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FORCED TO MARCH IN THE PARADE

One of the hardest moments, if you’re watching the History Channel or seeing a war film on television, is the haunting, agonizing stillness after an extended battle scene. The explosions have died away; the haze of smoke and fires burning is still in the air. Corpses are everywhere, sometimes laid out in a row, or maybe piled up in a tragic heap of lost humanity. Often there’s just one surviving remnant of one army still out there on the field; the other side has been completely decimated. And then the old adage — “To the victor go the spoils” — is fulfilled. The winners pick through the pieces, taking guns, ammo, souvenirs, cash, secret documents. That’s your prize for winning.

The recent film, We Were Soldiers, received high marks from many Christian groups for its frequent portrayals of religion and prayer. Still, it’s a brutal, bloody depiction of the Vietnam conflict and the Battle of Ia Drang Valley, where 400 American troops go up against five times as many VC. And, speaking of spoils, there’s a key moment when Lt. Col. Hal Moore says to his sidekick, Plumley, “Better get yourself that M-16.” And the hardened veteran responds: “By the time I need one, there’ll be plenty of them lying on the ground.” Later in the story, a soldier is rifling through a Viet Cong soldier’s personal things — enlistment papers, a bit of cash, pieces of this and that. And then he finds a black-and-white photo, just like the American boys carry, and there’s a picture of a pretty Vietnamese girl, maybe 17 years old. Very quietly the soldier puts the photo back in the dead soldier’s pocket and thoughtfully walks away. “To the victor go the spoils” . . . but not that.

Here in the book of Ephesians there have been many “battle scenes,” so to speak, where — even before the end credits roll — we’re assured that Jesus Christ is going to emerge triumphant in the final reel. Chapter one talks about God’s mighty power . . .

“ . . . His incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of His mighty strength, which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms.”

Now, here in chapter four, after some respite from the battle, we find yet another reference to victory and spoils. Interestingly, there’s a parallel between Ephesians, which is in the New Testament, and the book of Psalms, well back in Old Testament times. But let me lead into verse eight, using verse seven as our Wednesday preface:

“But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. This is why it says [in the book of Psalms]: ‘When He ascended on high, He led captives in His train and gave gifts to men.’”

By the way, that’s right from chapter 68, and let’s read that right now . . . and see if your trained ear notices a difference. Here’s Psalm 68:18:

“When You ascended on high, You led captives in Your train; You RECEIVED gifts FROM men.”

Well, friend, I gave you a bit of hint right there, but in the Old Testament King David has the triumphant Lord ascending to His throne. Now, that could be to Jerusalem, or as suggested in other passages in the Psalms, it could refer to Mount Zion. As in: “We’re marching to Zion, the beautiful city of God.” Or it could mean heaven itself, of course. But in this joy-filled song of victory, the victorious King receives gifts of gratitude from His loyal subjects. And in a sense, the “spoils” of war, the booty and the trophies — meaning P.O.W.’s — are given into His hand as well. So often, when a king and his men parade in victory through the streets of their home town, the prisoners, still in their chains, are forced to follow behind. The subdued enemies are themselves proof of the king’s triumph.

However, you noticed the very distinct Pauline shift, didn’t you? In the victory parade described in Psalms, the triumphant Lord GETS gifts; in the book of Ephesians He’s GIVING them out instead. Why the switch?

Before we hazard a guess — and that’s all it can be — let’s slip back a few pages to the book of Matthew, chapter 27, which would make the good Bible students among us think that we’re right at the time of the crucifixion. And you’re right; Jesus has just died. “At the ninth hour,” you recall, which would be mid-afternoon on that dark Friday. “It is finished!” He cries, and Christ commends His spirit to God, His Father. The temple curtain splits in two from top to bottom by the hand of an unseen angel, since the sacrificial system has just come crashing to an eternal halt. And now listen to verses 51 to 53:

“The earth shook and the rocks split. The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus’ resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people.”

Have you read that before? Only Matthew records all of this, and one usually reliable Bible commentary which we’ve used on this program suggests that this earthquake, the tearing of the temple veil, and the resurrection of these Old Testament saints is all “symbolic.” We’re not going to take that view, friend, about something so plainly stated in the Word of God. But many good Bible students read here in Ephesians 4 about Jesus ascending in triumph to heaven after His resurrection, and He’s got with Him these trophies, these “captives in His train.” Could this mean that some of the faithful followers of God in Old Testament times, who miraculously came out of their graves that Friday, who went into Jerusalem on Sunday to testify about their risen Lord, joined Him in ascending to Paradise as described in Acts chapter one? What an incredible, Elijah-like reward for faithfulness! And of course, the same is promised to all of us who follow after. I like the idea that Jesus Himself is described as a “firstfruit,” a down payment, as it were, on the millions God plans to snatch from Satan’s grasp and from the clutches of the tomb, and rescue up to heaven. And maybe here in Ephesians 4 God says to His angels: “You know what? Let’s just bring the entire wedding party from Resurrection Weekend home to join us right now! My beloved Son . . . and His entire retinue, His entourage!”

The Bible commentary for my own denomination finds credence in this idea that the crucifixion-resurrection saints did all go to heaven with Jesus. Here’s what they write:

“In Psalms the reference is probably to the captive foes of Israel’s king. Here it may be understood as referring to those held captive by death who were raised with Christ at His resurrection.” And here’s a bit of a twist as they add this: “The chain of death had been broken; the captives of Satan had been captured by the power of Christ.”

So now they’re His captives. But you know, instead of thinking of just the resurrected saints from that Friday earthquake following Jesus up to heaven, is it possible that actual enemies, defeated enemies, of God’s kingdom are also involved here? “He led captives in His train and GAVE gifts to men”?

Friend, follow me carefully here, because maybe, just maybe, this is what it all means. Some commentaries suggest that this “get” vs. “give” discussion is just a Hebrew word glitch, but I don’t think so. First of all, when the triumphant Jesus GETS gifts from grateful followers, that enables Him to immediately turn around and GIVE something to those He loves. Does that make sense? He RECEIVES spoils and then shares them. The Tyndale commentary for the book of Ephesians takes that view; notice:

“As Conquerer He has received gifts that He can bestow. Like many of the Psalms, this found ready application to the Christ. He has conquered His enemies, and returned to His Father’s throne in triumph, now to bestow blessings on His people.” And this is a marvelous insight: “In fact His erstwhile foes, whom He leads in ‘triumph in Christ’, LIKE PAUL himself, ARE His gifts to His Church.”

Was this onetime foe, this soldier in Satan’s army named Paul (formerly Saul) defeated by Calvary? You bet he was! He had been traveling around persecuting God’s people, throwing Christians in jail. Then one day on the Damascus Road, Jesus captured Paul in His own gospel net, and said, “Get in line, young man. I want you marching in My victory parade.” And Paul, compelled by the power of the gospel, not only becomes a willing, joyous participant, he himself becomes one of God’s most memorable gifts shared with the Body of Christ.

Two verses later here in Ephesians 4 we find that these “gifts” Jesus shares . . . are what? Well, here’s the list: apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers. Would Paul think of himself as being in that list? I’d say he goes five for five right here: an apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, and salvation professor par excellence. And in humble gratitude, Paul pictures himself as being captured by Calvary, of being brought into the line of captives marching behind the risen Savior . . . and before it’s all said and done, he’s fallen in love with his “Captor” — and become one of the choicest gifts heaven can share with the infant Church.

“To the victor goes the spoils” — and Jesus wants you, friend, as His trophy right now.