By David L. Larsen
II. The
Divine Exaltation of Jesus Christ (2:9-11)
“Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name
that is above every name (9). The Biblical pattern is always “not now
but afterwards” (Hebrews 12:11).
It is imperative that we always take into account
the fact that we are not in heaven yet. Still believers in Christ are
“the people before the time” i.e., we have already bowed and
confessed that he is Lord! We are already tasting “the powers of the
age to come” in a very real and significant sense (Hebrews 6:5). The
reality remains: we must suffer for him first and then “reign with him”
(2 Timothy 2:12). There will be no gain without pain.
The name which he has been given and his exaltation as the object of
universal submission (not universal salvation) raises the question:
is this name the name of Jesus or his appellation as Lord? My old NT
professor at Fuller, Dr. Everett Falconer Harrison used to insist
that it is in fact the combination of both — the despised name of
Jesus (his incarnation) coupled with the high title of LORD (in
resurrection and session)! And we worship the living and exalted
Christ!
And thus it was for Christ, NO CROSS, NO CROWN. And so it is for us who
would follow him. The personal and pressing meaning of this for me
and for you is painful. Dr. Samuel Logan Brengle was a brilliant
university student and then outstanding American pulpit orator. But
his heart was not satisfied. He did not feel he was really touching
people and so joined the Salvation Army and offered his services to
General William Booth. To test his calibre, he was assigned to the
training garrison and given the task of cleaning the muddy boots of the
cadets. A battle royal raged in his heart. The devil pressed his
advantage — “was it for this he had renounced his fashionable church
and come to London?” Then the Holy Spirit brought a
poignant Scripture verse to his mind: “He took a towel and girded
himself.” In a moment he detected the subtlety of his adversary and
from his heart he creied: “Lord, if you coluld take a towel and wash
the dirty feet of the disciples, surely I can take a brush and clean
the cadets’s dirty boots.” So began a ministry which multiplied
itself a thousand times in a worldwide ministry (Eternity, 1958).
And so our Savior says to us: “Follow me.”
Advertisement
_________________
Sermon brief provided by: David L.
Larsen, Professor Emeritus of Preaching, Trinity Evangelical Divinity
School