TRAMPLED UNDER FOOT

Emperor Hadrian - Photo Taken at the Istanbul Archaeological Museum

For those hurt by death’s menacing power, this image will mean a lot to you. In a vivid display of dominion and power, Emperor Hadrian (76-138 A.D.) stands as a victorious warrior over a menacing enemy of Rome. Variously interpreted as either a Dacian warrior or a Jewish Zealot from the Bar-Kokhba revolt, the trampled subject is shown in an obvious display of subjugation and defeat.

Discovered in 1987, the statue of Hadrian was found in Hierapytna Crete, and is now on display at the Istanbul Archaeological Museum. In a brilliant piece of propaganda from the early 2nd century AD, a conquered enemy is placed under the foot of Hadrian and depicted as being weaker and less masculine.

In contrast, Hadrian is portrayed as a conqueror reflecting the Roman ideals of strength and virtue. He also dons a laurel crown symbolizing victory. His armored breastplate is symbolic of victory displaying Athena (the goddess of war and wisdom) who is being crowned by winged Nikes known as goddess of victory.

The message is clear. Rome is victorious. Her emperors reign supreme, and her enemies are conquered and destroyed. Those who attack and seek to wreak havoc among the lives of the Romans will be trampled underfoot.

Winged Nike Goddess at the Ephesus Archaeological Site Near Selcuk, Turkey

In an obvious connection to this type of imagery, the apostle Paul teaches us about the reign of Christ over all creation. Notice the direct correlation between the many depictions of emperors discovered throughout the Mediterranean and the message of 1 Corinthians 15:25-27: “For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. the last enemy to be destroyed is death. For “God has put all things in subjection under his feet.” In particular, I call your attention to Paul’s reference to death as our enemy and it being placed in subjection under the feet of Jesus.

For all those who have felt the sting of death and the cruelty of the grave, you know exactly why the Bible calls death our enemy. It maims. It harms. It oppresses. As with a knife to the heart and a punch to the gut it attacks.

In death’s destructive wake there is heartache and suffering. Our enemy is cold, calculating, and hard; a nemesis for all. It knows no bounds. It discriminates against no one. Like a cold pitiless thief, it pillages our homes and ravages our lives leaving us lonely and broken. In the aftermath of death, we can feel lost, aimless and despondent. Death is an adversary of the worse kind. It threatens. It destroys. It stings.

But, praise be to God that as a Christian we can say, “oh death where is your sting, and grave where is your victory?” (1 Corinthians 15:55). Like the subjugated warrior beneath the foot of Hadrian, Christ will conquer and destroy death. When Jesus comes again, He will crush the life out of our enemy. Death will be trampled, never to harm us nor our loved ones again. Truly, death “will be swallowed up in victory” (1 Corinthians 15:54).

When Christ does return again, “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; grief, crying, and pain will be no more, because the previous things have passed away” (Revelation 21:4). Death will be destroyed and Jesus, along with his saints, will stand victorious crowned with victory and life eternal (Revelation 2:10).

by John W. Moore