He Became Exalted

C.S. Lewis, a great British thinker and writer, with immense imagination, has a section in a book that he wrote called Miracles and it looks at this incarnation of God in human flesh in, I think, a wonderfully fresh way. "The doctrine of the incarnation is emphatically at the center of Christianity, that the Son of God came down." He says, "No seed ever fell so far from a tree into so dark and cold a soil as the Son of God did."

We have been looking at the Christ of Christmas. We have looked at his humility - how he became love verses 1-4. We looked at how He became poor 5-7, how he became obedient verse 8 and this morning I want to look at verses 9-11 at this Christ of Christmas and He Became Exalted.

One songwriter wrote several years ago

In a town of Bethlehem there came from a Jewish girl, A baby born in a stable became the Light of this world; The shepherds came to see Him, and at his feet they did bow; Well, they ought to see that baby from Bethlehem now. This baby, he grew up and he became a special man, For he could raise the dead with just one touch from his hand; But he gave those hands to a crowd, and they nailed Jesus down; Well, they ought to see that baby from Bethlehem now. From Bethlehem to Calvary from Calvary to the Throne, Jesus came and he paid our sin debt then he went back home; Before His Throne in Heaven, every knee shall bow; For he’s no longer that baby from Bethlehem now. Well, you ought to see that baby from Bethlehem now, Soon he’ll be coming back, riding on a cloud; Once wrapped in swaddling clothes, now dressed in a kingly robe; You ought to see that baby from Bethlehem now.

Paul is telling the church at Philippi that We have a Savior that has been exalted. Lifted up, glorified One thing we must understand is that Jesus had to be abased before he could be exalted, he had to stoop low before he could be raised high. It is this humbling that allows for his exaltation. The beginning of this passage talks about how Jesus became humbled, poor, obedient - he laid aside all of his splendor, power and glory. But it seems when he takes it up again that he has in a sense received more glory and honor than before. This is why in John's revelation as he looked upon that great scroll the title deed of Earth that he wept and cried as they looked all over the earth John wasn't worthy to loose the seals, they looked all over heaven, none of the great patriarches passed the test, The list of those in the great hall of faith were brought up, no none of them could open it, they looked at the Father, and he shook his head, they looked to the Holy Spirit who withdrew himself, finally one speaks up, that there is one the Lamb who has been slain, he is worthy to open the seals. He has been exalted, glorified,

The Single Source of His Exaltation - There is only one source of Jesus exaltation.

God the Father - This exaltation was given by God the Father - "Wherefore (or therefore) God also hath highly exalted him. I like that phrase "Highly Exalted" in the Greek it is expressed in the word,

"ὑπερυψόω hoop-er-oop-so'-o " meaning "super exalted...hyper- exalted." It uses the preposition huper as a prefix from which we get hyper, super exalted, hyper exalted. And it has the idea that in a moment of redemptive history God highly exalted Christ, lifted Him up.

The Fourfold Type of Exaltation - This exaltation was fourfold

Resurrection

Proved the validity of His sacrifice Reinforced what Jesus said on the Cross - "It is finished"

Just to help enrich this a little I want to share some scripture -

Peter preaching at Pentecost said, " Acts 2:32-33 (KJV) This Jesus God raised again." 33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.

This is both Resurrection he was exalted, and coronation He went to sit on the Father's throne.

Later in Acts we find Peter and the Apostles preaching and they declare Acts 5:30-31 (KJV) 30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. 31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.

Raised up Jesus - that resurrection Him hath God exalted with his right hand… - Coronation And again Paul in Ephesians 4:8-10 (KJV) 8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. 9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)

Ascension

Allowed him to sit at the right-hand of the Father

Another place says "He sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on High." Coronation Intercession

He ever lives to intercede for all who come to Him

The Exclusive Title of His Exaltation

A Special Name - Verse 9 Paul tells us that God gave his son a name that is above every other name. I don't really think it is refering to the name we use, the name "Jesus" although that is a very powerful and special name. - News story of Christian Woman using the Name of Jesus to survive a terrorist attack in Jerusalem I think this is a name above every name. The name above everything in the English language is Lord or Sovereign. God gave him a name that is above every other name. In the Greek it is the work kurios Lord. The passage continues that at this name given to Jesus - whatever it is, that everyone is going to bow in homage and submission to it someday. It is very specific - that every knee will bow,

Of things in heaven - that is not a big surprise - already the Angels bow before Him, and sing His praises. But think of that thousands time ten thousands and thousands of thousands of the angelic host, will bow before him, the seraphim, the cherubim, the heavenly host will bow their knee to this exalted one.

But just think someday when we all get home, what a time that is going to be, when we gather around his throne - I just wonder if maybe instead of jumping to our feet, if when Fredrick Handel starts his Hallelujah Chorus if we won't fall on our faces before Him, the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords Of things in earth - Men and women who have refused to give in to the pleadings and promptings of God, have stiffened their necks and hardened their hearts, will fall on their faces before him whom they have pierced. And it doesn't stop there, but even the things under the earth - the demons, the fallen angels, the devil - they will have to one day writhing no doubt in broken pride and hatred but having no choice but to concede to fall on their knees to this mighty conqueror. The story is told of Julian the Apostate an extremely wicked Roman emporer - a nephew to Constatine, but rejected Christ and severely persecuted the Christians. at the end of his life in Ad 363 he was in a battle against the Persians, was hit by an arrow in the conflict. It is reported that in his last waning breath he said, "Thou Galilean hast prevailed." He had lost his war against Christ. That is kind of what I expect it will be when Satan who has taunted the saints, twisted God's plan every chance he could, rebelled in his pride and arrogance, will one day fall on his knees before him and the Bible says, Confess him as LORD that name above all names.

O Come let us adore Him, O come let us adore Him O come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord

For he alone is worthy, for he alone is worthy, for He alone is worthy, Christ the Lord