EXALTED by Pastor Shah, Clearview Church, Henderson
Introduction: It was raining that Sunday morning when little Timmy got home from church with his parents. Finally, it stopped raining and a beautiful rainbow appeared in the sky. Timmy’s dad wanted to see if Timmy was paying attention at Sunday School so he asked him – “Son, who do you think made that rainbow?” Timmy replied, “God did and I also know which hand he used to make that rainbow.” Timmy’s dad wasn’t expecting that – “What do you mean that you know which hand God used?” Timmy answered, “It’s easy. God used his left hand to make that rainbow.” Dad was a little frustrated – “Son, there’s nothing in the Bible about that.” Timmy replied, “It’s easy. Because Jesus was sitting on his right hand!” In today’s message, we’re going to learn what that really means in our series called MIND (RE)SET from Philippians 2. When we truly understand that Jesus, our Savior and King, is seated at the right hand of the Father, it does several things for us: It gives us a model for how humility is the key to exaltation; it gives us the courage to face any problem in this life; and it gives us a glimpse of what’s coming for us.Our message is titled “EXALTED.”
Philippians 2 5Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, andcoming in the likeness of men. 8And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient tothe point ofdeath, even the death of the cross. 9Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11andthatevery tongue should confess that Jesus ChristisLord, to the glory of God the Father.
Question: What trial are you facing? Are you looking towards Jesus? You cannot recognize him until you meet him. Have you met him?
Context: Typically, when Christians focus on what Jesus has done for us, we tend to focus on his cross (crucifixion), his empty tomb (resurrection), his going up (ascension), and his second coming (parousia). There is a big gap in between his ascension and his second coming that we don’t know much about. Where is Jesus now and what is he doing?Romans 8:34gives us the answer “Whoishe who condemns? It isChrist who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.”Still it remains a distant truth. In order to truly understand and believe this, we have to ask a third question: What is Jesus like right now (Identity)? Unless we answer his identity, we will struggle to understand his locality and activity.
What does this have to do with our series on Philippians 2?Listen again to verse9“Therefore God also has highly exalted Himand given Him the name which is above every name…” This gives us a major clue as to the questions regarding his identity. What does that mean that God the Father has highly exalted Jesus? Does that mean that God the Father gave a promotion to Jesus? Does that mean that God the Father gave special powers and authority to Jesus which he didn’t have before? To answer that, we have to ask a different question – “What changed in Jesus after he rose from the grave? Is he the same Jesus before the cross or is he different?”The answer is Yes and No.
No, he is the same Jesus, yesterday, today, and forever. But, yes, there is a difference between Jesus before the cross and now after the resurrection.
- After Jesus rose from the grave, we read Mary Magdalene crying at the tomb of Jesus. John even tells us in his gospel that two angels met her at the tomb and asked her why she was weeping and she told them that they had taken Jesus and she didn’t know where he was. Then, listen to John 20 14Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standingthere,and did not know that it was Jesus. 15Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, “Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away.”16Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to Him, “Rabboni!” (which is to say, Teacher). Someone might say that it was because of the sorrow and the trauma she had been through.
- On the road to Emmaus, two disciples where travelling and talking about all that had happened in the past couple of days. Luke 24 15“So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. 16But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him.”Then Jesus explained to them from Scriptures all things concerning himself. Then they came to their destination and invited him to come in. Luke 24 30Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and brokeit,and gave it to them. 31Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight.Is it because he is not human anymore? Of course not. Later he ate with them and allowed them (Thomas) to touch him.
- Again, in John’s gospel, the disciples led by Peter decide to go fishing and all night they catch nothing. John 21 4But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus asks them if they caught any fish and they reply no. Then, he instructs them to cast it on the right side of the boat and they catch so many that they are not able to draw in the net. What is their response? John 21:7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put onhisouter garment (for he had removed it), and plunged into the sea. The others came to the land on their boat with the big haul and Jesus had breakfast waiting for them. Listen to verse 12“…Yet none of the disciples dared ask Him, ‘Who are You?’—knowing that it was the Lord.”
Do you see a common element here? Jesus is showing himself to his disciples but they are not recognizing him immediately. It’s only after he communicates with them that they are realizing that it is him. There is a change in him that cannot be recognized just by their physical eyes. He has to make himself known to them for them to know who he really is. What exactly is this change? Listen again to verses 9“Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11andthatevery tongue should confess that Jesus ChristisLord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Now, God the Father has officially declared that Jesus is also the focus of our worship. Of course, in the Old Testament, the people occasionally worshipped Jesus as the Angel of the Lord but it was never consistent or as clear. Now, it is consistent and clear. We still worship the Father but in Christ we are able to worship him even closer than ever before. The Father is not jealous or envious in this. He is actually glorified in seeing his Son being worshipped. But for this to happen, God has to reveal it to us.
Don’t think that this is just all ethereal talk. This has definite benefits:
1. It gives us a model for how to live here and now.If he had to be humble before he was exalted, so do we. I Peter 5:6“Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time.” James 4:10“Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.” Matthew 23 11“But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. 12And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” God constantly reminds us of this.
2. It gives us the courage to face any problem in life. The same Jesus who saved you when you called upon him is now the Jesus who is seated at the right hand of the Father. Romans 8 33Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It isGod who justifies. 34Whoishe who condemns? It isChrist who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. 35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shalltribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?…37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. God constantly reveals this to us.
3. It gives us a glimpse of what’s coming for us. 1 Corinthians 15 47The first manwasof the earth, madeof dust; the second Manisthe Lord from heaven.48Aswasthe manof dust, so alsoarethosewho are madeof dust; and asisthe heavenlyMan,so alsoarethose who areheavenly.49And as we have borne the image of the manof dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenlyMan. Don’t think for a moment that you will become God. Here again Jesus helps us out. Back up to I Corinthians 15:28Now when all things are made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all. God daily reminds us of this.
Is God revealing this to you about Jesus? Do you know Jesus?
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