Phil. 2:5-11 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6) Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7) But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8) And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9) Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10) That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11) And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

When we think of Jesus, many remember him as a babe in a manger, others remember him as the blind man healer, the leper cleansing Galilean, others remember him as the man of miracles, others remember him as the Saviour on the cross, while still others think of Him as the Resurrected Lord.

John the beloved went back to the very beginning of time, in the beginning of his gospel, when he began telling his story of the life of Christ.

John 1:1-5 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2) The same was in the beginning with God. 3) All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4) In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 5) And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. 9) That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. 10) He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. 11) He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 12) But as many as received him, to them gave he power {power: or, the right, or, privilege} to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13) Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 14) And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

Before Christ was exalted, he first humbled himself.

1. He became incarnate, by which he was made man, and for our surety was made sin.

2. He lived a poor and contemptible life, of which was very painful, and brought much shame upon him, and in the end, died a cruel and accursed death.

Here the apostle Paul brings his humiliation and His exaltation together in v.8 "he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him”, exalted him above all exaltation, as the word signifies. Christ in his resurrection was exalted; in his ascension, he was highly exalted; in his sitting at God's right hand, he was highly exalted above all exaltation.

God has exalted him to a dignity above all dignities and pre-eminency whatsoever, making him King and Head of his church, and giving him all power both in heaven and earth, requiring that the divine honor due to God should be given to him also.

Heb. 1:1-4 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2) Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; 3) Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; 4) Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.

There are three particulars that are declared by God in exalting Christ.

1. God hath given him a name above every name; that is, dignity and power, majesty and authority, over all creatures both in heaven and earth.

Eph. 1:20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, 21) Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come.

2. That every knee, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth, should bow to the name of Jesus: Rev. 5:13 And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.

3. That every tongue must confess that Jesus Christ is Lord; that is, every person, men of all nations and languages, shall confess Christ crucified to be the Lord and Judge of the world, every one will acknowledge his royal sovereignty and dominion.

Acts 2:36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.

I Tim 6:15 Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;

Rev. 19:13,15-16 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. 15) And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16) And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

In His Service,
Pastor Donald Pierce