Imitate Christ, Pt 2

Often, when really studying a passage of Scripture, I tend to want to stand up and shout, “Hallelujah” for the wonderful things that God reveals in His Word. This passage is certainly no exception. Paul’s Christological confession is marked with beauty and triumph and can do nothing less than provoke a believer to glory in Christ.

If I had to write a short summary of what I learn about Jesus in these verses, I would use three words: humiliation, exaltation, and submission (to Him). Yesterday we focused our attention on the humility of Christ. Even though He was the pre-existent God He condescended to become the incarnate God, identifying with us by putting on flesh and dwelling with us.

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made….14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:1-3; 14)

Today we’re going to focus on the exaltation of Christ, which leads to the submission of all before Him. Following Jesus’ death, resurrection, and ascension, God raised Jesus up to heaven to the highest position. All that Jesus willingly gave up to become man was now re-established. In His exaltation, He was given “a name above every other name.” During the incarnation, although He was known as Jesus to most and Lord to some, Paul makes it clear that all will know Him as Lord – if not now, then surely in the end. Christ existed as God before, throughout, and following His appearance as man, and even though some submit to God now, one day everything in heaven, on earth, and under the earth will bow before Him and confess His lordship. Some will confess “in joyful faith” and others “with resentment and despair” (Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Vol. 11, 125). And, as Paul writes, all of this has occurred and will occur for the glory of God.

Therefore, as we meditate and rejoice in these truths, let us not forget the purpose of this passage – that we would imitate Christ in full in order to bring glory to God. The beauty of all of this is that we know what happens in the final chapter – we know what’s going to occur in the end. As we keep our focus on the goal - the hope of victory, the hope of glory - we can endure a life of humility and hardship.

1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:1-2)

Praise the Lord, oh my soul! Praise the Lord!