As I pray, “Holy Spirit, please bring me into my Father’s Presence so that I may learn,” before jumping into my favourite time of day—Jesus, Bible, coffee in my rock-chic living room—God whacks me for a hole in one. David Guzik’s commentary on John 3 jumps out like lightning in the Johannesburg Lowveld, “They only looked for a triumphant Messiah.”¹
My brain scrabbles into action. Triumphant for whom? According to what? Why did they need such validation?
The Psychology of Triumphalism
Triumphalism is more than confidence; it is an unchecked psychological posture of superiority, shaped by cognitive bias, in-group favouritism, and ideological rigidity. It is the mechanism that fosters polarisation, moral exclusion, and intellectual stagnation. Studies in social psychology reveal how triumphalism can hinder reconciliation by fostering an us vs. them dynamic.² It blinds individuals to their own fallibility and stifles growth.
We see this in the case of Nicodemus and Israel’s mindset. Understandably, they wanted a triumphant Messiah who would validate them. But in doing so, they made a grave mistake—they unconsciously tried to play God, forcing Him to fit their narrative, rather than allowing Him to fit them into His narrative, which was always about reconciling fallen humanity to Himself.
The consequences? A nationalistic, exclusionary religion where Gentiles, Samaritans, and outcasts were deemed unworthy. Can you imagine if humanity were god and GOD our servant? Gosh, how many of us would be on the list as social Dalits? But Jesus saw through this mindset. He wasn’t here to validate pride—He came to dismantle it.
The Unshakeable Foundations of Christianity’s Claim
Jesus’ words in John 14:6 are not a boast. They are not an assertion of dominance. They are an invitation.
“I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”³
This claim is exclusive in its truth yet inclusive in its reach. Unlike religious systems built on performance, Jesus presents Himself as the completed work, the bridge between broken humanity and a holy God.
Sceptics argue that such a claim is unfounded. But history tells a different story.
Archaeology and the Historical Jesus
Christianity does not rest on mythology—it rests on historical reality. The Bible has withstood centuries of scrutiny, corroborated by archaeological finds such as:
• The Dead Sea Scrolls (1947): Manuscripts dating back to the third century BC, verifying the accuracy of Old Testament texts.⁴
• The Tel Dan Inscription (1993): A ninth-century BC reference to the “House of David,” validating the existence of King David.⁵
• The Pilate Stone (1961): An inscription confirming Pontius Pilate’s historical role, aligning with Gospel accounts.⁶
These discoveries, among many others, strengthen the case for the Bible’s reliability and Jesus’ existence as a historical figure.
John 3: The Invitation, Not the Imposition
Jesus’ words are so profound.
“You must be born again. The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”⁷
Here, Jesus is prying our hands off a triumphalist egoism, removing our biases, and placing salvation entirely in God’s hands. It is divine genius—Jesus not only corrects Israel’s triumphalist mindset, but He also extends His invitation to all humanity, including those who were othered and rejected.
He offers something we cannot achieve on our own—spiritual rebirth, performed, directed, and completed by God alone.
When I Made Triumph About Me
Man, I have been guilty.
At the beginning of my career as a hairstylist, I chased competitions, needing the ego boost to mask my inferiority complex. Winning validated my worth. Well, until the next day when nobody called me, “Morning, your royal majesty, highness of exuberant excellence.”
That’s the thing about self-validation—it doesn’t last. It leaves you hollow, always needing the next win, the next title, the next pedestal.
As I have walked with Jesus, He has taught me to face my insecurities, be vulnerable before God, and, like this morning, allow the only truly triumphant One to teach me.
What triumphalism do you need to address?
Why Christianity Is Not Triumphalist
If Christianity were triumphalist, it would demand submission through dominance. Instead, it invites surrender through grace. The cross is not a throne, and yet, paradoxically, it is where the greatest victory was won.
Jesus did not crush His enemies—He prayed for them. He did not establish an earthly empire—He established an eternal kingdom. His truth is absolute, but His posture is gentle and lowly.
Christianity does not gloat in triumph; it weeps for the lost. And therein lies the difference.
Practical Application
• Check Your Heart: Do you declare Christ’s truth in love, or do you wield it as a weapon?
• Embrace Humility: If Jesus—who is truth itself—chose servanthood, how much more should we?
• Share the Gospel as Invitation, Not Conquest: Truth does not need coercion. It speaks for itself.
Prayer
Lord Jesus,
You are the way, the truth, and the life. Guard my heart from arrogance, and let my confidence in You never become pride in myself. Teach me to reflect Your grace, to share Your truth without force, and to live in the humility of the cross.
In Your Holy Name King Jesus,
Amen.
References
Guzik, D. “John 3 – The New Birth.” Enduring Word Bible Commentary. Available at: https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/john-3/.
David, J., & Gunawardena, M. “Triumphalism, Fear, and Humiliation: The Psychological Legacy of Sri Lanka’s Civil War.” Journal of Peacebuilding & Development 5, no. 3 (2010): 23-39.
Guzik, D. “John 3 – The New Birth.” Enduring Word Bible Commentary.
John 14:6, ESV.
Crossway. “10 Crucial Archaeological Discoveries Related to the Bible.” 2021. Available at: https://www.crossway.org.
Crossway. “10 Crucial Archaeological Discoveries Related to the Bible.”
Bible Archaeology Report. “Top Ten Discoveries Related to Jesus.” 2021. Available at: https://biblearchaeologyreport.com.
John 3:5-8, ESV.
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