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By the exaltation of Jesus Christ, we mean that act of God, by
which the risen and ascended Christ is given the place of power at the right
hand of God. Phil.2:9. "Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given
Him the name which is above every name." Stephen, in his dying moments, was
granted a vision of the exalted Christ. He saw "Jesus standing on the right
hand of God." Acts 7:55.
Jesus Humbled Himself and God Exalted Him:
Phil. 2:8-9. "He humbled himself and became obedient to the point of
death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted
Him." The word therefore means this exaltation was the reward for his
humility. Was it not our Lord Himself who said: "He who humbles himself
will be exalted." (Luke 14:11) Jesus humbled Himself for others and the
result was this exaltation in glory to God.
Warren Wiersbe says it so well, "When men buried the body of Jesus, that
was the last thing any human hands did to Him. Men had done their worst to the
Saviour, but God exalted Him and honored Him. Men gave Him names of ridicule and
slander but the Father gave him a glorious name. In his exaltation he was given
the name Lord." His exaltation included sovereign authority over all
creatures in heaven, on earth and under the earth.
What does this exaltation mean for us?
Heb. 4:14, "Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed
through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession."
This means that He overcame all those evil principalities and powers that
inhabit the heavenlies. Just as the high priest passed through the veil into the
holy place, so Christ passed through the heavens into the presence of God. The
ascension and exaltation were necessary to complete the redemptive work of
Christ.
"Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may
exalt you, in due time." I Peter 5:6. The invitation of Heb. 4:16 is there
for every Christian, "Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of
grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need." The
end result will be, "To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My
throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne." Rev.
3:21.
-- Frank Eidse
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