Since our church completed Colossians 1, I decided to teach on two other Christ hymn passages before we take up Colossians 2. Last Sunday, I taught on one of my favorite passages, Philippians 2:5-11. During my preparation, a marvelous truth opened up to me. It was so exciting to share it with my church, and I’d like to share it with my readers here.
The glorious truth unfolding in Philippians 2:9-11 is this: The mutual pleasure of the Father in the Son and the Son in the Father is expressed by glory to the Father and glory to the Son!
Take a look at the text.
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.
First, notice the “therefore.” God the Father responds to the willing, sacrificial obedience of His Son by bestowing on Him a name, a name so high above all names, that at that name, Jesus, His Son, will be glorified!
Second, notice the final phrase “to the glory of God the Father.” The Son willingly became a slave in order to endure the cross so that He could redeem the Father’s children. The Son knew He would be exalted. And He also knew that His exaltation would result in bringing glory to the Father!
Now watch how Jesus’ prayer in John 17:1 matches this interpretation of the Christ hymn in Philippians 2!
Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify You!
Nothing brings more glory to the Father than glory to the Son! Nothing brings more glory to the Son than glory to the Father!
The application for us is that salvation in the eternal state is that we will be brought fully into the Father and Son’s relation of glory, love, and joy! We will know ultimate joy because we will be with the Father and the Son in their glory. (John 17:24)
*I am indebted to Jonathan Edwards and John Piper for helping me to see this beautiful relationship between Father and Son. I know the Spirit used the knowledge I have gleaned from them to open this text to me.
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