Kirk asks you at the door how your week was, you make a choice and tell him a good part.
We don’t have trouble choosing joy, we just have trouble being reminded to choose joy. So here is Paul, taking a minute to size up his reality, and choosing to see where he really is in Christ. Jesus loves to show off in our lives in spite of our circumstances! Whatever the appearance, the truth is Jesus IS our circumstance.
As you walk through your day today, carry a trumpet and blow it at random times, throw rose petals all over your neighbors cube, whatever it takes to remind yourself that in Christ, you are being led in a triumphal procession.