Ascension: The Name of Jesus

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:5-11)

The sequence of Jesus’ redeeming work is: incarnation, crucifixion, resurrection, exaltation.

• Though He has always been fully divine, the Son of God became a bondservant (God is love; love gives and serves) and took on human flesh.
• He humbled Himself, even to the point of death on the cross, where He took on all our sins, sicknesses and bondages.
• God raised Him from the dead in victory over all the works of the devil, even death ( 1 John 3:8: Hebrews 2:14).
• Forty days later, as the disciples watched, Jesus ascended to heaven, where God has highly exalted Him above all things, and given Him the name which is above every name.

At the name of Jesus, every knee must bow and every confess that He is Lord. This, too, is part of our salvation, for Jesus has not been glorified in His divinity only, but also in His humanity. He is the God-Man who reigns forever and ever. This does not take anything away from God, but honors and glorifies Him.

It is not only at the coming of Jesus that every knee will bow and every tongue confess; but it is at the name of Jesus. Certainly we look for His return, and the completion of all things in Him, but our job at present is to lift up and glorify His name. For that is what will cause every knee to bow and every tongue to confess His eternal lordship.

Do you know the God-Man who reigns forever? His kingdom is breaking into the earth, and His reign is the completion of our salvation. The Bible says, “If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the death, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9). His glory day will become your glory day, too.