We believe that Jesus is fully God and fully man. We believe that by dying he was victorious over sin and death. Yet what would we say if someone questioned that my “all powerful” God was killed on a cross? Doesn’t that mean the Roman gods are greater if they defeated my God? While we may not get this question so much any more, this was a question the early believers were confronted with many times.

The Caesars had something called a ‘Triumph’ they used to claim their divinity. Paul references this both in 2nd Corinthians and in Colossians. If we look at the book of Mark it appears he uses this same ceremony to declare Jesus’s divinity.

History of a Triumph

The first use we can find of a Triumph is as a procession in honour of the god Dionysus. In it the priests marched along while the crowd shouted acclamations. Once the Romans took over it appears to have transitioned to honour the god Zeus. Eventually it came to be used by victorious Generals returning from battle. As they marched back in to Rome they carried with them the spoils of the war and gained immense prestige among the citizens.

Then around 20 BC Octavius (Caesar Augustus) officially limited triumphs to the emperors. Instead of simply declaring how great the person was, now the triumph was to declare the emperor as a “Son of a god” – god on Earth.

What was a triumph?

While we are not 100% sure on all the details, we do have a fairly good understanding and it appears this is what happened:

  1. The entire Praetorian Guard was assembled.
  2. The emperor had a purple robe placed on him that was borrowed from the statue of Zeus. He then had wreath crown woven and placed on the his head.
  3. The soldiers shouted acclamation to the emperor. Probably something like “Hail Caesar!”.
  4. Then the emperor led a procession containing a sacrificial animal – often a bull. Carried by another person beside the sacrifice is the implement of death.
  5. The procession goes to ‘Head Hill’. (We often call this Capitoline Hill. ‘Capite’ in Latin is ‘Head’ in English.)
  6. When the procession reaches the top of the hill the emperor is given a cup of wine which he pours out. This probably symbolizes his willingness to give his life for the people.
  7. Immediately after the cup is poured out the animal is killed.
  8. The emperor then ascends the stairs of the temple. Along with the emperor, there are two of his important friends or high ranking officials who ascend with him – one on each side.
  9. The crowd now acclaims Caesar. They shout something like “Hail Caesar, lord and god!”.
  10. The last step is waiting for a sign “from the gods”. This was a comet, an eclipse, or simply a flock of birds passing overhead.

Jesus’s triumph

Do you see the similarity yet? Here is the list again with the passages from the Bible included at the appropriate spots.

1 . The entire Praetorian Guard was assembled.

Then the soldiers led Him away into the hall called Praetorium, and they called together the whole garrison.

Mark 15:16

2. The emperor had a purple robe placed on him that was borrowed from the statue of Zeus. He then had wreath crown woven and placed on the his head.

And they clothed Him with purple; and they twisted a crown of thorns, put it on His head,

Mark 15:17

3. The soldiers shouted acclamation to the emperor. Probably something like “Hail Caesar!”.

and began to salute Him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” Then they struck Him on the head with a reed and spat on Him; and bowing the knee, they worshiped Him.

Mark 15:18-19

4. Then the emperor led a procession containing a sacrificial animal – often a bull. Carried by another person beside the sacrifice is the implement of death.

And when they had mocked Him, they took the purple off Him, put His own clothes on Him, and led Him out to crucify Him. Then they compelled a certain man, Simon a Cyrenian, the father of Alexander and Rufus, as he was coming out of the country and passing by, to bear His cross.

Mark 15:20-21

5. The procession goes to ‘Head Hill’. (We often call this Capitoline Hill. ‘Capite’ in Latin is ‘Head’ in English.)

And they brought Him to the place Golgotha*, which is translated, Place of a Skull.

Mark 15:22

*In Hebrew “Gulgoleth”, which can also mean “Head”.

6. When the procession reaches the top of the hill the emperor is given a cup of wine which he pours out. This probably symbolizes his willingness to give his life for the people.

Then they gave Him wine mingled with myrrh to drink, but He did not take it.

Mark 15:23

7. Immediately after the cup is poured out the animal is killed.

Now it was the third hour, and they crucified Him.

Mark 15:25

8. The emperor then ascends the stairs of the temple. Along with the emperor, there are two of his important friends or high ranking officials who ascend with him – one on each side.

With Him they also crucified two robbers*, one on His right and the other on His left.

Mark 15:27

*These were probably not robbers, but actually members of the Zealot terrorist group.

9. The crowd now acclaims Caesar. They shout something like “Hail Caesar, lord and god!”.

And those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads and saying, “Aha! You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, save Yourself, and come down from the cross!” Likewise the chief priests also, mocking among themselves with the scribes, said, “He saved others; Himself He cannot save. Let the Christ, the King of Israel, descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe.”

Mark 15:29-32

10. Lastly, they waited for a sign “from the gods”. This was a comet, an eclipse, or simply a flock of birds passing overhead.

Now when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.

Mark 15:33

Then the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.

Mark 15:38

Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many.

Matthew 27:51-53

“Truly this was the son of God”

This message was loud and clear to the Romans! Look what the Centurion and those with him said:

So when the centurion, who stood opposite Him, saw that He cried out like this and breathed His last, he said, “Truly this Man was the Son of God!”

Mark 15:39

So when the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they feared greatly, saying, “Truly this was the Son of God!”

Matthew 27:54

Notice the phrasing they used? “Son of God” is exactly what they said about the emperor whereas a Jew would just say “God”!

Once I learned the cultural context the richness of the text blew me away! I hope this helps to light a fire in your heart to dive in to God’s word!

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