Philippians 2:9-11

Wherefore God hath highly exalted Him

The exaltation of Christ

I. Its occasion.

1. His voluntary humiliation.

2. His Divine investiture.

II. Its import.

1. The glorification of humanity.

2. Investment with supreme sovereignty.

III. Its object.

1. The subordination of every creature.

2. To the human Mediator.

IV. Its ultimate issue.

1. The subjection of every foe.

2. The universal acknowledgment of Christ.

3. The full revelation of the glory of God. (J. Lyth, D. D.)

The exaltation of Christ

I. The exaltation as the reward of the obedience.

1. The same Person is exalted who humbled Himself. We must not say that He was exalted in His humanity. It was not the man alone who humbled Himself. “Is Christ divided?”

2. The supreme elevation could never have been the prerogative of any created being. None but the eternal Son of the Father could have received or sustained it. But as the reward of His redeeming submission it could only be received in the person of Him who was man as well as God.

3. The redeeming God-man merited well in His obedience and death, and received an eternal and unlimited acknowledgment of His claim. The justice of God was satisfied by the punishment vicariously endured; and the love of God accepted that satisfaction as an expiation cancelling the sinner’s obligation to suffer. And the elevation of the sufferer was the declaration that the merit of His supreme obedience availed for the whole world.

4. The very word here used is that which is employed concerning those to whom the benefit of Christ’s merit is applied. We are “accepted” in the Beloved, or “graced” in Him; He was “accepted” or “graced” with the high rewards of exaltation. That, indeed, was His exaltation: not to have a name above every name simply, but to have in Himself a fulness of merit that should avail for all.

II. The exaltation as the necessary condition or the redeeming and saving work.

1. As our representative Christ was exalted, i.e., as the mediatorial Redeemer. The resurrection and ascension are most frequently regarded as part of the process of His saving course. As He fulfilled that course He must needs pass into the heavens. In His Divine human person He has “gone up higher,” but is still continuing His ministration. Had the merit of His sacrifice been simply rewarded as such, apart from His redeeming ministry, the Incarnate would have been set down literally on a throne to rest forever. In that case the language of the passage would have been different.

2. The saving name of Jesus is exalted. The “name” cannot refer to any particular designation conferred after the ascension; we know not what name could have been added to the glorious catalogue from “Emmanuel,” the first, to “Lord Jesus,” the last. We know from the Apocalypse that He has a new name, but we know also that it is only the old name more abundantly glorified; a name which He had from the incarnation, but whose full meaning could never be known until His human nature had passed through all its processes of discipline and become perfect. It is the mediatorial name, therefore, that is exalted, and that name is Jesus. Our Saviour’s dignity is His power to save, only now He redeems not by price but by power.

III. The exaltation as receiving universal recognition.

1. The homage paid to the name of Jesus is not here regarded as offered at once. It is the gradual result of His supremacy in heaven enforced in the promulgation of His claims on earth.

(1) The “beings in heaven” accepted the dignity of Jesus at once, and are first mentioned because they are the loftiest and most honourable. They watched His career and studied it intently; for He was seen of angels. A gradual recognition can hardly be asserted in their case, and in no sense can the Lord’s supremacy be said to have been enforced on them.

(2) “Beings on earth” represent the whole race. The world is His because He has redeemed it, and every knee shall bow and every tongue confess--all science, philosophy, policy, power, genius, art. Before the scene of redemption ceases to be visited by His gospel and grace His Jesus name shall have been accepted by all mankind either in loyal love or despair.

(3) And “under the earth” also. Not a soul rebels there. He is Lord of the dead, and when the end comes Hades shall go out of existence at His word.

2. The confession is offered to the Lordship of Jesus. Our Lord receives this name in various senses.

(1) In one sense we may regard it as human purely as often in the gospels where the people seem to regard Him as a distinguished servant of God; and yet the language seems to waver between the respect due to a rabbi and the adoration due to God. Most beautifully does Thomas in the end rise from that human Lordship to the divinity of that Saviour whose dignity he felt at last.

(2) In another and preeminent sense Jesus is Lord as representing the Jehovah of the Old Testament; and in that sense He shares the dignity with the Lord the Spirit.

(3) But chiefly our Lord is such as the Mediatorial Person invested with authority over men and over the universe in consequence of His submission to the death of the Cross, as here. This dominion is given to One who deserved it by obedience, though He was capable of it only as God.

IV. The exaltation as redounding to the glory of God. The whole mystery of the economical submission, obedience, exaltation, and dominion of Christ tends to the glory of the Father.

1. The Father is literally the Father of the Eternal Son made flesh, and not the Deity in general. The Father is the essential as well as the redeeming name of Him to whom all glory is finally given.

2. The success of the mediatorial government of our Lord redounds to the glory of the Father inasmuch as it will justify and exalt the supreme wisdom of Him who originated the plan. (W. B. Pope, D. D.)

The mediatorial exaltation

involves the two stupendous facts which close Christ’s earthly career.

I. The evidence of the fact of Christ’s resurrection.

II. The evidence of our Lord’s ascension is also clear.

1. It is twice recorded by St. Luke.

2. It was public.

3. It was predicted by Christ.

4. The promise of the Holy Spirit which was to follow it was fulfilled.

5. It formed a staple doctrine of apostolic teaching.

6. The Christian doctrine of heaven depends upon the fact that Christ ascended to the Father (John 14:1, etc.).

III. What follows from our Lord’s resurrection and ascension.

1. The glorified Christ has received a name that is above every name.

(1) That name stands for the reality it implies--Saviour.

(2) The name has accrued to Him because in what He is, has done, is doing, and will do, the rich meaning of the name is realized.

(3) The name is above because including every other name.

(4) In it believers glory, by it hearts are won, before it heaven bows in worship, at it hell trembles with fear.

2. To this exalted Saviour all dominion is entrusted.

(1) Heaven, with its angels, principalities, and powers.

(2) Earth--men, forces, empires.

(3) The underworld--His widest human dominion.

3. That dominion will be universally acknowledged (John 6:38; Revelation 1:7; 2 Corinthians 5:10; 2 Thessalonians 1:7; 1 Corinthians 15:24).

IV. The ultimate end and aim of the Saviour’s mediatorial reign will be the glory of God the Father.

1. The Redeemer looked for this--“Father, glorify thy Son!” etc.

2. The mediatorial work was undertaken and discharged with reference to this. (C. Clemance, D. D.)

Christ’s exaltation

I. In the very fact of Christ’s exaltation there is to every true Christian a very large degree of comfort. He has certain features of character which make it so.

1. He has a relationship with Christ, and therefore feels an interest in the success of His kinsman.

2. He has a feeling of unity in the cause. He shares the exaltation in some degree, seeing that he has sympathy with Christ’s desire of promoting God’s cause in the world. Every soldier feels honoured when his general is applauded for the victory, inasmuch as he has helped him to gain it.

3. The Christian knows that there is a real union between Christ and His people, now, therefore, that our Head is crowned he cannot, being so intimately interested, but rejoice. Christ is in heaven as our representative. The throne He occupies is for the Church whom He represents. In Him we, too, are exalted.

4. The Christian has surrendered his whole being to the work of honouring Christ, and therefore feels that in his Saviour’s exaltation his whole desire is consummated. He cares not what happens to himself so long as he can say, “The Lord reigneth.”

II. Another well spring of joy is found in the reason of Christ’s exaltation. Because of--

1. His humiliation. The Christian need feel no pain in being humbled: the same joy is set before him as was set before his Lord.

2. His obedience. Let the Christian obey and he will win the same reward.

III. Another source of comfort is found in the person who exalted Him.

1. Neither Christ nor the Christian are self-crowned autocrats; and the same hand that crowned Him will crown us. He, “King of kings,” we “kings unto God and His Father.”

2. Man never exalted Christ, but dishonoured and rejected Him--but God exalted Him. Believer, if all men speak ill of thee, think “the servant is not above his Lord.”

3. Christ did not exalt Himself, nor can you in depression of spirits, humbleness of position, but God can and will. (C. H. Spurgeon.)

Of Christ’s exaltation

I. The first step was his resurrection.

II. The second his ascension.

III. The third his sitting on the right hand of God (Hebrews 1:3; 1 Peter 3:22; Ephesians 1:20).

1. This is to be understood in a figurative sense as denoting--

(1) Majesty and honour (2 Kings 2:19; Psalms 45:9).

(2) Power (Psalms 77:10).

2. Christ sitting here denotes--

(1) A state of rest (Micah 4:4; Hebrews 10:12).

(2) Continuance in that state (2 Kings 7:3).

3. It denotes--

(1) The accomplishment of that work, and the consummation of all those offices which He was to perform on earth for the redemption of sinners (Hebrews 4:10).

(2) The delight and satisfaction the Father had in Christ, and in that glorious work which He had finished (Psalms 110:1).

(3) The great honour and dignity to which He is advanced in heaven (Hebrews 1:13).

(4) His being invested with sovereign dominion and supreme authority and power (Hebrews 2:7).

4. The ends for which He sits.

(1) That as a mighty King He may protect and defend His Church and people against the rage of their enemies (Isaiah 32:1; Deuteronomy 33:26).

(2) That He may subdue all the enemies of His people (Psalms 110:1; Acts 2:36; Hebrews 10:12; 1 Corinthians 15:25).

(3) That with royal munificence He may dispense to His faithful subjects all these gifts and graces that may qualify them for glory (Acts 5:31).

(4) That He may act as a powerful intercessor for them (Romans 8:34).

(5) That all His friends and followers may with Him be translated into heaven and be advanced into the glorious state of kings and priests (Ephesians 1:4; Revelation 3:21).

5. Use.

(1) Behold the great difference between our Redeemer’s earthly and heavenly state.

(2) How highly our nature is dignified and ennobled in the person of our Redeemer.

(3) This lets us see that the redemption of lost sinners was pleasing unto the Father.

(4) We should draw near to Him in all the duties of worship with the reverence that beseems His Majesty.

(5) Let this exalted Redeemer have your hands and your heart.

(6) Let this settle and compose the Lord’s people with respect to the state and interests of Christ’s kingdom (Isaiah 52:7).

IV. The last step is His coming to judge the world. (T. Boston, D. D.)

Christ’s exaltation

In the former verses the Sun of Righteousness is eclipsed; here He shines forth in all His strength and splendour. The doctrine of Christ’s humiliation leads you to Mount Calvary; but this doctrine leads you to Mount Olivet. There you may see Christ standing at the bar; here you see Him sitting on the throne.

I. The doctrine of Christ’s exaltation.

1. It pleased God that He who humbled Himself should be “made higher than the heavens,” that He who appeared as a servant should now appear as the Lord of Glory. The word “highly exalted” is emphatic and singular; His exaltation was super superlative. Jesus Christ in His resurrection was exalted; in His ascension “highly exalted;” in His sitting at the right hand of God “very highly exalted above all exaltation.” In His resurrection, He was exalted above the grave; in His ascension, above the earth; in His session, above the highest heavens. The steps of Christ’s exaltation answered the steps of His humiliation.

(1) His incarnation is answerable to His resurrection, for by the first He was “manifest in the flesh” the Son of Man; by the second “declared to be the Son of God with power” (Romans 1:3).

(2) His poor, painful, and shameful life, and His painful and cursed death, is answerable to His ascension and sitting at the right hand of God. In the one He was disparaged, in the second honoured. In the disparagement He was lower than the angels; in the honour, far above them (Hebrews 1:5; Ephesians 1:20).

(3) His coming to judge the world answers His being judged by the world. The former is the completion of His exaltation as the latter was of His degradation (Isaiah 53:1; John 5:22). Jesus by His resurrection overcame His enemies (Hebrews 2:14); by His ascension triumphed over them (Corinthians 2:15); by His Judgeship He tries and condemns them. For the further demonstration of His exaltation note--

2. That God hath given Him a name that is above every name.

(1) What is to be understood by this name--the power, dignity, and authority with which Christ was invested.

(a) Sometimes name is put for glory and renown (Gen 6:4; 1 Chronicles 5:24, Hebrews); thus Christ is invested with the glory of the only begotten of the Father

(b) for the power and sovereignty by which Christ is King of nations and of saints (John 10:25; Acts 3:6; Acts 4:7). Of this He spake at the ascension (Matthew 28:18). And the glory of Christ’s name is such that shall be celebrated through all ages (Luke 2:10; Hebrews 1:6; Revelation 5:12).

(2) How hath Christ obtained a name above every name. This name is a demonstration of Christ’s super-exaltation, and notes four things.

(a) That Jesus should be the only Saviour of the world (Acts 4:11).

(b) In that He is exalted to sit at the right hand of God, which is a name or honour angels never had (Hebrews 1:3; Hebrews 1:13).

(c) Because it is through this name that the name of God becomes a comfort to us. The attributes of God are the “name of God.” To a Christless sinner all the attributes of God are against Him: wisdom (Jeremiah 17:10; 1 John 3:20); holiness (Habakkuk 1:13); justice; omnipotence. But the name of Christ makes the name of God a sanctuary (Proverbs 18:10), and a comfort: wisdom (Psalms 73:24; Matthew 6:32); holiness (1 Corinthians 1:10); justice (Romans 3:25; Romans 8:1); omnipotence (Romans 8:31).

(d) Because His name should be most precious and powerful in His Church through all generations (Matthew 18:20; Joh 14:13; 1 Corinthians 5:4; Matthew 28:19).

(3) How are we to understand that God hath given Him a name? As Mediator; for so only was He capable of exaltation. Not as God, for that cannot be, nor in the sense of the manifestation of His glory, for the sun is not exalted when the cloud is removed; nor as mere man, for humanity is incapable of such exaltation and worship; but as God-man.

3. That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow.

(1) What is meant by bowing the knee. Some understand this literally, but if “name” stands for power then kneeling must mean submission (Genesis 41:43; John 5:22).

(2) Who shall bow?

(a) All knees in heaven voluntarily.

(i) The good angels who always obeyed and honoured Christ (Daniel 9:24; Luke 1:30; Luke 2:13; Matthew 2:13; Matthew 4:11; Luke 22:43; Matthew 28:6; Acts 1:11; Hebrews 1:6; Matthew 25:31). All this service was performed unto Christ, not only as Creator (Colossians 1:16), but as Governor (Colossians 2:10; Ephesians 1:21).

(ii) The spirits of just men made perfect (Revelation 5:9; Revelation 4:8; Revelation 4:10).

(b) On earth

(i) good men willingly (Psalms 110:3). By nature they are children of disobedience (Colossians 3:6; Colossians 3:1; Colossians 3:21; Romans 8:7). But the grace of God removes that “iron sinew” (Isaiah 48:4).

(ii) Evil men under compulsion; because they do not willingly bear Christ’s yoke they shall become His footstool (Psalms 110:1).

(c) In hell (Luke 10:17; Luke 8:28; James 2:19; Colossians 2:15; Hebrews 2:14).

4. That every tongue shall confess, etc.

(1) What is meant by every tongue? Not simply every nation but every person.

(2) What is meant by Jesus is Lord? (1 Corinthians 2:8).

(a) As Creator (1 Corinthians 8:6; Romans 11:36).

(b) As Son of God (Hebrews 1:2).

(c) As such He is a Lord to command us and to save us.

(3) As every knee must bow to Christ’s dominion so every tongue must confess Him Lord.

(a) Devils and wicked men (Revelation 6:14).

(b) Saints and angels (Revelation 5:12).

II. The end of Christ’s exaltation. As God had no motive without Himself, so He had no end beyond Himself in giving Christ (Ephesians 1:6). For this Christ prayed (John 12:28).

III. Application.

1. Use of information, as Christ first suffered and entered into His glory (Luke 24:26), even so must we (Acts 14:22; 2 Timothy 2:11).

2. Use of exhortation. Is Christ exalted? Then let us, our tongues, knees, hearts, lives, acknowledge Him to be our Lord.

(1) What Jews, Pilate, and Herod did in scorn, let us do in sincerity.

(2) Let us take heed that we do not violate our allegiance to Him (Exodus 5:2; Psalms 12:4 : Luke 19:27).

(a) Christ is only a Saviour to those who submit to Him (Hebrews 5:9; Titus 2:11.

(b) Every knee must one day bow to Him.

(c) The sins of Christians are far greater than those of the Jews against Christ who sinned against Him in His state of humiliation (Hebrews 6:6). They did it in ignorance (Acts 3:17; 1 Corinthians 2:1).

(d) Christ at last will be too hard for the hardest-hearted sinner.

3. Use of comfort to believers.

(1) Is Christ exalted? then we may comfortably believe that He hath perfectly satisfied God’s justice for us.

(2) Christ though exalted is still mindful of us (Hebrews 2:15).

(3) Christ is exalted to heaven, and so shall all believers be in due time (John 17:24; Colossians 3:4). (W. Taylor, A. B.)