The Triumph of the King—Paul Southern
The Triumph of the King—Paul Southern THE TRIUMPH OF THE KING
By Paul Southern
Any study of the kingdom of heaven is incomplete without a discussion of “The Triumph of the King.” We like to feel the handclasp of the man who has won true fame, the man who has, achieved the supreme goal of his life by pursuing a great ideal. We admire the man who has grappled with the forces of adversity and emerged triumphant. There is something about victory which has a universal appeal.
Since the Christian was made for success and not failure, the triumph of the King is, one of the grandest thoughts that ever engaged the mind of man. The word “triumph” suggests victory, conquest, and exultant joy over a well earned success. In the Roman empire a triumph was an imposing ceremony in honor of a general who had gained a decisive victory over a foreign enemy. He was permitted to enter the capital city of Rome crowned with laurel and bearing a scepter of authority in his hand. The procession advanced to Capitoline hill where a sacrifice was offered and the general was entertained in regal fashion. In like manner the King of kings conquered his enemies, and in royal splendor advanced to the summit of heaven’s highest hill. Crowned with glory and honor, he sat down in majesty at the right hand of God where he will rule with all authority in heaven and on earth till the last enemy becomes the footstool of his feet.
It shall be our purpose in this discussion to consider the' triumph of the King of kings, and to show its effect upon the human family. Of course, time would fail us if we should attempt to tell of all his triumphs,. From the beginning of his personal ministry, the unassuming role of Christ made him a conquering hero and he left a long list of triumphs upon the sacred record. For instance, in the wilderness, of temptation, where for forty days and forty nights he did neither eat nor drink, Jesus met the prince of the demon world and emerged victorious. On other occasions he calmed the troubled waters of Galilee, cast out demons, healed the sick and caused the grave to give up its, dead. These truly were great events in the career of Christ, but all of them were dependent upon the supreme triumph of his resurrection and ascension. So in this address we shall confine ourselves to this pivotal point of the Christian religionn.
Prophecy of His Triumph
In this kingdom prepared for us from the foundation of the world, the triumph of the King was a matter of prophecy. Prophets of the ages predicted that the heavenly King would conquer. Immediately after the fall of man, God said to the serpent: “and I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed her Seed: he shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel” (Genesis 3:15). In the light of subsequent history, this becomes a prophecy of Christ’s humiliating death and of his triumphant resurrection. Enoch’s translation that he should not see death demonstrated the fact that there are two worlds, the seen and the unseen. Jacob’s vision at Bethel proved that God is in touch with both worlds. When Isaac was snatched from the altar of sacrifice, God showed that he can raise up even from the dead.
Fifteen hundred years before the birth of Christ, the patriarch Job asked: “If a man die, shall he live again?” (Job 14:14). Perhaps his conception was clouded, but Job must have had s,ome idea of immortality for he said: “Oh that thou wouldest hide me in Sheol, That thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, That thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me!” (Job 14:13). The Psalmist David must have had the resurrection of Christ in mind when he s,aid, “For thou wilt not leave my soul to Sheol; Neither wilt thou suffer thy holy one to see corruption” (Psalms 16:10). On Pentecost, Peter said- that this prophecy was fulfilled in the resurrection of Christ (Acts 2:25-35). From Isaiah, the court prophet of Jerusalem, came a similar prediction. “Incline your ear, and come unto me; hear, and your soul shall live: and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David” (Isaiah 55:3). The triumph of Christ was repeatedly foretold by Jesus himself. “From that time began Jesus to s.how unto his disciples, that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and the third day be raised up” (Matthew 16:21). When he returned from the mount of transfiguration, he charged the apostles to “tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen from the dead” (Matthew 17:9). On another occasion Jesus, said, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up” (John 3:19). After the resurrection the apostles understood that the temple referred to was his body. The Fact of His Triumph
Truly, the triumph of the King1 was a matter of prophecy. But the minds of the disciples, were so filled with notions, of a political kingdom that they could not conceive of Christ as actually dying. His death left them confused, and their hopes of a triumphant King were crushed. To all human appearance, the cause was hopelessly lost when Jesus died on the cross,. The hopes of the disciples were buried with the body of Jesus. If he had not risen from the dead, their hopes never would have revived. The simple fact of our Lord’s glorious resurrection is one of the sweetest stories ever told. We have heard it hundreds, of times, but it will be fresh and animating as long as time shall last. The appearance of the angel in rolling away the stone from the grave truly was a majestic sight. He descended in dazzling splendor and with mighty hand roiled back the stone. For fear of him the watchers did quake, and became as dead men, and the ground trembled with an earthquake.
It must have been a s,ad day and a darksome road which brought the women to the tomb that they might anoint the body of Jesus with spices. But daybreak brought delight on that darksome road.
Like cool water to a thirsty soul came the angel’s message to the women. ‘Tear not ye; for I know that ye seek Jesus, who hath been crucified. He is, not here; for he is risen, even as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly, and tell his disciples, he is risen from the dead” (Matthew 28:5-7).
Proof of His Triumph
Since the dis.ciples did not believe that Jesus would rise from the dead, testimony was necessary to convince them. Fortunately, the proof of his resurrection is as convincing as any which the world has ever produced. In the first place, there is the integrity of Jesus, himself. He promised and prophesied that he would rise again the third day. And then there is the empty tomb. Whereas it was sealed by constituted authority and guarded by Roman soldiers, on the third day it was empty. This fact, no one could deny, and its affirmation triumphed against the most hostile surroundings. The proclamation of Christ’s resurrection was made in Jerusalem only a few days after the event, when all the material for refuting it was at hand.
We also have the testimony of eye-witnesses. “He showed himself alive after his passion by many proofs, appearing unto them by the space of forty days, and speaking the things concerning the kingdom of God” (Acts 1:3). At least ten appearances of Christ after his resurrection are recorded in the s.acred text. Doubting Thomas viewed his nail-pierced hands and exclaimed, “My Lord and my God” (John 20:28). As one born out of due time, Saul of Tarsus saw the resurrected Savior, and in response to the question, “Who art thou, Lord?” heard the Master say, “I am Jesus whom thou persecutest” (Acts 9:5). But we need not argue this point further. The only evidence against the resurrection of Jesus was the testimony of hired soldiers who were bribed to tell a falsehood. Such evidence would be invalid in any court in the world.
Greater than all other evidence is the fact that faith in the resurrection is a spiritual and moral force in the lives of men. The influence of Jesus since his resurrection is the miracle of history. Christ has, left the.prints of his hands upon every generation since he walked the earth. Earthly empires rise and fall, but the empire of Christ goes on forever (Daniel 2:44; Matthew 16:18). World rulers flourish and vanish away, but Christ is King for evermore. The inevitable march of earthly events is toward death. The great heroes of earth conquered by their lives, but Jesus conquered by his death. They conquered by shedding the blood of others, whereas Jesus conquered by shedding his blood for others. In his famous conversation with General Bertrand, Napoleon said: “The spirit of Christ overawes me. His march across the ages and kingdoms, is a mystery insoluble. You speak of the conquests of Caesar and Alexander, and of the enthusiasm they kindled in the hearts of their soldiers; but conceive of a dead man conquering by means, of an army devoted to his memory! Caesar and Alexander and myself have founded empires; but we rested the creation of our genius on force. Jesus alone has founded an empire on love; and at this hour millions would die for him.” This moral force inspired by Christ is conclusive proof of his resurrection.
Necessity of His Triumph
The life of Jesus demanded that his work should not terminate on the cross. Although his, was an ignominious death, it could not end everything after such a noble career. His resurrection was just another step in the unfolding of his mission as Savior. The empty grave assures us of the completion of his redemptive work. It established the divine origin of his mission and teachings, and gives God’s sanction to all the claims of Christ. He claimed to be the Messiah, the Son of God, to speak by divine authority and to be one with God. When challenged to give some sign in support of his claims, it was to his future resurrection from the dead, and to it alone, that he appealed (Matthew 12:38-41; John 2:20-22). The resurrection of Christ is the pivotal point around which the religion of the new covenant turns. Joseph’s empty tomb proves Bethlehem's holy manger and is pro-phetic of heaven’s occupied throne.
Blessings of His Triumph
Having noted the prophecy, the fact, the proof and the necessity of Christ’s resurrection, we now turn our attention to the blessings it confers. Outstanding among these blessings is the pledge and prophecy of our immortality. Throughout the centuries men have nurtured the thought of life beyond the grave. The hope is as old as the heart-beat and just as natural. For hundreds of years the question remained unanswered except by prophecy. But Jesus answered it when he unlocked the grave and came forth triumphant. Years later he appeared to John on the Isle of Patmos and said: “Fear not; I am the first and the last, and the living one; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive for evermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades” (Revelation 1:17-18). It is comforting to know that the key to every grave hangs suspended from the Son of God. Apart from Christ, death has, always been the king of terrors. But the resurrection of Christ has bridged for us the river of death. “But now hath Christ been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of them that are asleep” (1 Corinthians 15:20). “Because I live, ye shall live also,” he said (John 14:19). “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth on me, though he die, yet s,hall he live; and whosoever liveth and believeth on me shall never die” (John 11:25-26). The voiceless lips of the dead testify to the triumph of our king. Even in death, “hope sees a star and listening love hears the rustle of” angels’ wings.
“Whosoever liveth and believeth on me shall never die,” the Master said. The richness of the present life comes from a deep sense of a triumphant immortality. A man does not rise to the abundant life on earth until he has grappled with death and, by faith, come forth conqueror. The living Savior whispers to us, “Ye shall never die.” We enter into the fulness of this heritage when we pass from death unto life in this world. Then the end of our earthly pilgrimage ceases to be a tragedy, and the passing of our loved ones ceases to be painful. The triumph of the King helps us to live with poise and power, and gives us complete victory over the flesh, the devils and the slave drivers of sense and sight. No deceiving demon, no subtle, sinister sophis.t can defeat the man who is moored to the triumphant Rock of Ages. The man who is convinced of immortality never loses a day in the eventful chapters of his continued existence. His life becomes one continual round of triumphant joy. He does not have to take time out to get old and prepare for unwelcome death. He has conquered death way back on the earthly pilgrimage, and so has, nothing left but life. He feels in himself the future life, and is rising toward the sky. Winter may be on his head, but eternal spring is in his heart. The nearer he approaches death’s portal, the clearer his, vision becomes. Immortal symphonies of the world to come invite him to fairer climes. When I go down to the grave, I can say that I have finished my day’s work, but I cannot say I have finished my life. My day’s work will begin again the next morning. In the language of Victor Hugo, “The grave is not a blind alley; it is a thoroughfare. It closes on the twilight, but it opens on the dawn.” This blessing of immortality is ours now, because a living Christ guarantees a living people. The life of man is futile and inexplicable if he does not live again. All things run their course and fulfill their ends. In this tabernacle of clay man does, not reach the supreme goal of his life. Many powers are undeveloped and many hopes are never realized. Hence, as in the case of Christ, another life is necessary to complete their development. Furthermore, consciousness attests to the immortality of the soul.
Last night I lay down in peace to sleep. For eight hours I was completely lost to this physical universe. But today I am the same person I was yesterday. My mind functions, properly; I can think, feel and understand. I can recall all that went through my mind, even up to that split second when I lapsed into dreamland. In this connection the philosopher Descartes said: “Cogito, ergo sum" that is—“I think, therefore I am.” I am a soul, a unit, and cannot be dissected into parts, and perish as organized things do. Plato said: “You may bury me if you can catch me.” In this respect he was right, for this is not I that you see; it is merely the temple in which the real person dwells.
Nature likewise furnishes many striking analogies that suggest the ultimate triumph of the soul. This thought was used by Paul and also beautifully employed by the late Wm. Jennings Bryan. The Great Commoner said: “If the Father deigns to touch with his divine power the cold and pulseless heart of the acorn and to make it burst forth from its prison walls, will he leave neglected in the earth the soul of man, made in the image of his Creator? If he stoops to whisper to the rosebush whose withered blossoms float upon the autumn breeze the sweet assurance of another springtime, will he refuse the words of hope to the sons of men when the frosts of winter come? If matter, mute and inanimate, though changed by the forces of nature into a multitude of forms, can never die, will the spirit of man suffer annihilation when it has paid a brief visit like a royal guest to this tenement of clay? No, I am as sure that there is another life as I am that I live today!
“There is in the gram of wheat an invisible something which has power to discard the body we see, and from earth and air fas.hion a new body so much like the old one that we cannot tell thp one from the other. If this invisible germ of life in the grain of wheat can ihus pass unimpaired through three thousand resurrections, I shall not doubt that my soul has power to clothe itself with a body suited to its new existence when this earthly frame has crumbled into dust.” But there is another blessing which results from the triumph of our King, faith in the resurrection produces good results. This at once becomes a proof of immortality, when we remember that uniformly good results do not follow' from falsehoods. If Christ hath not been raised from the dead, then is our preaching vain and his kingdom would fall. But his kingdom has come with power and is increasing by the hour. Its foundation is as firm as the rock and its, message is the dynamics of the world. Infidelity as an institution has failed because it is built upon falsehoods. It never has lifted a single burden from a frail pilgrim’s back; it never has added a rosy tint to the life of a weary soul. On the other hand, the hope of eternal life has, inspired the musicians of the ages to burst forth in rapturous song. Only the Christian can say with assurance: “There is a land beyond the river, where the surges cease to roll.” This thought would ceas,e to console us if Christ had not triumphed over the grave. I am a child of the King, so I share in his glorious resurrection. • As travellers toward the celestial shore, we rejoice in the thought that some day we shall see our pilot face to face, when we have cross,ed the bar. Infidelity cannot rob me of tms faith because it has nothing to offer in its place.
I know that immortality is a fact because I have tasted it. When I looked into the cold and lifeless face of my father, and heard those Christians sing, “In the sweet bye and bye, we shall meet on the beautiful shore,” I got a new vision of the "‘land that is fairer than, day.” And from, that day until this, the spirit of my father has been an ever-present and ever-increasing personality. How do I account for it? Simply by the fact that God has put eternity into the bond that unites loved ones in the Lord. Death might have broken that bond, but thanks be to God, death is dead. Christ Jesus “abolished death, and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel” (2 Timothy 1:10). Death has been swallowed up in victory, so we can exclaim with Paul: “0 death, where is thy victory? 0 death, where is thy sting? . . . . Thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:54-57). But the triumph of our King would not be complete without his ascension. It is the natural result of his. resurrection. The unique departure of Christ from the earth was just as logical as his supernatural birth and his perfect life. He led his apostles out toward the eastern slope of the Mount of Olives, over against the village of Bethany., There he became the center of a group of adoring men, in a thrilling conversation about his coming kingdom. With hands uplifted in benediction, and with lips moving in gracious speech, the living Savior of men rose from the earth. All the laws of the universe bowed at his command as he rode the ethereal waves. The attraction of heaven was stronger than the gravitation of earth. The cloud received him out of their sight and folded about him in coronation fashion in preparation for his triumphant enthronement. Far beyond the starry skies, the angelic chorus welcomed him to the strains, of that age-old Psalm: “Lift up your heads, O ye gates; And be ye lifted up, ye everlasting doors: And the King of glory will come in” (P's. 24:7). “When he ascended on high, he led captivity captive, And gave gifts to men” (Ephesians 4:8). God had stooped to man that he might lift man up to God. It is no wonder then that Peter said on Pentecost, “Let all the house of Israel therefore know assuredly, that God hath made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom ye crucified” (Acts 2:36). He went hence to receive a kingdom over which he now rules as King of kings and Lord of lords. Before him, angels cast their glittering crowns and worship for ever and ever. By virtue of the triumph of the King we have the honor of being citizens in his kingdom (i.e. His church). This is a greater blessing than any earthly ruler or potentate can bestow. But we must be raised with him before we can reign with him. Therefore we are “buried with him in baptism, wherein ye were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead .... If then ye were raised together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated on the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are upon the earth. For ye died, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall be manifested, then shall ye also with him be manifested in glory” (Colossians 2:12; Colossians 3:14).
How beautiful heaven must be—with its walls, of jasper and gates of pearl, and where the glory of God is the light. And in that capital city of the everlasting kingdom, all redeemed saints will dwell for ever and for evermore. Surely every normal person wants to go there. So we urge all weary pilgrims to unite with the Lord’s happy throng now marching in triumph to Zion.