Biden’s Inauguration:
Totally Trumped by a Greater One!

 
“I am not afraid to take the oath of office outside,” the new president-elect recently declared, despite the vicious, destructive, deadly riots on Capitol Hill just a few days ago.

But why did he even need to say that?

For one thing, according to the New York Times, over sixteen groups have registered to stage protests in Washington against the newly elected chief executive. The fear is that many other groups are plotting underground to carry out nefarious actions designed to overthrow the current government. There is growing concern that former US army sharpshooters might try to assassinate Joe Biden while he takes his oath of office.

Because of these and other multiple threats of possible violence before and on January 20, law enforcement authorities have deployed 15,000 National Guard troops and hundreds of other law enforcement officers to the nation’s capital. They have set up checkpoints all around the city to counter the possibility of rioters overrunning the ceremonies.

The leaders of the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia have issued a joint statement asking all Americans to stay away from the inauguration, urging people to tune in virtually.

Looking at what’s transpiring, the New York Times reflected on how the inauguration of the 46th president echoes the first inauguration of Abraham Lincoln, whose procession to the half-built Capitol was surrounded by heavily armed cavalry and infantry troops marching through a city on the brink of civil war.

Furthermore, the FBI has urged local law enforcement nationwide to prepare for the potential of armed protests in all 50 state capitals, organized and promoted by a growing coalition of far-right extremist groups.

All of this is taking place in the face of the inaugural theme representing President Biden’s aspiration for the lasting outcome of his leadership: “America United.”

• by renouncing crippling apprehensions regarding God’s inability to handle the present
• by embracing solid confidence about God’s power to fulfill his purposes for the future
• by opening our hearts to be captivated by a fresh revelation of who Jesus is today—where he is headed, what he is doing, how he is advancing his kingdom right now

The fact is that the 2021 inauguration has been superseded by and subsumed into another grander, more sacred, more gloriously crowning event that directly impinges on January 20, 2021.

This other supremely official, far superior, all-encompassing “swearing-in” ceremony was attended by divine dignitaries—innumerable saints and angels—while being witnessed by the whole creation.

This newly installed sovereign, God’s dear Son, was anointed one very special day to a position far above every earthly power and dominion in this age and in the age to come (Ephesians 1). He has now become “the Ruler of the kings of the earth” (Revelation 1). By the Father’s election (the only vote that counts in the end!), Jesus has been endowed with all the authority of heaven and earth (Matthew 28). He has won the “name above every name” because his “campaign” was infinitely successful—by his incarnation, his crucifixion, and his resurrection.

That is why I purposely chose the verb “to trump” in my title to describe the result of Jesus’ exaltation. Dictionary synonyms include “outshine, outclass, outmaneuver, overtake, upstage, surpass, prevail, eclipse.”

In the same way, this once and forever cosmic-level Inauguration Day—that took place on a literal day just as January 20 is a literal day (see Acts 1)—utterly trumps every other investiture ever given, whether of potentate or pope or president.

The Lord Jesus Christ, seated at the Father’s right hand, claims the final word on every kind of human office attained by human elections, including the one just completed in our nation this past fall.

Furthermore, as surely as “the kingdoms of this world have become the kingdom of our God and of his Christ” (Revelation 11), the Biden administration will be held accountable to our reigning Redeemer over the next four years. Everything said and done will ultimately be woven by King Jesus into the ongoing plan of God to sum up everything in heaven and earth under him as Lord (Ephesians 1).

Good news! In a special edition of the CHRIST TODAY PODCAST with David Bryant, just recorded, David explores with you the impact of the ascension of Christ (his Inauguration Day) to help you get a new perspective on America’s Inauguration Day 2021 as well as on what President Joseph Biden’s chapter in American history might look like.

David provides you a biblical outlook most Christians rarely hear about. Thankfully, this deeper truth has the potential to begin reversing the destructive divisions destroying our land—helping to fulfill the vision of “America United”—not under the authority of any earthly leader but under the rule of Jesus Christ.

But far more importantly—in fact, of highest priority—what David shares here can unleash the Spirit’s healing powers inside the Body of Christ in our nation. The Church in America is currently being rent asunder by grievous schisms revolving around politics, policies, passions, and personalities—while leaving the Lord Jesus sitting on the fringes or rebranding him as the logo for our agendas.

Only as God’s people rally wholeheartedly back to God’s Son for all he is today can we begin to find a way back to becoming thoroughly reconnected to every believer who dwells in Christ Jesus with us.

Only as God’s people become fully alive to and captivated by who Jesus is upon the throne and what his reign is all about in this very hour can we ever hope to become a healing, reconciling, transforming force in the life of our broken nation—helping America become more truly and more fully “one nation under God.”

This renewal, this Christ Awakening movement—so desperately needed in our generation—can begin simply by returning to a richer appreciation of what really happened on the greatest Inauguration Day ever that now holds preeminence over all others.

Let David share with you more about it here:

The CHRIST TODAY PODCAST—Episode 187

Biden’s Inauguration: Totally Trumped by a Greater One!

About the Author

Over the past 40 years, David Bryant has been defined by many as a “messenger of hope” and a “Christ proclaimer” to the Church throughout the world. Formerly a minister-at-large with the InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, president of Concerts of Prayer International (COPI), and chairman of America’s National Prayer Committee, David now provides leadership to ChristNow.com and Proclaim Hope!, whose mission is to foster and serve Christ-awakening movements. Order his widely read books at DavidBryantBooks.com. Enjoy his regular CHRIST TODAY podcast.