The Exaltation of Christ (Philippians 2:5-11)

There are many people who do extraordinary things. As a result they become famous, they often are held up as examples of excellence, books and songs are written about them, and national holidays are sometimes established in their honor.

But the fame and following of Jesus goes well beyond that. So, my question is: What makes Him so special? What makes Jesus so uniquely and transcendently great that God would exalt Him and people would worship Him?
 

The Exaltation of Christ
Philippians 2:5-11

I want to suggest three reasons why Jesus has been exalted from this great text:

1. Jesus is God. (6)

2. As God, Jesus emptied Himself by becoming a man. (6-7)
    a. He emptied himself by laying aside his rights rather than taking advantage of them.
    b. He emptied himself by becoming a servant rather than being served.
    c. He emptied himself by becoming a man rather than appearing as God.
          i. He had to be a man so that he could fulfill God’s Law.
         ii. He had to be a man so that he could be tempted.
        iii. He had to be a man so that he could die.

3. As man, Jesus humbled Himself by dying on a cross. (8)
    a. He humbled himself by obeying God’s will rather than His own.
    b. He humbled himself by sacrificing himself for the guilty.

4. That is why God exalted him. (9)
    a. The exaltation of Christ is the joyful act of a satisfied Father.
    b. The exaltation of Christ is the direct result of his humility and sacrifice.
    c. The exaltation of Christ confers the Name “LORD” on Jesus.

5. That is why we worship him. (10-11)
    a. The exaltation of Christ demands universal worship.
    b. The exaltation of Christ glorifies the Father.