Philippians 2:5-11
“For this reason God highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow—in heaven and on earth and under the earth—and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:3-4 CSB)
Very recently, one of my sons asked me while I was driving him to school if I could explain to him the difference between what Christians believe compared with the other major religions of the world. (Who doesn’t love a deep theological question early in the morning!) After thinking about it for a moment, we talked about how it primarily comes down to what people believe about Jesus.
Many religions or faiths acknowledge Jesus as a historical figure and as a great moral teacher or prophet. But ultimately what distinguishes Christianity from all other faiths is what we believe about the identity and work of Jesus. We believe that Jesus Christ is Lord and that through faith in what He accomplished on the Cross we can know God and live forever with Him.
This is exactly where the Apostle Paul turns his attention as he continues his letter to the church in Philippi. Having called them to lives of humility and harmony with one another, Paul points them to the example of Jesus in all that He has done and accomplished.
Paul reminds them first of the humility that Jesus demonstrated. He describes Jesus as one, “who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men” (v.6-7). Think about that statement. Jesus wasn’t merely a human being who was a great moral teacher or prophet. He is God Himself, who humbled himself by taking on human flesh to go to the Cross to save us. That is awesome truth on which to meditate!
Paul then describes what happened to Jesus after His experience on the Cross. “God highly exalted him,” Paul wrote, “and gave him the name that is above every name” (v.9). There is no other name like the name of Jesus. There is “no other name under heaven given to people by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). As God, Jesus holds the highest position of honor. He is Lord overall!
Whether people acknowledge this truth now or not, they will at some point. Paul tells us that there is a day coming when every person, “in heaven and on earth and under the earth”, will bend their knee before Jesus Christ and confess Him as Lord. One commentator put it this way, “Some will confess Him as Lord with great joy and humility. Others will confess Him as Lord with despair and anguish.” But either way, they will acknowledge Him for who He truly is. Jesus Christ is Lord!
If you already knew that, then worship and adore Him today. Ensure that your life is a reflection of the One that you now serve. And remember the mission that Jesus Christ our Lord has given to us His followers. We are to take the message that Jesus Christ is Lord to the ends of the earth so that every person will have the opportunity to bow before Him before it’s too late.
Prayer: You are highly exalted, Jesus, and hold the highest position of honor. There is no greater name than yours. I acknowledge you today as Lord over all, and bend my knee in submission and reverence to you. Help me today to serve you as Lord, and to be bold in declaring who you are to all who still need to hear. Amen.
