Question: WSC 28: Wherein consists Christ’s exaltation?
Answer: Christ’s exaltation consists in his rising again from the dead on the third day, in ascending up into heaven, in sitting at the right hand of God the Father, and in coming to judge the world at the last day.
Scripture Memory: “…This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven…..Being…exalted at the right hand of God… (Acts 1:11; 2:33a).
An Explanation: Jesus Christ humbled Himself for us in obedience unto death, but God the Father raised Him from the dead (Acts 2:24; Eph. 1:20). Jesus’ resurrection was the beginning of His exaltation. The Father was pleased with His Son in His Person (3:17b), but also was He pleased in His work on behalf of His people (Rom.1:3-4). After appearing to many folks over a period of forty days after His resurrection (Acts 1:1-4), Jesus ascended to heaven, was formally crowned king at God’s right hand as He sat down to rule and reign over heaven and earth, and to receive the Name that is above every name: . The author of Hebrews summarizes:
“…In these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high…†(Heb. 1:2-3).
Jesus’ exaltation teaches us as His people that God has received Jesus’ perfect sacrifice of atonement in our place. God has vindicated Jesus Christ in His resurrection-ascension-exaltation (1 Tim. 3:16). God has rewarded Christ with the fullness of His Spirit, and glorified the God-Man for His perfect righteousness and faithfulness to God His Father (Acts 2:32-36). The Apostle Paul wrote:“Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father†(Phil. 2:9-11).
Jesus’ powerful transition from death to life, from humility to exaltation, is also the hope of God’s people! As the Apostle Paul says, “If we have died with Him, we shall also reign with Him†(cf. Rom. 6:5, 8; 2 Tim. 2:11-12). Though now we suffer in our estate of humiliation, there is great hope that we will fully realize our adoption as Sons in our glorification (Rom. 8:15-25). Let us rejoice that in our union with Jesus, we are justified now and are therefore vindicated by God through grace, and pronounced “not guilty†(Rom. 8:1). We are adopted now in Christ, and can have assurance of His love for us as His children (Rom. 5:5). We are sanctified, and being sanctified in Christ (1 Cor. 1:30; 6:11; Heb. 2:11), and becoming more Christ-like each day (Rom. 8:29-30). When Christ returns, we shall be vindicated/justified before the whole world (Luke 22:29-30). We shall receive our full adoption/inheritance in glorified bodies (Rom. 8:23). We shall be fully complete and perfect in Him, and we shall live eternally in glory all because of His humiliation and exaltation. Our citizenship is in heaven, and we await for our Savior who is transform our lowly body to a glorious, incorruptible one (Phil. 3:20-21; 1 Cor. 15:42). Our Last Adam shall come to raise His blood-bought Bride and raise her to glory! Hallelujah!!
A Prayer: Dear Jesus, though now we are humiliated and suffer, our lives are hidden in you, and we know that when you appear on the Last Day, we shall be like you, because we shall see you as you are. This is our hope! (1 John 3:1-3).
In Christ’s Love,
Pastor Biggs