St.  Mark’s Lutheran Church                                                                                                                                                         October25, 28 & 29, 2000

Sermon Series: The Second Article of Apostle’s Creed                                                                                                                                              Pastor Michael Jensen

Text: Philippians 2:5-11

Humiliation?  Exaltation?   What’s the Difference?

 

Review of Sermon Series – Where have we been?  What have we covered?

 

Week One – Jesus, our substitute to reconcile us to God         [2 Corinthians 5:18-21]

 

Week Two – Jesus, the Messiah / the Christ / the Anointed One

The One Chosen by God to be our Prophet, High Priest & King              [Acts 10:34-43]

 

Week Three – Jesus, the Redeemer, the One who paid our ransom price

         Jesus,  the One who justifies us, whose work gives us the “Not Guilty” verdict     [Romans 3:19-24]

 

Today – Christ’s Humiliation & Exaltation:    What’s the Difference? 

I.  What’s the Difference between Christ’s Humiliation & Exaltation?

II.  What’s the Difference for you and me?

 

 

TEXT:  Philippians 2:5-11

v5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 

 v6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,

                                                v2:7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.

 

  v2:8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death‑‑

                                                                                                                                                                                                                even death on a cross!

 

  v 2:9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,

  v10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

 v 2:11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

 

 

I.  What’s the Difference between the Humiliation & Exaltation?

 

A.  Whom are we talking about?  Vv. 6 & 7             We’re talking about Jesus Christ.

·            Jesus =  Means “The LORD saves”         This is His personal name.

·           Christ = Means “Messiah” or “Anointed One”   This is His title, his official name    Jesus, the Christ

·            Who is this Christ Jesus?

ü       Who is Jesus according to Verse 6? – “Who, being in very nature God”       

Jesus Christ is God

 

Ø       And, this is not the only place in the Bible where we read that Jesus is true God.  Rather the fact that Jesus is true God is a continuous theme running through the entire Bible.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ü       Who is Jesus according to Verses  7 & 8?  –

“taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man

 

Jesus Christ is also our human brother

 

Ø       And, this is not the only place in the Bible where we read that Jesus is a true human.  Rather the fact that Jesus is a true human being is also a continuous theme running throughout  the entire Bible.

 

 

 

 

B.  Humiliation

·          What’s the humiliation?  V6-8

ü       As we read these verses, let’s remember who it is that’s being talked about.

“Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,

                                        but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.

And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death‑‑even death on a cross!

 

ü       As we read these verse, what do we see the God-man did?    He humbled Himself.   This is what we’re talking about when we speak of Christ’s humiliation.

 

Definition of Christ’s Humiliation Christ’s humiliation is when He as the God-man chose not to  make full use of His divine power and glory.

 

 

 

 

 

ü       This is interesting, because the Son of God could have become a true human without humbling Himself.

Ø       He could have chosen to come in glory as a perfect, mature, glorious man.

Ø       He could have chosen to be born in the royal palace, because according to His human nature, He was from King David’s royal family

 

ü       Yet, we do not see Christ in glory while He walked on this earth.

Ø       Sure, there were the glimpses of His divine power and glory that show us He always had His divine power and glory.  

Examples:

·           The Mount of Transfiguration

·           The Miracles

Ø       Yet, the vast majority of the time He look and moved about just like you and me.

Ø       Although He was a perfect human being who was also the One true God, He chose to be found in the appearance of a normal human being.          

 

 

 

 

·          How did Jesus humble Himself? 

ü       The Second Article of the Apostles’ Creed outlines His humiliation.

ü       Christ’s lowly conception, birth, life, sufferings, crucifixion, death and burial

Ø       Lowly conception

He chose not to come as a full-grown man, but chose to enter our lowliness and develop in His mother just like you and me.

 

Ø       Lowly birth

At Christmas we review the well known lowly circumstances in which He chose to be born.

Ø       Lowly Life

We see Christ live in obscurity and lowliness.

 

Ø       Lowly Sufferings

He who governs and rules over the entire universe willingly placed Himself under the very Jewish and Roman officials that He had placed in authority.

 

Ø       Lowly Death & Burial- V8      “He humbled himself and became obedient to death‑‑even death on a cross!”

God, Jesus, the Master of life willingly gave His life.

Jesus, the Master of death willingly became obedient to death, even the shameful, horrible death of crucifixion.

 

C.  Exaltation

·           What then is Christ’s exaltation? 

ü       According to verse 9, what did God, the Father,  do to Jesus when His humiliation was done? 

“God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

·           How did God exalt Christ?

ü       The Second Article of the Apostles’ Creed outlines His humiliation.

·           Christ’s Descent to hell – the devil’s home territory

Ø       Sometimes we may think Christ’s descent into hell belongs with Christ’s Humiliation, but it doesn’t.  It’s really part of His exaltation.

Ø       Christ’s descent into hell was not for the purpose of suffering.  The risen Savior went to hell to declare His victory over Satan.

 

·           The Resurrection

Ø       Christ’s glorious resurrection shows everyone that He won!  Sin, death and the devil have been defeated!

·           The Ascension

Ø       The Son of God, the Conquering Hero,  returned to His heavenly throne triumphant.  It’s like a heavenly tickertape parade by all the citizens of heaven for heaven’s hometown Son, who also was now a true human being!

 

·           Seated as the Right Hand of God

Ø       Jesus Christ is the Reigning Champion!  He does not retire, but continues as the Undefeated, Never to be Defeated Champion!  Jesus Christ, the God-man rules over all things!

 

·           Come Again in Glory to Judge! 

Ø       Christ’s return is also part of His exaltation, because He will return again, but it will not be in lowliness, humility or  obscurity.  Jesus will come again  in glory.  There shall be no mistaking His coming and every knee shall bow before Him as all must recognize Him as their God and Lord!

 

 

 

 

 

 

II.  What’s the Difference for you and me?

A.  What’s the difference?

Ø       Is this just a bunch of Theological Mumbo Jumbo?

·           Incarnation?  Humiliation?  Exaltation?  Are these just “big church words” perhaps once learned in confirmation class, but then long ago forgotten?

Ø       No.  It’s not just a bunch of Theological Mumbo Jumbo.

Ø       For us the difference is the difference between heaven and hell.

 

 

B.  Christ’s Humiliation was for you and for me.

Ø       His lowly life was offered perfectly in place of your lowly life.

·           His lowly birth, life and death were for you!

·           As your true human brother, He humbled Himself.  He put Himself in your place.  He lived the lowly and perfect life that God demands of each of us.  He died the death for sin that God demands of each of us.  It was a death none of us could have offered.

·           Now through faith in Jesus God credits Jesus’ work - his lowly, perfect life and death  - to your account!

 

C.  Christ’s Exaltation was and is also for you and me.

Ø       His exaltation assures you that He is Your Savior!

 

·           Christ’s Descent into hell was for you!

The Risen Savior descended into hell to assure you that your great enemy the devil has been defeated.  Jesus descent into hell assures you that you’ll never even get a glimpse of hell.

 

·           Jesus’ Resurrection was for you!

Jesus’ resurrection from the dead assures you that your sins have been paid for and death has been defeated.  So, although we all will die physically, Jesus glorious resurrection assures you of your glorious resurrection!  Because of Jesus your body will rise, be glorified and reunited with your soul!

 

·           Jesus’ Ascension was for you!

Jesus ascended into heave to assure you of your ascent to heaven.  Jesus Himself said, “I am going to prepare a place for you.  And if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am” (John 14:2b & 3).

 

·           Jesus also sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty for you! 

He rules over all things for your good. 

ü       Think of who this is who rules over all things!  It’s your brother Jesus.  It’s your brother who knows your human frailties and has walked in your shoes.  It’s your brother Jesus who has experienced human weakness, sadness, etc. 

ü       And, your brother is also the One true God who has all the power.   And, He has promised to use all that power for your good, to turn everything in your life for good, to keep you in His saving faith, to get you to heaven!

 

·           And, Jesus shall come back on the great day of resurrection for you!

Every knee shall bow before Him.  Those who rejected Him in unbelief will have to bow down, because on that day they shall have no choice but to recognize Him as God.  But, you and I, we will not bow in fear and terror, we will bow before Him in love and faith to glory in His resurrection and ours for all eternity!

 

 

Conclusion

Christ’s Humiliation?  Christ’ Exaltation?  What’s the difference?  To us they make all the difference, because they are the heart and core of salvation and give us the certainty of heave. 

 

Now, I can think of no better way to end this sermon or this sermon series than to join in confessing our faith in the word of the Second Article of the Apostles’ Creed with Dr.  Luther’s Explanation.  As we do so today, as we speak each  phrase which describes Christ’s Humiliation and Exaltation, let’s be thinking “Jesus did this for me.”  And, as we get to the steps of Christ’s Exaltation, let’s have a note of joy in our voices as we rejoice in our crucified and now glorified Savior, Jesus.

 

Confession of Faith in the words of the Second Article of Apostles’ Creed

 

Now may the peace of God which surpasses all understanding guard and keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.  Amen