Click here for the Philippians 2:9-11 PODCAST
9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. ~ Philippians 2:9-11
The Lord Jesus was exalted by God the Father. It is one thing to be exalted by a King, but it is another to be exalted by the Supreme Being of all. This is why the Lord Jesus has the preeminence, He has been exalted by the greatest.
The Father gave to the Lord Jesus a name which is above every other name that has ever been given in heaven and on earth. The Lord Jesus was given a new name. The new name is discovered in v.11 where we read, “Jesus Christ is Lord.” The name that is above every name. No other name than Lord, the name will cause every knee to bow.
In v.10, we read, “that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth.” This is the purpose of His exaltation, worship! This is the only appropriate response to Christ, and ultimately will be the response of everyone to ever live on this earth. Everyone will one day bow the knee to Jesus Christ. Those who confess Him as Lord will enjoy eternity in heaven with our Creator. And, those who reject Him as Lord will spend eternity in hell, apart from the originator of life.
In v.11, we read, “to the glory of God the Father.” Herein is the purpose of the exaltation of the Son, the exaltation of the Father. And, the Father is honored when the Son is worshiped.
The Father is exalted by what Christ has accomplished.
The gospel then is the story of humiliation and exaltation. God stooping all the way down to become man, as a servant, and dying on the cross. By this, He accomplished our redemption. As a result, the Father exalts Him back to where He was, with honor and glory for having accomplished redemption. Giving Him the name that is above every name, the name Lord, the Lord Jesus.
From all of this we learn that we must not spend our lives demanding our rights, trying to get what we think we deserve, being angry at God and people. From this we must learn to choose to be humble under the mighty hand of God. We are wise to resist arrogance, conceit, and self-centeredness. This is what exalted the Son and exalting the Son brings glory to the Father.
Interestingly, the first time the word "worship" appears in the scriptures is in Genesis 22. The first time the word "love" is used, as well. The first time the word "love" is used in scripture speaks of the Father's (Abram's) love for the son (Isaac). Interestingly, the second time the word "love" is used in the scriptures, Genesis 24, speaks of the son's love {Isaac) for his bride (Rebekah). What a picture of the gospel.
What we revere, we resemble, either for ruin or for restoration. At the heart of worship is love. What we worship will be the thing that we love the most. And, what we love is what we will worship. C.S. Lewis said it well, “If I find in myself desires which nothing in this world can satisfy, the only logical explanation is that I was made for another world.”
To help BYM, click here
