Christ humbled, Christ Exalted
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and given him the name above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
- Philippians 2:5-11
Christ’s humiliation
When Jesus Christ came to earth as a man, we call that his humiliation. Why? Because he descended to earth to become like mankind without sin. Christ humility was not just his coming into the earth, but his entire life was one of humility.
In Matthew 11:28-30 we read, “Come unto me all you who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly of heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Notice Jesus never paraded or aggrandized himself. Jesus came to serve, not to be served (Matthew 20:28).
Even when Jesus represented himself as Messiah during Passion Week he humbly rode on a donkey on Palm Sunday. This was done to fulfill scripture, “Tell the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold your King is coming to you, lowly, and sitting on a donkey. A colt, the foal of a donkey.’ “[1]
An extraordinary act of humble servitude is when Jesus washed the disciples’ feet during the Last Supper. He was showing them how they are to be humble servants and wash one another’s feet. Jesus led by example (John 13:3-17).
I see another of act humility was during Christ’s arrest. He declares that he could have prayed to the Father, and 12 legions of angels (around 72,000 of them) would have been dispatched at his disposal, but he relented so that scripture could be fulfilled.
Jesus ultimate humiliation, of course, was his crucifixion. This universal shattering act of God also was ultimate triumph. For through Christ shed blood, all those who truly believe they could be forgiven of their sins would be set free. Jesus had to die and shed his blood for it is the only way sins could be remitted (Hebrews 9:22).
Christ’s Exaltation
Oddly, Jesus declared he was glorified when Judas betrayed him (John 13:31b). Why would he declare he was glorified before the humiliation of the cross still ahead of him? I believe because scripture was unfolding just as it was written. Also, Jesus’ work on earth was nearly finished, and he would receive his pre-incarnate glory back with the Father once he was raised from the dead (John 17:5).
Jesus’ exaltation was evident when his disciples worshiped him prior to his ascension (Luke 24:52).
A tremendous expression of Christ’s deity is delivered by God the Father Himself when He calls his Son God. Hebrews 1:8-9 says, “Your throne O God is forever and ever. A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness. Therefore, God, Your God has anointed you the oil of gladness more than your companions.”
This lets us know that Jesus the Son of God is also God, the second one in the Holy Trinity or Godhead. If God the Father calls His Son God, it is foolish to debate the matter.
When Jesus is dying in agony on the cross, one of the thieves crucified with him says, “Lord remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus replied to him, “This day (italics mine) you will be with me in Paradise” (Luke 23:43).
Do we get the gravity of this affirmation by Jesus? To the majority of the eyewitnesses of Jesus’ impending death, he is a common criminal, and insurrectionist, a blasphemer against Caesar who deserves to die. But to the thief on the cross he is the Lord who knows Jesus can save him. And you know what? Jesus grants the man eternal life in the darkest hour of both their lives; while they are both suffocating to death!
This account is one of the boldest affirmations of Christ’s deity. While he is suffering the most horrific death in human history, he is at the same placing his Holy Spirit into a dying man next to him! The thief unbeknownst to him is being resurrected spiritually by the God-Man. Remember while this is occurring Jesus has been made a curse for us and made sin by God because the weight of all mankind sins he is currently bearing (2 Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 3:13).
We will never be able to fully grasp this transcendent love for us. Praise God for it though!
This type of love blows my mind! How could a man love another man that complete unless one of them is God?
We read in John 20:28 where the disciple Thomas calls Jesus his Lord and his God. The Greeks words for Lord and God are Kurios and Theos. Kurios describes majestic titles of Jesus such as Master, Owner, Emperor, King. The Alpha and Omega. The First and the Last. These describe his position. Theos describes his attributes such as The One True God, monism, self-existence, immutability, infinite knowledge, creative power, absolute holiness, et al.
So when we say Jesus is Lord and God, we are saying he is everything to us. He is life itself. The apostle John said in John 3:36 and in I John 5:12. “He that has the Son has life. He does not have the Son does not have life.
Jesus in his humiliation was misunderstood, mocked, despised, threatened, betrayed, arrested, beaten, spit upon, cursed and crucified.
Jesus in his exaltation was raised from the dead, worshipped, praised, loved, and ascended into heaven, is making intercession for his own, will destroy his enemies at the battle of Armageddon, will return to set up his eternal kingdom, throw Satan, the beast and false prophet along with all unrepentant sinners into the lake of fire to burn forever.
Jesus humiliation is over. Only his eternal glorification remains.
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