Archive for category: Steadfast Hope

“God highly exalted Him” (Philippians 2:9).

Christ’s resurrection and ascension were the first two steps of His exaltation. The first step on Christ’s progress from humiliation to exaltation was His resurrection. In Acts 13 Paul preached on the resurrection of Christ, declaring: “[God] raised up Jesus. . . . Therefore He also says . . . ‘Thou wilt not allow Thy holy one to undergo decay.’ For David, underwent decay; but He whom God raised did not undergo decay. Through Him forgiveness of sins is proclaimed, and everyone who believes is freed from all things, from which the Law of Moses could not do” (vv. 33-39). Christ’s death and resurrection provided forgiveness and freedom from sin, the law, and death. Acts 1:9-11 records the second step in the exaltation of Christ. As a cloud received Christ  from His disciples’ sight, two men in white clothing stood beside them; and said, ‘Men of Galilee, why are you looking into the sky? Jesus will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.’” Just before He ascended, Christ spoke these final words to His disciples: “You shall be My witnesses” (Acts 1:8).

Until He comes again, let’s be witnesses who maintain a positive testimony for the sake of the gospel. Praise God “who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Peter 1:3).

“He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:8).

Instead of asserting His divine rights, Christ submitted Himself to the cross. Even though the people did not recognize the deity of Christ and treated Him as a criminal, He did not fight back. Instead, He “humbled Himself.” Consider His trial. He said not a word to defend Himself throughout unbelievable humiliation. They mocked Him, punched Him, pulled out His beard—yet He did not say a word. He was silent and accepted man’s abuse through each phase of His phony trial. He did not demand His rights but “humbled Himself.” In humility Christ was “obedient to the point of death” (v. 8). At no time did our Lord say, “Stop! That’s enough”—not in the middle of His trial, not when He was mocked, not when forced to walk half-naked through the city of Jerusalem with a cross on His back, not even on the cross. Christ was willing to descend into the muck and slime of death that He might bring us out of death into life. Christ suffered not just death but death on a cross—the most excruciating, embarrassing, degrading, painful, and cruel death ever devised. The Jewish people hated crucifixion because of Deuteronomy 21:23: “Anyone who is hung on a tree is under God’s curse” (NIV). The God who created the universe suffered the ultimate human degradation—hanging naked against the sky before a mocking world, with nails driven through His hands and feet.

Christ said that His disciples must take up their cross and follow Him (Matt. 16:24). In keeping with Christ’s example, have you taken up the cross, living for His honor and glory no matter what? Ask the Lord to help you follow His example of self-denial.

“Taking the form of a bond-servant” (Philippians 2:7).

Christ submitted Himself to the Father’s will. When Christ emptied Himself, He not only gave up His privileges but also became a servant. First, He was a servant by nature. In Philippians 2 Christ is shown as a true bond-servant, doing the will of the Father. He submitted to the Father and to the needs of men as well. Jesus was everything that Isaiah 52:13-14 depicted—a Messiah who was a servant. Second, Christ was a servant by position. As God, Christ owns everything. But when He came into this world, He borrowed everything: a place to be born, a place to lay His head, a boat to cross the Sea of Galilee and preach from, an animal to ride into the city when He was triumphantly welcomed as King of kings and Lord of lords, and a tomb to be buried in. The only Person ever to live on this earth who had the right to all its pleasures instead wound up with nothing and became a servant. Although He was the rightful heir to David’s throne and God in human flesh, He had no advantages or privileges in this world. He owned little but served everyone. Christ, the perfect servant, said to His disciples, “Whoever wishes to become first among you shall be your slave” (Matt. 20:27). What about you? Are you seeking greatness by wanting others to serve you, or are you being truly great by serving God and others? Make it your ambition to be a true servant. Lord help us to be like Christ—a true servant of God.

WHO IS JESUS CHRIST?

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1)

Coeternal with the Father, and with the Holy Spirit, the revelation of Christ goes back beyond the beginning of creation and of man. “In the beginning – a beginning before Genesis 1:1 ……was the Word” (John 1:1) Claiming for Himself powers and attributes belonging only to God, Christ asserted His pre-existence. He claimed “Before Abraham was born, I am!” (John 8:58). Also John told us that Jesus dwelt in “the bosom of the Father” ( John 1:18). As strange as it may seems Jesus lived before He was born. He also prayed “Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began” (John 17:5). What a manifestation of His excellent glory the angelic host must have witnessed in that past eternity when their Lord was the radiance of the Father’s glory (Hebrews 1:3). Did He not share the Father’s attribute of eternity, and come into the world as the Everlasting Farther, the King Eternal, Mighty God and as the Prince of Peace? (Isaiah 9:6; 1 Timothy 1:17).

Hallelujah! Hallelujah!