Note: Devotion taken from last Sunday's sermon on Philippians 2:9-11.
In Paul’s Christ Hymn, Philippians 2:5-11, the apostle first
describes Christ’s Humiliation (vv. 6-8) and then his Exaltation (vv. 9-11).
Of his Exaltation, Paul offers four statements about Christ, with
reference to his resurrection, ascension, session (being seated at the right
hand of God, Mark 16:19), and second coming:
1. God highly exalted him (v. 9a).
2. God gave him a name (v.9b).
3. That every knee should bow at the name of Jesus (v. 10).
4. That every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (v.
11).
First: God highly
exalted him (v. 9a):
This speaks of the
resurrection. The one who was in the form of God and took upon him the form of
a servant was gloriously raised from the dead.
Peter said at
Pentecost, “This Jesus God hath raised up” (Acts 2:32).
He
was exalted in his resurrection, and he was exalted in his ascension.
Second:
God gave him a name (v. 9b):
“…and given him a name
which is above every name.”
He was given the name “Jesus,”
meaning Jehovah saves, through God’s angel before his birth (cf. Matt. 2:21;
Luke 1:31).
He was also given many titles,
including Christ (Messiah) and Son of God. When Christ asked his disciples,
“Whom say ye that I am?” it was Peter who responded, “Thou art the Christ, the
Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:15-16).
Third: That every knee
should bow at the name of Jesus (v. 10):
In vv. 10-11 Paul
draws upon a passage from the prophet Isaiah about the LORD and applies it to
Christ (see Isaiah 45:22-23).
So, Paul continues:
“That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow….” (v. 10a).
The phrase “the name
of Jesus” is intriguing. Some pious Jews even today refer to God simply as “the
Name [Hebrew, ha-shem].” Paul is telling us here that Jesus is Jehovah.
It brings to mind
Christ in session, as when a king is seated on his throne, and his subjects,
friend and foe alike, approach, each bending the knee before Him.
Fourth:
That every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is
Lord (v. 11):
Paul
continues in v. 11, “And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is
Lord to the glory of God the Father.”
To say “Jesus is Lord” is to confess, Jesus is Jehovah, Jesus is
the God of the Scriptures (cf. Rom. 10:9; 1 Cor. 12:3).
Paul speaks
here of Christ’s exaltation at his second coming. On that final day, every
tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.
It will
be a “twofold confession” (Zanchi, Commentary on Philippians, 353). The pious
will confess faith in Christ. The wicked will confess a dread reality, Christ
has returned as Judge with great power and glory.
Christ
is exalted now, and He will be exalted at His coming!
Grace
and peace, Pastor Jeff Riddle
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