140-112 Consider Jesus: The Exaltation of Christ

Psalm 110

There have been many in the contemporary church who suggest we ought to get rid of our hymns. “Just sing the contemporary stuff because those oldies sound like a funeral dirge.” There are many contemporary songs that lift our hearts and our minds upward and help us express the praise and worship that God deserves. But there are also many contemporary songs which are nothing more than man’s opinion about spiritual things. The one thing those old hymns give us is the ability to express a deep faith in the LJC. They’re not geared to an emotional response so much as to help you deepen your worship and adoration of God.

Xmas hymns are that way—they’re a joy to sing and the truth within many deepens our understanding of the nature of Christ our Savior. Those Xmas hymns serve us in our worship. There are well over 200 traditional Xmas hymns that have been written in the past 300 years (10% in our hymnal). Hymns have been around for a long time.

Mt 26—after the Lord institutes communion, they all sing a hymn and go to the Garden of Gethsemane. Paul records what is believed to be one of the earliest Xn hymns of the church in

1 Timothy 3:16 NASB95

16 By common confession, great is the mystery of godliness: He who was revealed in the flesh, Was vindicated in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Proclaimed among the nations, Believed on in the world, Taken up in glory.

This truth upheld by every Xn—the 6 lines take us from the incarnation to ascension of JC.

· Revealed: incarnation—word became flesh…

· Vindicated: lived a sinless life of obedience and declared the Son of God w/ power by the resurrection (Rom 1:4)

· Seen: the angels observed His earthly life, ministered to Him in temptation, strengthened in Gethsemane

· Proclaimed: The church began the great evangelistic mission

· Believed: the proclamation results in saving faith (R.10)

· Taken: not “into” glory but “in” glory. There is a difference. At His ascension He was taken into heaven in His glorious/exalted state.

Having examined 2 periods of X’s existence, we come to this 3rd: The exaltation of Christ. In our attempt to consider Jesus, We’ve studied His pre-incarnate eternality & His humiliation began at conception and continued thru death.

The exaltation of Christ is spoken of throughout the NT. You might want to note that every time Scripture speaks of Jesus at the right hand of God is an indication of the exaltation. 20x NT

Acts 2:32–33 NASB95

32 “This Jesus God raised up again, to which we are all witnesses. 33 “Therefore having been exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured forth this which you both see and hear.

Acts 5:31 NASB95

31 “He is the one whom God exalted to His right hand as a Prince and a Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.

Phil 2:9-11 previously at vv 5-8 (humiliation)

5 features of exaltation that I want to unfold for you.

1) The Source of Exaltation

The source of Christ’s exaltation is God the Father. This is important b/c on the cross God judged Christ, pouring His holy wrath on the Son. For the 1st and only time when our sin was imputed to Jesus—the 2nd person of the Godhead was forsaken by the 1st person. On the cross, sin was placed on Jesus to the extent where Paul says “He who knew no sin became sin.” As sin, He took the full brunt of God’s righteous wrath.

So God turns away from His Son and He cries “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?" which is translated, "My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?” The real agony of the cross was not the physical torture but the spiritual separation from God—which is the experience of hell. God the Father pours out His wrath and anger on His Son which makes Phil 2 so remarkable, b/c afterward “highly exalted Him.”

An emphatic word “to lift up above” “to super-exalt” “to raise to the highest point of honor.” When did this exaltation take place? In 2 stages:

Resurrection: Romans 1:4 “4 who was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead, according to the Spirit of holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord,”

Ascension: Sitting at Rt Hand—as He received in Glory, God restores what was momentarily set aside in humiliation.

2) The Reason For Exaltation

“for this reason” what is that? Why? Vv 6-8 this is referring again to the humiliation of the Lord—not just incarnation but His life of ministry as a servant. Of course, Jesus as God has no need to be exalted: He is the Most High: “Christ according to the flesh, who is over all, God blessed forever” (Rom 9:5).

But in terms of His humanity, there was an elevation that He had not had previously b/c His work of redemption in obedience to the Father’s will. Jesus was not any more perfect, or any more God b/c of His exaltation, but the Father was pleased to give Jesus more honor, privileges and responsibilities than He had before His humiliation.

The response of His obedience to the Father was God exalting him very highly.

3) The Meaning of Exaltation

To understand to full impact of exaltation we have to see the other thing the Father does to the Son. He not only exalted Him but He gifted Christ.

“bestowed” comes from the word “to give freely/graciously” The Father gives something to the Son that helps us understand what His exaltation means: “the name which is above…”

God gives him a name and lifts Him very highly above His creation. What is that name? Much debate: Many think it is “Jesus” b/c of vs 10. Jesus is of course the earthly name given to Christ, prophesied by the angel to Joseph & Mary. That name means “Yahweh Saves.” Not…at the name “Jesus” every knee…but at the “name of Jesus” what is the name of Jesus given to Him by the Father? Lord. That’s what the name Jesus looks back to. Yahweh in OT was the sovereign Lord. God gave that title to Jesus. So when God exalts and gifts Jesus, He does so by giving Him the highest place of honor as Lord over all things.

Exaltation means Lordship. After Thomas was convinced of the resurrected Christ “My Lord and my God” (Jn 20:28).

“Lord” Gk kurios “relates to the possession of power/ authority” It is the language of a kingdom. The king is lord. He rules over his subjects and they submit to his authority. The Lordship of JC is established throughout Scripture.

Psalm 2:6–12 NASB95

6 “But as for Me, I have installed My King Upon Zion, My holy mountain.” 7 “I will surely tell of the decree of the Lord: He said to Me, ‘You are My Son, Today I have begotten You. 8 ‘Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance, And the very ends of the earth as Your possession. 9 ‘You shall break them with a rod of iron, You shall shatter them like earthenware.’ ” 10 Now therefore, O kings, show discernment; Take warning, O judges of the earth. 11 Worship the Lord with reverence And rejoice with trembling. 12 Do homage to the Son, that He not become angry, and you perish in the way, For His wrath may soon be kindled. How blessed are all who take refuge in Him!

Psalm 89:27 "I also shall make him My first-born, The highest of the kings of the earth.

Is 9:6-7 —prophesy of Messiah’s life include His Lordship

Isaiah 9:6–7 NASB95

6 For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. 7 There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, On the throne of David and over his kingdom, To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness From then on and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this.

Daniel 7:14 NASB95

14 “And to Him was given dominion, Glory and a kingdom, That all the peoples, nations and men of every language Might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion Which will not pass away; And His kingdom is one Which will not be destroyed.

The one who is Lord must possess power and authority over his kingdom.

Matthew 11:27 "All things have been handed over to Me by My Father; (Lk 10:22)

Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.

John 13:3 Jesus, kn[ew] that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come forth from God, and was going back to God

Even judgment is given to the Son:

John 5:22-27; 17:1-3 (authority over all flesh)

Acts 2:32–36 NASB95

32 “This Jesus God raised up again, to which we are all witnesses. 33 “Therefore having been exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured forth this which you both see and hear. 34 “For it was not David who ascended into heaven, but he himself says: ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, 35 Until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.” ’ 36 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ—this Jesus whom you crucified.”

Acts 17:31 NASB95

31 because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead.”

Romans 14:9 For to this end Christ died and lived again, that He might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.

1 Corinthians 15:24–27 NASB95

24 then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power. 25 For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. 26 The last enemy that will be abolished is death. 27 For He has put all things in subjection under His feet. But when He says, “All things are put in subjection,” it is evident that He is excepted who put all things in subjection to Him.

Rev 1:5; 3:21; 5:12; 11:15; 19:16

Is there any doubt concerning the Lordship of JC? When Jesus ascended to the Rt Hand of Father, He was given the name/title Lord b/c of His sovereign authority over His creation.

The exaltation of the Jesus as Lord naturally follows His humiliation.

Luke 14:11 "For everyone who exalts himself shall be humbled, and he who humbles himself shall be exalted."

What Philippians teaches is Christ in His humiliation became a slave, in His exaltation has become Lord. “The one who emptied himself, who humbled himself, who became human in space and time, who became a slave, who was crucified, who died a criminal’s death, who was completely obedient, must now be completely obeyed.” (Gerald Hawthorne)

Boice “More of us need to begin to think of Jesus as he is today, exalted to a position of honor at God’s right hand. Most people’s image of Jesus is that of a baby in a manger. It is a sentimental picture best reserved for Christmas and other sentimental times. Others picture him hanging on a cross. That too is sentimental, though it is sentimentality of a different pious sort. Jesus is not in a manger today. That is past. No more is he hanging on a cross. That is past too, since Jesus came once to die for sin and after that to ascend to heaven to share in the fullness of God’s power and great glory. When Stephen, the first martyr, had his dying vision of the exalted Christ it was of Jesus “standing at the right hand of God” to receive him into heaven (Acts 7:55). When John on the Isle of Patmos had his vision of Jesus it was of one who was as God himself. The apostle was so overcome by Jesus’ heavenly splendor that he “fell at his feet as though dead” (Rev. 1:17).

Too many think of Christ far too casually and it results in living irreverently (maybe not blatantly) and not living to the glory of the Lord.

Walter Chantry “Anyone who has caught a glimpse of the heavenly splendor and sovereign might of Christ would do well to imitate the saints of ages past. It is only appropriate to worship him with deep reverence. You may pour out great love in recognition of your personal relationship with him. He is your Lord. You are his and he is yours. However, you are not pals. He is Lord and Master. You are servant and disciple. He is infinitely above you in the scale of being. His throne holds sway over you for your present life and for assigning your eternal reward. A king is to be honored, confessed, obeyed and worshiped.”

JC is the Lord, mine and yours. He reigns powerfully sitting at the Rt hand “until…” (PS 110) in a future time, every enemy of the Lord’s will be subjugated and subdued under his feet (the picture of the ancient king who would put his foot on the enemy showing total dominion over him).

4) The Result of Exaltation

“every knee…” X’s Lordship results in 2 things:

Universal honor (vs 10) Every knee will bow before Him who is Lord. The language is very descriptive: “to bend, to assume a bending position” In the presence of the king, is was customary to honor him by bowing prostrate before him. There will be no exception, the Lordship of JC demands universal homage/honor.

Universal confession (vs 11) Every tongue…just like every knee bows, every tongue will make confession concerning his Lordship.

Colossians 1:18 He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the first-born from the dead; so that He Himself might come to have first place in everything.

When will this all happen? It happens in the hearts of those who receive Him by faith. The One who took upon Himself the weight of sin and satisfied the justice of God in His death is the One we have confessed with our hearts as Lord. Every believer must submit to His authority—it’s the natural consequence of your salvation. Of course, this doesn’t mean you become perfect, but the attitude of the heart is to honor the LJC.

The universal honor will happen at His 2nd coming. In His 1st advent, He humbled himself to save that which is lost, in His 2nd advent He comes in glory to establish His universal kingdom on earth.

5) The Design of Exaltation

“To the glory…” Just as everything concerning our redemption glorifies God, so too the universal proclamation that JC is Lord brings glory to the Father. When the Son is glorified, the Father is glorified. When Jesus is worshiped and honored, the Father is worshiped and honored, with Jesus is obeyed, the Father is obeyed.

The Father goes to great lengths to preserve His glory among His creation. So much that He would send His Son into the world, to take on the nature and experiences of humanity as a slave, to give himself to unreserved obedience to the will of the the Father, even to the point of death, trusting that God would not abandon Him in death but would resurrect Him in His power and thus lift Him to the highest point of honor—above all things.

The glory of God will be further demonstrated when He returns in glory to carry out the eternal purposes of God for His people. Xmas ought to be a celebration, not simply about His birth. It is about that but it goes so much beyond how we typically reduced the message to a baby in a manger. His 1st coming should have us anticipate His 2nd coming, for He will return as He promised, and when He comes again, He will do so as the exalted Christ who ascended in glory and is the sovereign Lord over all things.

Psalm 29:1–2 NASB95

1 Ascribe to the Lord, O sons of the mighty, Ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. 2 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due to His name; Worship the Lord in holy array.

It is for us a humbling reminder of God’s grace toward undeserving, wretched sinners who instead of wrath, receive honor, instead of death receive life. And those who put their trust in Him alone will rule with Christ having been granted to sit on His throne with Him as He sits on the Father’s throne (Rev 3:21).

Alexander Maclaren (Scottish minister) “The choice for every man is, being crushed beneath his foot, or being exalted to sit with him on his throne. ‘He that overcometh, to him will I give to sit with me on my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father on his throne.’ It is better to sit on his throne than to be his footstool.”

The difference is determined by what you do with Christ. Is He your Lord and Savior (on the basis of faith) or will He be your Judge and executioner? Believe on the LJC today!