The Name Above All Names - Philippians 2:9-11
Philippians 2 and we will be continuing and finishing up this little section from verse number five down through 11 that has often been called the Christ him and we have looked first at the the low low low low humiliation from from becoming a man taking on the form of a flash to living among man and being derided and rejected to the lowest point of death even death on a cross and that's what we looked at last week. Just that one verse number eight. But from humiliation then to exaltation.
When the first part ended their inverse number 8 with the death on the cross this next part the second-half really begins their but Rises to the highest possible height conceivable not to be exalted by God above all else above all others with the name above all names. Let's read this section of scripture one more time. I flip Ians 2 verses 5 through 11. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus who that we was in the form of God did not count equality.
But emptied himself by taking the form of a servant being born in the likeness of men and being found in human form. He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow in heaven and on Earth and under the Earth and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. Lord help us. We look at this passage yet again help us to see the amazing nature of of all that you went through Lord Jesus and all that you are and because of who you are and what you've done what we might be what you call us to be or may we glorify you as this passage leads us to and instructs us to and says that we will may we see you lift it up as as you are as the testimony from God the Father for claims of you that you are the highest and that you are Lord. Lord give us eyes to see and ears to hear open this scripture up to us shed light for your Holy Spirit for understanding that we might live and be changed by your words today and we pray this in Christ name. Amen.
Down to human existence down to rejection and Scorn down to public humiliation in the worst kind of execution. And then this mess, of course if we just read with a resounding up up of God's exaltation. The scripture emphasizes the father's own view of the sun here and it teaches us the framework in which we view all of the work that took place in the coming of Jesus. As we think about that, but this is God's Own testimony that God is exalted and given him the name so that everyone should bow and confess and give Glory.
True life often times our views of something are influenced by others. A lot of times. It's influenced by celebrities. It's interesting how much weight we give to the opinions of celebrities, especially when they're giving an opinion on something that they really have no expertise in they don't really have any Merit. Giving us the reason to listen to them. It's just well, they're famous. So they must be right and whole cultures can be swayed by a pretty terrible opinions just because the one who has them who is famous our views on certain things. Of course, though are suede most often by the ones we love and those closest to us and I'm thinking back to when I was a child and how many things in life that I look at our influence positively for the most part by my father. I have a strong inner sense when I look at one thing or another and without even thinking just knowing that was my dad's opinion on this and I've adopted at wholesale it goes down to the kinds of tools that I buy the way that I do certain tasks one in particular that is just stuck with me. My dad always really liked he likes he didn't work on his car is very much but he did usually change his own oil and he always used one brand of oil. To this day. I use that brand of oil and its I feel up help Herbal Pain in me. If I have to for some reason use some other brand of engine oil in our cars. It's just the way it is. And if that's the case, no doubt you could you can resonate with that with your own experiences. If that's the case that are our views of life and our opinions are are strongly influenced by those. We allowed to how much should our view should our opinion about the Lord Jesus be informed and assured and if necessary swayed by God the father's own view of him. God the father's view of Jesus and is it is coming to Earth and his life and his death and his resurrection is really what we just read in verses 9 10 and 11. He is exalted him bestowed on him a name above all names so that every knee should bow and every tongue confess that he is Lord. Easy one day every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord is Lord above all with a name above all names? So we then should joyfully confess that and serve him now. There can be no greater testimony. About the coming of Christ of its purpose of its reality and of the work accomplished. little Gods himself one day every tongue will confess may we joyfully confess and serve him now. Where to look at these three verses verses 9 through 11 particularly and we're going to see them in in two ways first. We'll see the already exaltations the already exaltation and then secondly, we will see the not yet exaltation because we read it sort of gives those two pictures what God has said what he has done. What is true right now and then the idea of one day when everyone will recognize that the first lie this already exaltation and that is simply this God the father has exalted his son highly God. The father has exalted his son highly therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name. First way I can ask this question. What is exaltation? What does this mean? All the word itself exalted one. We know it simply means to raise up. This particular word is a special one that Paul uses. It means to raise up to the highest height. And even here we have added that that adverb highly he is highly exalted him. The meeting is really traveled in that sense. But that's how I'm fat it. That's how important it is. That is the the weight and the uniqueness of this exaltation is that as Christ is Sean Band by the testimony of the father-to-be far over and above anything else anyone else?
in that exultation we have of course the story of the gospel and just as we read of the the down down down of the humiliation of Jesus by his Incarnation by his rejection and then his execution What we see now there is with that be up up up of Christ's exaltation. Firstly there is resurrection. Resurrection we know of course that on that third day as the women walk to the tomb and found the stone rolled away in the Tomb empty in the testimony of the Angel saying why do you seek the living among the dead he's not here for He Is Risen. Well in the fact that God is exalted him a couple places in the New Testament. That is the specific language. Do I have to turn here but in Acts 2 verse 24 and again in Romans 8:11 the specific language when speaking of Jesus resurrection, is that God raised him from the dead So in comparison, then would that final level of down in his humiliation where he was laid in the Tomb? God raised him from the dead up from the grave he arose and of course the number of days later he rose and then is he met with his disciples and those who followed him as they witnessed his resurrected body. His next move was to ascend from this Earth back again to heaven It looked 24 along with other gospel accounts that we read this Luke 24 verse 15 says and he Jesus let them out as far as Bethany and lifting up his hands. He bless them and while he blessed them he parted from them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshipped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. Up from the grave and then up from her Earth back to Heaven as Luke writes. He was carried and they worshipped him as he went. And of course, it wasn't just a removal from Earth to be done with this place, but he was raised again back up to heaven to be seated once more in his rightful place. And Peter's first sermon after the Ascension he writes there. He says and Luke record Xanax 233 of Jesus that being there for exalted at the right hand of God and having received from the Father. The promise of the Holy Spirit. He is poured out this new cells are seeing and hearing a little later in the book of Acts when they passed the account of Steven who was the first disciple to be martyred for the sake of Christ. Stephen in Acts 7:55. It says he being full of the Holy Spirit Geisinger in to heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.
Little bit later as the author of Hebrews recordes and Hebrews 10 verse 12, it speaks of Christ as our high priest and it says when he had offered once for all time as single sacrifice for sins, he then sat down at the right hand of God. What about this exaltation? Yes, it is a testimony that price is above all else but it's pictured for us in history how he was raised from the dead. raise back into heaven seated in his rightful place the throne right next to God the Father. Yes, God the father has exhausted his son highly but Philippians 2 verse 9 goes on and describes had a little bit by saying that also he bestowed on him the name that is above every name so we can ask not only what is exaltation but a second question we could ask what's in a name. What's in a name?
The phrase itself the name above all names that's kind of poetic. It matches highly exalted which is a super exaltation and in the name above all names that both of our both of them lift our thoughts up to this highest degree, but it's not for no reason that Paul says hear something specific about the name of Christ. Are we can spend a great deal of time flipping through scripture looking at all the names that Jesus has been given Emmanuel Prince of Peace Almighty the door the shepherd the light the Brad the rock the alpha the Omega the beginning of the end the Great physician a brother and friend all of these things are names given the Scribe to Jesus Our Redeemer.
When we look in the head in the text, I believe that we see that the name specifically in mind here is one in particular and that is in verse 11 and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. is Lorde And why do I think that one? It's the only other name in this text other than Jesus Christ, but it is that one to which it has looked forward to that. Everyone will will finally say it will finally see that he is Lord. That is what every tongue will confess. Lord is more than just a title is still used in was in this day as well used in in lower degrees for human dignity Aries for landowners for things like that. But there is a uniqueness in the way that the Bible gives an attribute this name to Jesus.
We have to go back all the way to Exodus to start thinking about this will try to do this briefly and some of this you will certainly know but it's wonderful to be reminded of it in Exodus 3 when God appeared to Moses in a burning bush and he called him to lead the children of Israel out from slavery in Egypt. The very first stop humanly speaking was for Moses to buy into this and as Moses was speaking to God there. He asked him a question. He says if I come to the people of Israel and say to them the god of your fathers has sent me to you and then they asked me what what is his name? Moses asked. What do I say to them?
God says to Moses then. I am who I am. He said to them say to the people of Israel. I am has sent me to you.
God also said to Moses say this to the people of Israel the Lord the god of your fathers of Abraham Isaac and Jacob has sent me to you. This is my name forever.
When God says to Moses say to them I am that's a strange name for us to think about It has so much behind it. It has the idea of of self existence that God needs nobody else. He has no Creator. It has the idea of a self-sustaining. He has nobody to hold them up or to keep him going has the idea that the power of Life The Power of being the ultimate truth is within him. I am God says alone. And then he says again to Moses something slightly different. We have it translated in our scriptures as Lord Capital Lord often times. We would say as Yahweh or formerly used to used to say Jehovah. That is a name. That sounds very similar and Hebrew to the words I am. And that's not just a poetic coincidence. When the Lord says When God says to Moses, tell them I am and then tell them I Am Lord Yahweh. This name from almost been on with so sacred to God's people that they would hardly ever pronounce it and in fact by the time you get in the Old Testament story to the history books like first Samuel and and and the Book of Ruth people would not say that word but instead they would substitute the word Hashem which simply means the name. Now if you have any time to spend any time around Jewish people today, they still refer to God's proper name with that title Hashem the name. Skipping ahead to the New Testament Paul a Jewish man. A Pharisee well-versed in the scriptures would have no doubt been well aware of this and probably even used to that practice. So when he writes here that God then has a scribe to Jesus the name which is above all other names. He probably had that very idea in mind. For his Gentile readers. It says enough. It says he has the name that is above all for his Jewish readers. It is a very clear statement. God is saying of this Jesus he's got his is the name. That goes on of course when we when we read that this name that everybody will finally ascribe and give to him and confess. Is that Jesus is Lord.
There's something else as well. In this lifetime of Jesus as he taught specifically in the Gospel of John he referred to himself a number of times in a very specific and unique way. You've no doubt heard of the I am statements of Jesus. Where he says to his disciples, I am the bread of life. I am the light of the world. I am the door of the sheets. I am the Good Shepherd. I am the resurrection and the life. I am the True Vine one other that we know well John 14:6 where Jesus says I am the way and the truth and the life no one comes to the father except through me. When Jesus says on all those times the little phrase I am he says it in a way that is more than just the simple way of saying it. Much like where we read that God has highly exalted him which is sort of an emphatic or a doubled word to to to Really emphasize it when Jesus said in those places. I am she almost doubles it is. Well it is what it would be like us saying, who are you? and for us to say I I am this and as Jesus said that in a very specific way, which is the same way that a bat time the Old Testament was translated into the common language for the even though he's around him who weren't familiar with Hebrew would have recognized. He said that the same way that God said that to Moses. And that's not a coincidence the same way that the Old Testament read when God tells Moses who he is. It's the same way, but Jesus describes himself. Yes, it is. No coincidence Jesus the Lord the I am the name.
Does this mean that Jesus only became God after his death and resurrection that the god lifted him up to that place that he didn't have before know. We we see in both the Old and New Testament that Jesus is the son from all eternity. He's there at creation there from before the foundation of the world. He shares the father's Glory but what it does mean is that God is putting on display this truth in a way that is unmistakable. There could be no doubt about it whether you are a Jew or Greek whether you're religious or not. There's no doubt here that the message is this Jesus is Lord and He is God. It is an unquestionable statement of scripture and throughout scripture that Jesus is God. This is a place where where history and our study of of of teaching and Doctrine in theology meet and are inseparable. You see when we say Jesus is God. We're not simply regurgitating a Christian idea that has been carried on by the church throughout the centuries. Although it certainly has been carried on for the set throughout the centuries. We're not just theorizing based on abstract reasoning following a chain of ideas to come to a conclusion know when we say Jesus is God we say so because God the father says so not just by giving us a word but by showing it in his exaltation again is resurrection is Ascension. Is enthroned meant?
So how does this all play together then and work in the bigger context? Because we remember that Paul begins this section by showing us that we are to be humble. We are to be servants. We are to be like Christ. How does this large larger-than-life as we might say truth that of the via the Divinity of God or Jesus himself. How does this playing? Who plays in a few ways one if Jesus the son of God is willing to do this to Humble himself. Then it most certainly is not beneath us to Humble ourselves. And the Beast servants as well.
2 is Jesus the son of God teaches us to do this what she did. But it is not just the suggestion from a respectable person. It is the word of God with all authority.
free if we don't recognize that Authority now. It will not be in the final analysis a difference of opinion.
It will be an inescapable fact throughout all eternity that every being will know. But Jesus is Lord.
Jesus is Lord, Jesus Is God. This is the already the exaltation where God gives his testimony here as well as in other places of the Sun. Listen to him.
Brings us to the not yet of the exaltation is if we go on and verse 10 and 11. It brings us into the picture. It brings our obedience. It brings learning for us in responses so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow in heaven and on Earth and under the Earth and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. If he already then is the testimony of God the father of who the son is that is now nothing will change. Nothing can be added. Jesus is the I am God the Lord what is yet to come? Well what we just read the text describes an all-encompassing no, exceptions unignorable realization of every being that has ever existed. That Jesus Christ is Lord.
You might ask when because we know right now. This is not the case. As we look around we see many who who actively deny this who do not confess it. They do not dial the knee. They do not they do not see Jesus as this wonderful Lord and savior. The wind must be in the future. In the passage doesn't go to detail in describing that but the idea is this there is a day coming when ignorance will no longer be an excuse and arrogance will be put to an apt in terms of knowing who Jesus is.
We can look at this future exaltation, which is which is an our part a confession. We can look at this future confession in three ways first the what the what of this confession It was very simple as it reads that every knee should bow and every tongue will confess.
Boeing it's an image that immediately in our minds. It's like the the image of of the Magi as they came to bear their to give their gifts to the newly born Jesus and they were prostrate on the ground in front of him worshiping bowing bowing is the recognition. It's a it's a physical picture of of saying you are greater. I am less. Many will bow as they do now in adoration finally seeing and fullness the one whom they're so low.
But this does not only speak of those who love him it speaks of all. Many will bow. begrudgingly even brought to shame other minds are dead set against him now. No human thought. And no human will will be strong enough to ignore the truth about Jesus on that day.
It won't be any bones about it as we would say, there will be no pretending. There will be no hubris. There will be no Pride left to exhibit. It'll be out early clear. The truth that Jesus is Lord.
bowing and confessing the word confess simply means to agree or to say the same thing. Again is now so many with joy on their lips say of Jesus that he is Lord. Then with even more Vivid assurance. But he is Jesus Lord and God. And like the ballet many will have to admit that despite their best efforts to ignore or do you ride or put down this idea of of Jesus as the Savior it will have to admit. They were wrong. And the confession what they say what we say the truth believe the truth finally realized is really in the name itself. Every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Jesus means Yahweh saves the Lord is our salvation. Christ Our Messiah is the promised one the anointed one from God. and Lord brings it back together. He is the savior himself. Lord is our Salvation. This is the anointed one and he is himself the Lord. That is the confession. That is the belief that no one will be able to deny in that final day. Even if it's too late. Who then that's the wife who? Well, it's clear. It says every knee and every time. But if he goes on to describe it even more in Greater detail every knee will bow. It says in verse 10 in heaven and on Earth and under the Earth. A way of speaking of all beings all people from every place and every time those already in heaven those who are in judgement those supernatural beings who adore him now and those supernatural beings who are minions of the evil one. It makes sense that those who now see him as Savior and Lord will will joyfully bow and confess that forever. But the fact that everyone even his enemies will do that. Is amazing and it fulfills prophecy. Princeton Psalm 110 verse 1 the David Rice this and there's one way to interpret it is true and white of David's Kingdom of Israel. What is the rights in Psalm 110 verse 1 the Lord says to my Lord sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool. There is a picture of one who will be exalted to such a place that even his enemies will have no choice but to admit. But he is great. He is a champion.
Again, there are ways again to to look at this and white of Israel's history. But the greater meaning is picked up by the author of Hebrews as he references Jesus and he says about him to which of the angels has God ever said sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool.
What do we make of this? Well, this is say that Jesus will be fully and finally recognized by even his enemies and all who reject him. What do we do with this truth? Because that's not intended to be good news for them. They will still be decidedly, is that amazed? So what does it do for us? Why do we need to know this?
Or we can take it to heart now. When we look around we watch the news and we read the it when we read the blurb send in the newspaper if you do that and and you hear all manner of testimony about the evils of our culture.
We can take it to heart. Knowing that Jesus is King. But he is not just victorious in his resurrection. But that he will always be that champion. We can take it to heart now as followers of Jesus when those around us. Do you ride him and mock him and and poke at the idea of even believing in him? We can take that to heart now when we are so aware of the suffering and sadness because of sin and evil all over the world. We can take it to heart. Now when our own personal lives, there are deficiencies and failures that that show to us the curse. We can take this to heart in the face of all of these things knowing that our savior will not be defeated. He will reign forever. He will have ultimate Justice. Our forgiveness will never end because he will never end and his reign will never end. And that brings us lastly to the Y. The why is how this text ends in verse 11 that every time will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.
the glory of God this in itself has another already in a not yet and already because God already has all glory it is not that we can add to his value or increase the weight of it. But Glory can be ascribed.
Think of it this way in the same way that Jesus already was and already was from eternity God and Lord. But here is described as God giving him that name in our site. In the same way God the Father already has all glory. but his glory can be more greatly displayed and seen by people through various means
to glorify God is the purpose of our existence. We all know what Paul said and 1st Corinthians, 10:31, whether therefore you eat or drink, whatever you do do all to the glory of God.
When I was when I would meet with what are now in heaven Brother Gary, he love to quote the first answer or the the quest the answer to the first question of the Shorter Catechism. What is the chief end of man to glorify God and enjoy him forever? We are made to see and rejoice in the glory of God. And we are also made to give and display glory to God. That was the purpose. Jesus came for John 12 verse 27, he says now, my soul is troubled and what shall I say father save me from this hour. But for this purpose I have come to this Our Father glorify your name. And then a voice Came From Heaven. I have glorified it and I will glorify it again. It was the purpose that Jesus came for we are chosen for his glory is Paul writes in Ephesians one that he chose us in him before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and blameless before him in love he has for adoption to himself as Sons through Jesus Christ according to the purpose of his will to the praise of his glorious Grace. God's glory was the reason that Jesus came. It's the reason we are chosen by him and it is what we are to live for now in obedience to Christ and Matthew 5:16. Jesus part in The Sermon on the Mount that we are to let our light shine before others so that they may see our good works and give glory to your father who is in heaven. This brings us again back to the greater context when we are called to serve and humble ourselves as Christ. Did the passage is not giving us Christ as an example because maybe if we humble ourselves than then we will be exalted above all with the name above all names. No rather we do it because he has done it for us and it points us to him as all things one day will point to him as every person will one day point to him and say he is Lord and he is worthy.
And in this life then as those who do know him and say now that he is Lord. We you and I should be righteously jealous for others to be able to see and know God's glory for others to be able to see and know Christ as he is now, that is Lord and God savior in friend King and Redeemer. I came across an old him this week which reads this way. Show that the world might taste and see the riches of his grace the arms of Love That Compass me with all the world Embrace Thee I shall constantly proclaim the Earth and he'll oppose us. my glorious name before a world of foes Yes, one day every time will confess that Jesus is Lord above all with the name above all names. So may we joyfully confessed that and serve him?