Jesus Exalted Over All
By Pastor Matt Black
23
July 2006
Lord's Day morning
Ephesians 1:20-22
Introduction: Open your Bible to Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. This morning we come to an amazing portion of Scripture. You remember at the Transfiguration Peter James and John got to see the Unveiled Christ—they saw the Lord in a way that no person living on earth had ever seen Him in the history of the world—they saw His glory transfigured before them. It took their breath away. It left them in a state of awe. We come to a similar place today. We come to a place in Scripture that unveils the rightful place of Jesus Christ on the throne of Almighty God because He is Almighty God. This morning we are going to see Jesus “highly exalted” (Philippians 2:9). And so as we begin this morning, I ask you all to bow the knee of your life before Him. This morning we must do as Psalm 2:12 commands and, “Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.” The title then of this morning’s message then is “Jesus Exalted Over All.” Let’s stand together and read Ephesians chapter 1 and verses 15 through 23.
[Stand and read Ephesians 1:15-23]
We come to verse 18, and we see Paul praying that “The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, 19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us–ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power…” Have you experienced the working of that mighty power this morning? If you know Christ, then you know and have tasted of the power of God. 20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead,
When Paul thinks of the greatness of Christ’s power, he thinks of the resurrection. Jesus, throughout His life pointed to the resurrection as evidence of His being the Lord of all and Saviour of the world. He says to his disciples in Mark 10:33-34, “Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be delivered unto the chief priests, and unto the scribes; and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him to the Gentiles: 34 And they shall mock him, and shall scourge him, and shall spit upon him, and shall kill him: and the third day he shall rise again.”
Jesus said that after He died, He would be raised to life again in the most amazing way. It seemed impossible. What power on earth could accomplish this? In fact no power on earth could accomplish it—only the Author of life can restore life. The way in which Christ was raised from the dead demonstrates the exaltation of His Person.
I.
So first this
morning we see Christ exalted in His Person. We see this in His
resurrection. Look at verse 20 again. Paul speaks of this mighty power that
was working in Christ. This mighty power was an amazing force “which he
wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead.” Christ lived a
perfect life, and He made many claims during His life. He did many miracles.
The Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well said to Him, “I know that Messias
cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things” (John 4:25).
And what does the next verse tell us?
“Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he” (verse 26).
Jesus said in John 11:25, “I am the resurrection, and the life: he
that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.” What Jesus
was saying was that He was God in the flesh. He said in John 14:9, “He
that hath seen me hath seen the Father…” He was saying, ‘when you look
into my face, you are looking into the face of God. What an amazing claim! Jesus
was revealing His person. He was revealing His true identity. He is
the Christ, the Son of the Living God, He is God in the flesh. The resurrection
confirmed that Christ was who He said He was.
A. First of all, the resurrection reveals the Diety of Christ.
We read that “[GOD] raised him [CHRIST] from the dead,” Christ died like a man. We read in Hebrews 9:27, “it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment”. The resurrection demonstrated that Christ was not subject to death. He overcame it. In Christ’s resurrection “Death is swallowed up in victory” (I Corinthians 15:54).
1. The Father’s part in the resurrection.
Now Christ’s resurrection was different than say the raising of Lazarus, or Elijah raising the widow’s son from the dead. It looks here like Jesus had no power of His own. Yes the Father indeed did raise Jesus from the dead, but do not think that this is a passive event for the Lord. He is not passive but is equally a part of His own resurrection. This passage of Scripture is emphasizing the fact that God is pleased to put His Beloved Son on His very throne to rule and reign in His own glory. But other Scriptures make it clear that not only did God the Father raise Jesus from the dead, but He raised Himself from the dead.
2. The Son’s part in the resurrection.
Jesus said in John 2:19 after He had driven the money changers out of the Temple, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” Verse 21 tells us that “he spake of the temple of his body”. Turn over to John 10:17. Here we see Christ again foretelling of His own death and how He will raise Himself from the dead. He says, “I lay down my life, that I might take it again. 18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again.”
3. We finally see the Spirit’s part in the resurrection. Look at Romans 8:11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you
So we see the diety of Christ in His own resurrection. Romans 4:17 tells us that it is “God [ALONE], who quickeneth the dead”. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—the Triune Godhead is united in the resurrection! Christ said He would raise up His own dead body on the third day. Only God can do that.
B. Then the resurrection reveals the Purity of Christ. Christ is the only man born who was not born with Adam’s sinful nature. Look at 1 Corinthians 15:22 “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.” All die in Adam. Christ indeed “made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men” (Philippians 2:7). In every way He was like us. He “was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15). The resurrection demonstrated that Christ’s sinless sacrifice was accepted. He is “a lamb without blemish and without spot” (I Peter 1:19), and because of that He can be called “the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). Only one who was without sin could take away our sin, and that is exactly what Christ did! As 2 Corinthians 5:21 so beautifully tells us “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” Christ is exalted in His purity!
C. Finally the resurrection reveals Atonement of Christ. The Father accepted the atonement of Christ and showed his approval by raising Him from the dead! Romans 4:25 tells us that Christ “was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.” Christ is exalted in His perfect death and endless life!
So we see the Christ exalted in His Person, but second notice…
II. We see Christ exalted in His Position.
A. Christ’s Throne is above all (The Father joyfully puts the Son on His throne).
(20) and [God] set him[CHRIST] at
his own right hand
The right hand is the place of highest power and authority.
Albert Barnes:
When we read that Christ sits on the right hand of God, we should not be thinking that Jesus sits in any particular direction from God, or that God has a human body or body parts like hands and feet. This phrase [THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD] is taken from the manner of speaking among men, and means that he was exalted and glorified to the place of highest honour and power in the heavens. It was esteemed the place of the highest honour to be seated at the right hand of a prince. So, to be seated at the right hand of God, means only that Jesus is exalted to the highest honor of the universe.[1]
Christ can say to believers in Revelation 3:21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
Christ sits on the throne of God, ruling the universe, because He is God. This is what Jesus Christ said over and over again while He was on this earth. For example, in John 5:23, He said, “That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.”
He prayed in John 17:5 “And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.”
The LORD tells us that He will not share His glory with anyone! Isaiah 42:8 says this very clearly and unequivocally, “I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another”. God gives His glory, His authority, His Lordship to no one. Even “being in the form of God, [He] thought it not robbery to be equal with God” (Philippians 2:8). The Father’s throne is Christ’s throne. What does the Father say to His Son in Hebrews 1:8? “Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.”
Christ sits on the Father’s throne because He is one with the Father. “I and my Father are one” (John 10:30). In other words, Christ was saying, “I and my Father are equal”! He is equal with God. The Jews of course picked up stones to stone Him because they said, “thou, being a man, makest thyself God” (John 10:34). Dear friend, Christ didn’t have to make himself God, He is God! He is the Second Person of the Triune Godhead. Hebrews 1:3 tells us that Christ is “the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person.”
So when Jesus Christ came down to earth, who does 1 Timothy 3:16 tell us “was manifest in the flesh”? Speaking of Jesus Christ, the Scriptures tell us that “God was manifest in the flesh”! The Word was in the beginning with God, John tells us. He says in John 1:14, “the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us”, speaking of Jesus Christ. Who was this Word? John 1:1 tells us, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
So when we look at our text in Ephesians 1:20, and Paul says: “[God] set him[CHRIST] at his own right hand”, he is teaching in the clearest terms possible that Jesus Christ is God.
So Christ is set at the right hand, the point of highest power and authority of God. This is not just speaking of Christ’s right to sit in the throne of God, but it is stating unequivocally that Christ holds the most authoritative and powerful position in that throne.
1 Peter 3:22 Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.
Not only is Christ’s Position exalted because He sits in an exalted throne, but secondly…
B. Christ’s Territory is above all. Paul says that Christ is set at the “right hand” of the Father, and then he identifies the realm where this is. It is above our realm. Christ rules over not just this earth, that is obvious since the New Testament tells us that Christ is the Creator of the world. But here Paul specifically tells us that Christ’s rule is even “in the heavenly places,” (Ephesians 1:20). Christ’s kingdom is a heavenly kingdom. It supersedes this fragile earthly realm.
21 Far above
all principality, these are thrones, or places where rulers sit
and power, authority
and might, force -- dunamis
and dominion, --lordship
Principalities and powers are speaking of the highest spiritual powers that there are. Outside of God, Angels have the highest spiritual powers in heaven. Of course their power is nothing compared to Christ who created them! We must remember the truth of Ephesians 6:12 “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”
So this verse is speaking of Satan’s dominion. But this is also speaking of earthly powers and any authority in the universe. Whatever power or authority there is, Christ is above it! Christ owns the earth and the heavens, and all that there is! He said in Matthew 29:18, “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.” He says in Revelation 1:18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
So we see His throne and territory are exalted above all. Then we see…
C. Christ’s Title is above all.
(21) and every name that is named,
Philippians 2:9-11 “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
1. Christ takes the Title of “Jehovah”, the Great “I AM”.
John 8:58 Jesus said unto them…Before Abraham was, I am.
Psalm 23:1 tells us that “the LORD [Jehovah] is my Shepherd.”
John 10:11, Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd”.
In Isaiah 6:1 Isaiah sees a vision of “the LORD [Jehovah] sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up.” Yet the apostle John, referring to this same incident, writes that Isaiah saw Christ's glory, "and spake of him" (John 12:41).
In Isaiah 40:3, we read about a prophet that will come who will prepare the way for Jehovah, he will make “a highway for our God”. Listen to Isaiah 40:3, “The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
2. Christ holds the Title of “God”.
We bow the knee and say with Thomas, “My Lord and my God” (John 20:28).
God the Father says of our Lord in Hebrews 1:8, “But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever.”
Paul says to Titus (2:13) that we should be “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ…”
Paul says that Jesus is “God…manifest in the flesh” (1 Timothy 3:16). He says that Christ is the “image of the invisible God” (Colossians 1:15).
John tells us that “the Word was God” (John 1:1) and says in Revelation 1:8 that Christ is the “Almighty”. Again, Revelation 15:3 tells us that the Lamb is called “Lord God Almighty”. John says in I John 5:20 clearly says that “Jesus Christ…is the true God, and eternal life.
Isaiah prophesied about a child that would be born who is the “Mighty God” (Isaiah 9:6)—the one whose very Name is Emmanuel, “God with us” (Isaiah 7:14).
So we see his throne, his territory, his title. We then see something further…
D. This exaltation is Timeless.
(21) not only in this world,
but also in that which is to come:
E. Then we see this exaltation is Total.
22 And hath put all things under his feet,
Every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord! (Philippians 2:9).
So we’ve seen Christ’s Person, His Position, now let us see…
III. We see Christ exalted in His Power.
(22) and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
Here is where the rubber meets the road. Do you call yourself a Christian? This verse says that God gave Christ ” to be the head over all things to the church, 23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all”. Is Christ filling you? Are you filled with Christ, with His Spirit? Does He rule your life?
Conclusion: Is Jesus Christ ruling a reigning over all? Yes! He owns the earth! He owns you! He owns everything! Will you dare to rebel against His sovereignty? Will you dare sin and trample on the blood of Jesus? Will you dare take lightly the resurrection? Is there sin in your life? Are you in right relationship with the Saviour? Will you submit to Christ’s exaltation in your life today? Every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord!
Closing Hymn: 187 He is Lord
[1] Albert Barnes’ comments on Ephesians 1:20 in his Barnes’ Notes. These are not his exact words. I have adapted his quote for my own purposes.