Gospel Exaltation

David Franks

Gospel Exaltation

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.

Summary:

“Paul moves from his description of the humbling of the Son of God-making himself nothing, taking the nature of a servant, becoming obedient unto death- to a magnificent description of Jesus’ exultation.” -Sinclair Ferguson

We note two important things from this text:

Christ is exalted to receive universal worship as Lord Christ glorifies the Father both in his humiliation and exaltation.

And as a result of this:

God is gracious to exalt believers who follow their Savior into sacrificial service

The pattern of humiliation and exaltation is one that is to mark our own Christian walk. Our Savior calls us to follow Him as we take up our cross and deny ourselves. The call to Christian discipleship that Jesus demands of us is costly. If we are desiring to follow and obey our God, we cannot have our eyes fixed upon ourselves. And while this self-denial is difficult, it is what should be our focus every day that we live. We do not like to deny ourselves. If it were up to us, we would prefer the whole world to serve us. But as we have been seeing so clearly in Philippians, we are called to die to self and live for Christ. We are challenged to follow after the pattern of humble service that our Savior provides for us.

Paul, in calling us to follow the pattern of humble service, is showing us what sanctification is all about. Sanctification is simply the process of being made into the image of Christ. Having been declared perfectly righteous before God, because of the perfect life and sacrificial death of Jesus for us, we are justified. And in our sanctification, the process of being made righteous before God takes place.

But as we turn to verse 9-11, the focus changes from the humility of Jesus to His exaltation. But congregation, it is my desire to help us see that God is not changing the subject matter here. Of course it makes sense that Jesus’ example of humility is provided for us to follow, but it is not always clear how Jesus’ exaltation is a example which should help us in this process of sanctification as well.

First we learn that God’s pattern of exaltation is different from the world’s.

Sadly in our American culture there is an expectation that everyone deserves to be honored. Our children play in sport leagues where everyone is a winner and deserves a trophy. For many the thought of advancing in a job through hard work and dedication is just unheard of. So many individuals believe they are entitled to honor as if it simply comes from being born.

But even if we are not fooled into this way of thinking, we can often believe that if we are to be honored we must be the one to do it. According to the world, if you desire to be honored, you must make much of yourself. Perhaps you need to go to college and earn several degrees to show just how intellectual you are. Or maybe you need to make a lot of money and fill your life with nice expensive things so that others will think you’re important. We can come to believe that if we are to be exalted we must be the one to see that it happens.

But as we look at our text, it was not Jesus who exalted Himself. What does the text say? “Therefore, God has highly exalted Him”. It was the Father who saw to it that Jesus was honored. Jesus sought after the interest of others and not Himself. He knew that the way to be honored in God’s Kingdom is not through self-promotion but rather through self-sacrifice. The world calls you to do whatever it takes to have others make much of you, but God promises to exalt the humble.

Thus says the LORD: “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool; what is the house that you would build for me, and what is the place of my rest? All these things my hand has made, and so all these things came to be, declares the LORD.

But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.

God tells us that He looks upon those who are humble with favor. The picture in Isaiah is truly beautiful and helps us understand why it is that Jesus was highly exalted. God, who not only formed but inhabits all of creation, has a special love and interest in those who are humble and tremble at His word. God declares that his special favor is upon those who are humble and obedient to His word. It is no wonder, then, why Jesus receives the highest position of honor and exaltation. He receives a name above all names because He was perfectly faithful to His Father and honored Him as the perfectly humble servant.

This world cannot comprehend how Jesus would be exalted by the Father. He did not insist upon His own rights but rather laid them down in the service of others. He sought the well being of others above Himself. And it was even at His death, when the Pharisee mocked Him saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, His Chosen One!” To the watching world, Jesus’ crucifixion seemed like God’s punishment. But Paul would show us that it was precisely at the moment, when Jesus endured the full wrath of God to save sinners, that God was most pleased in His Son. It was precisely because Jesus humbled Himself and was obedient, even to the point of death, that the Father exalted Him. Jesus is loved by His Father because He lays down His life for the sheep. ()

Secondly, Paul is showing us that as we follow Jesus’ own pattern of humble sacrificial service we will also be exalted.

Paul is telling us about Christ’s exaltation here precisely because he wants us to be more resolved in our desire to serve others. Paul knows that we are going to be tempted to believe that as we sacrifice our own needs and desires for the good of others we will be tempted to believe that we are missing out on something good. As we desire to make much of Jesus and not of ourselves, we will often find ourselves outside of circles of influence. Believer, please do not be fooled into thinking that if you are insignificant in this world that you are missing out. The blessings and rewards of this world cannot compare to the lavish blessings God will provide for you in the future.

God never calls us to self-denial as an end in itself. God calls us to deny ourselves now so that we will be greatly rewarded later. The problem is that we so often fail to believe this. We can start to believe that this world is all there is and therefore we must gain all that we can now. We desire to be rewarded and exalted now.

Yet God’s Word cannot fail, and He promises to reward you greatly in the life to come. “For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.” And as Peter reminds us, “After you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you”.

“So when you think because you’re going the way of Jesus Christ and you’re not pushing yourself forward and you’re not drawing attention to yourself that you’re missing out on exaltation, God is saying, ‘Oh, no! Nobody—nobody who in humble service ministers to the body of My dead Son will not be rewarded. Look at My Son. I have given Him the name which is above every name. Don’t think that I wont reward you who have loved and served Him.” - (Ligon Duncan)

If God has promised us true rewards and true delight, why would we be satisfied with anything else? As C.S. Lewis has said, “We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us.” God calls us to no longer be satisfied in the acclaim of this world. When we look upon how God exalts Christ’s humble service, we realize that God offers what this world can never give. We would indeed be foolish if we settle for anything less.

When Jesus tells the parable of the pearl of great price we see a man willing to sacrifice much to gain something of incomprehensible value. This man was willing to sell everything he had because he was aware that in doing so he would be able to purchase a field containing an amazing treasure. Brothers and sisters, God is offering you nothing less than a great treasure and reward as you follow Christ’s pattern of service. God will exalt you as well when you glorify Him through your service to others.

And finally, Jesus glorifies His Father even in His exaltation.

Jesus is not only perfect in glorifying His Father during His time of sacrificial service but even in His exaltation, God the Father is glorified. Jesus does not keep His glory to Himself but continues in His desire to make much of His Father. Paul is showing us that when men, women, boys, and girls bow at their knees to Jesus in humble adoration, God the Father is glorified. The Father is pleased to see people worship and bow before His Son.

So the way we glorify and enjoy God forever is through the worship of Jesus Christ. There is no other way. As we deny ourselves in service to others, and proclaim to them that we serve and love them because Jesus first served and loved us, we make much of Jesus. And when the name of Jesus is exalted, the Father is pleased.

If Jesus desired to glorify His Father in every aspect of His life, how much more should we as God’s creatures, desires to glorify Him. We were created by God to make much of Him forever. And in our text this evening we see that not only does God deserve to be worshiped and glorified, but He has guaranteed that it will happen. All of creation will one day bow before the exalted Christ and glorify the Father.

The crucial question for us is this: Will you bow our knee willingly in trusting in Jesus as both Savior and Lord or will you be forced to bow our knee in submission? These are the only two options. It does not matter how respected and honored we are in this world. Men and women, although highly exalted in this world, if refusing to turn to Christ in faith, will be brought low. God will receive the glory He so deserves.

closes with the great announcement that God will make the all nations a heritage for His Son. And this is exactly what we see as all nations, tribes, and tongues bow before Him. But there is also the warning to not play the part of a fool. Do not think that you will stand exalted above the Son of God. Rather turn to Him in faith. Kiss the Son; take your refuge in Him. Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Spend your life seeking to bring Him glory rather than wasting your life in pursuit of the honor of this present evil age.

But believer, as you bow before Jesus willingly, as your heart rejoices in the news that Jesus is lifted high and given all authority, power, and dominion, the promise of your future glory awaits. Our Triune God will see to it that we are raised with Christ and we will reign with Him for all eternity. We are not foolish as we sacrifice and serve in the name of Christ, because in the end God will receive great glory and exalt us in due time.

As the writer to the Hebrews would remind us:

“This light momentary affliction is only preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are passing away, but the things that are unseen are eternal.”