Phil. 2:9-11; Romans 10:8-15, Exalted (2)

The exaltation of the Son of God was promised in eternity past as recorded in Psalm 2.  Speaking of the nations who exalt themselves (2:1-3) God sets His King on His holy hill Zion (2:4-6).  This King is His Son, and He promises to give to His Son the nations as an inheritance and possession (2:7-9).

There is a sense in which the exaltation of the Son of God began in His burial.  Though dying by crucifixion, the most humiliating of deaths, Jesus was buried with the rich in His death (Isa. 53:9).  That never happened with crucified criminals in Rome.  But in terms of the “events” of Jesus’ exaltation we usually begin with His resurrection, as Paul does in Eph. 1:20-23.  According to that passage Jesus’ exaltation …

began with His resurrection (v20a)

followed by His ascension to the Father’s right hand (where He is above all authority and above every name, v20b-21)

at which point He became “head of the Church” (v22-23).

This is not the end of His exaltation; He is sitting at the Father’s right hand to this day waiting for His enemies to be made His footstool (Ps. 110:1).  As Eph. 1:10 says we are still awaiting the fullness of the times when He will gather together in one all things in Christ.  This is the mysterious will of the Father (Eph. 1:9) which He spoke of in Psalm 2. 

All these events bring about the exaltation of our Lord that is spoke of in Phil. 2:9-11.  It is possible the phrase God also has highly exalted Him has in mind the “place” of exaltation at the right hand of God (Rom. 8:34; Heb. 1:3; 12:2).  This place is high above the heavens (Heb. 7:26; Eph. 4:10), above all authority, as we have noted.

But the emphasis in Philippians is that Jesus has been given an exalted name.  His earthly name was “Jesus”.  Many stumbled at the thought that this ordinary Man was also God in the flesh.  But what the Father has done is to so exalt His Son that when you hear the name “Jesus” you bow before Him.  And you bow before Him because you have come to know and confess that this man Jesus is Lord (Rom. 10:9-10; 1 John 4:20).

The “bowing of the knee” is critical.  This is what those who have taken the form of a bond-servant do.  Jesus became the bond-servant, determining only to glorify His Father.  We glorify the Father in one way and one way only: by bowing the knee to His Son Jesus and confessing Him as Lord. 

Jesus is at His Father’s right hand awaiting the day when His enemies will confess Him as Lord and will bow the knee to Him.  The good news is that you do not need to be the enemy of Jesus.  Today, ALL who call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.  Jesus is Lord!