Conquering the World

Saturday in Easter Week:
AM Psalm 145 • PM Psalm 104
Isa. 25:1-9 • Acts 4:13-21(22-31) or 2 Cor. 4:16-5:10 • John 16:16-33

In the year 312 CE, Constantine prepared for a battle with his brother-in-law Maxentius to gain sole control of the Roman Empire. The day before the decisive battle at the Milvian Bridge, Constantine peered into the sky, and saw a vision of a cross. A voice spoke to him in Greek and said, “In this [sign], conquer” (en touto nika). Constantine and his army of 40,000 soldiers then defeated Maxentius’ army, and Maxentius himself drowned in a river. From there he was pulled out, decapitated, and his head displayed in a triumphant march through Rome. Eventually, Constantine ushered in favor for the Christian faith in the Roman Empire.

Historically, the mingling of conquering and faith expands as ancient imperialism and Christianity become intertwined; the expression “Jesus Christ Conquers” could be found in many ways in the Byzantine Empire, including coinage. Additionally, a Latin hymn was composed for use in solemn events, such as the coronation of Holy Roman Emperors, with the first line being “Christ conquers! Christ reigns! Christ commands!” Something tells me that although the language is correct, the way it’s manifested is a deviation from what Jesus means when he tells the disciples, “take courage; I have conquered the world!”

Cyril of Alexandria says, “if [Jesus] conquered as God, then it profits us nothing; but if as man, we are herein conquerors.” If we take this quote to mean that Christ conquered as a person would through force, strength, and violence, then we misunderstand Cyril. Rather, the point is that if we are conquerors, it is because of the Incarnation, where the God of all creation chose to be contained within humanity, so that humanity could be contained within God. The way Jesus conquers the world is not through power, but through letting himself be broken for the life of the world – a brokenness that reveals the strength of love overcoming death.

Written by Nathan John Haydon

Nathan earned his PhD in English studying medieval literature and languages from the University of Arkansas. He’s an Episcopal priest serving at St Peter’s Episcopal Church in Ladue, Missouri; a Benedictine oblate; and a lover of cats and coffee. In 2021 he moved from Fayetteville, Arkansas to St Louis with his super smart scientist wife, Kathryn.