0891. The Pathway of His Exaltation

The Pathway of His Exaltation

"Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name:

"That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in Heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

"And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Php_2:9-11).

The steps of our Lord's exaltation are as glorious as the steps of His humiliation were humbling. Let us follow Him as He retraces His way back to the Father.

1. His resurrection. The resurrection of Christ was the vindication of all His claims. He staked His all on His resurrection. He refused to give the Pharisees any other sign as to His death.

Had Christ remained in the grave, then all had perished with Him. Our faith would be vain and our preaching folly. But, when Christ broke the bands of death and came forth, He was proclaimed the Son of God with power.

2. His ascension. For several days Christ manifested Himself among His disciples. Even doubting Thomas was satisfied that Christ was really risen and that it was not some hallucination that had gripped the other disciples. Afterward Christ by appointment met His followers at Olivet, and, as they beheld, He was received up in a cloud into Heaven.

With what glorious power did Christ ascend! Steadfastly did the disciples gaze until their hearts were assured by the message of two shining ones, concerning the Lord's return. Soon our Lord turned His attention away from the uplifted faces of His loved ones on earth, and looked up through the blue, toward His Father's throne. Up He went, through gathered hosts of satan's hordes. He passed by myriads of the Heavenly bodies, and on He went until He neared the throne of God.

Then, with glad acclaim, the angel hosts threw back the doors of eternity and the King of Glory, the Lord mighty in battles, entered in.

3. His seat at the Father's right hand. Back in Glory, the Lord Jesus Christ was welcomed to the Father's throne. He was seated at His right hand, exalted a Prince and a Saviour. What hallelujahs rent the air! Behold the One Whom men despised; He is acclaimed both Lord and Christ.

Glad day! How Heaven rejoiced! Glad day! Let men look up! Let the eye of faith pierce the distance and behold the Lord Jesus, with His nail-pierced hands seated at the Father's right hand able to save.

"God is now willing,

In Christ reconciled,

Willing to save you, and make you His child,

God is now willing, are you?"

4. His return and future glories. The pathway of Christ's exaltation includes coming back in power and great glory; His reigning until He has placed all things under His feet and His eternal co-reign with God when He has put all things under His feet and has handed the Kingdom over to the Father.

The exaltation of Christ includes His glory in the new heavens and the new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness; it includes the New Jerusalem where the Lamb is the light of the City; it includes the ages of the ages yet to come, wherein God will make known, in Christ, all the exceeding riches of His grace.

"Hallelujah, 'He is Risen!'

Jesus is gone up on high!

Burst the bars of death asunder,

Angels, shout; and men, reply:

He is risen, He is risen,

Living now, no more to die."

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR