The Lord Jesus Christ – His Humility and Exaltation
In this writing, let us think on both the humility and subsequent exaltation of the Lord Jesus Christ. Passages in Matthew 20 and Philippians 2 come to mind-
Matthew 20:20-28, when the mother of James and John came to the Lord Jesus:
Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Jesus with her sons [James and John] and knelt down to make a request of Him.
“What do you want?” He inquired.
She answered, “Declare that in Your kingdom one of these two sons of mine may sit at Your right hand, and the other at Your left.”
“You do not know what you are asking,” Jesus replied. “Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?”g
“We can,” the brothers answered.
“You will indeed drink My cup,”h Jesus said. “But to sit at My right or left is not Mine to grant. These seats belong to those for whom My Father has prepared them.”
“When the ten [other disciples] heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers. But Jesus called them aside and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their superiors exercise authority over them.
It shall not be this way among you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:20-28, Berean Study Bible; words underlined to give emphasis)
Philippians 2:6-11 (the humiliation and exaltation of Christ; NIV)
Who, being in very nature a God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature b of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
We see that the Lord Jesus Christ is the greatest example of showing humility and then being exalted by God, the Father.
He took the lowest place; He could go no lower. The shame, the scourging, the spitting, the humiliation, the suffering and ultimate crucifixion for our sins – all this, and more, that should have been ours, He subjected Himself to. He bore it all for us, so that we may have eternal life!
Behold! A spotless Victim dies,
My surety on the tree;
The Lamb of God, the Sacrifice,
He gave Himself for me!
Whatever curse was mine, He bore;
The wormwood and the gall,
There, in that lone mysterious hour,
My cup—He drained it all!
(Author Unknown, The Believers Hymn Book, published by Pickering & Inglis Ltd., Basingstoke, England, Hymn 16)
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Oh, what a Savior that He died for me!
From condemnation He hath made me free;
“He that believeth on the Son” saith He,
“Hath everlasting life.”
All my iniquities on Him were laid,
All my indebtedness by Him was paid;
All who believe on Him, the Lord hath said,
“Hath everlasting life.”
James McGranahan, Author (1840-1907) (The Believers Hymn Book, published by Pickering & Inglis Ltd., Basingstoke, England, Hymn 209)
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“For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased (humbled); and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.” (Luke 14:11)
The Lord Jesus Christ is the ultimate example of humility; in due time He was exalted to the highest place in heaven because of what He accomplished at Calvary. Hebrews 7:26 (NIV) says, “For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens (exalted above the heavens).”
What a Savior in ours!
| Man of Sorrows,” what a name For the Son of God who came Ruined sinners to reclaim! Hallelujah! what a Savior! Bearing shame and scoffing rude, In my place condemned He stood; Sealed my pardon with His blood; Hallelujah! what a Savior! Guilty, vile, and helpless, we, Spotless Lamb of God was He; Full redemption—can it be? Hallelujah! what a Savior! Lifted up was He to die, “It is finished!” was His cry; Now in heaven exalted high; Hallelujah! what a Savior! When He comes, our glorious King, To His kingdom us to bring, Then anew this song we’ll sing Hallelujah! what a Savior! Philip Paul Bliss, (1838-1876) (The Believers Hymn Book, published by Pickering & Inglis Ltd., Basingstoke, England, Hymn 147) |