Q. 28. How is Jesus Christ Exalted?

At this time of the year you will begin hearing many people calling for Christ to be exalted again during the Christmas season. That He should be reinstated as the ‘reason for the season’ and we must put the ‘Christ’ back into ‘Christmas’. There is a call from many to place Christ at the centre of the festivities, back on our Christmas cards and stop using words like ‘Xmas’.

But I’d like to remind you of something in regards to the person of Jesus Christ. Now, whilst the intentions may be sincere from well meaning Christians and whilst there is a great sense of truth that Christ is being rejected in the celebrations; a great amount of ignorance prevails in regards to the office of Jesus Christ.

Men talk about Jesus as if He has been jostled or pulled down from His throne. They talk about Jesus as if He needs our support to be made the centre of attention again. There is much noise from the lips of men that Jesus’s fame is hidden away. Many speak about Jesus Christ as if He needs a Press Release or an ad in the column of a newspaper reminding people who He is.

Oh, how mistaken you are if you follow this line of reasoning. How blind, ignorant and miserable you are if you think Jesus Christ needs to be exalted again. Let’s take a look at Question 28 of the Westminster Shorter Catechism.

Question. 28. How is Jesus Christ exalted?

Answer

Christ is exalted by His rising from the dead on the third day, His going up into heaven, His sitting at the right hand of God the Father, and His coming to judge the world at the last day.

Beloved, Jesus Christ is already exalted. He has already been exalted. The Father and the Holy Spirit have already exalted Him and continue to do this and will continue to do this for all of eternity. He is the darling of heaven, magnified, glorified and the centre of fame. He has been given the preeminence already. He has already been exalted in the following manner:

1. Christ is exalted by His rising from the dead on the third day (1 Cor 15:4) – Resurrection;
2. Christ is exalted by His going up into heaven (Mark 16:19) – Ascension;
3. Christ is exalted by His sitting at the right hand of God the Father (Pslam 110:1) – Session;
4. Christ is exalted in His coming to judge the world at the last day (Matthew 16:27) – Second Coming.

The Bible loudly proclaims no man can give or take away from the glory of Christ because He was exalted in His resurrection, ascension, session and second coming. Sure we can partake of His glory by exalting Him. And yes, He even invites and calls us to worship Him and enjoy Him forever. We can even lift up our hands and in praise of His exalted position. But God wants you to know that whether the you, the world or even creation accepts or rejects Jesus Christ, He is still Lord of all.

All of creation worships Him. The hosts of the heavens worship Him and tremble. Angels prostrate before Him and cry praise and worship day and night. Do you really think Christmas celebrations is going to add anything further to His glory?

Even if the whole of creation including every man, woman and child united together in rejection of Christ, He would still be exalted in what He has done and in the office He fulfills.

Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:9-11)

Tags: Ascension, Christmas, Exalted, Q.28, Resurrection, Second Coming, Session

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