Beloved, let us lift our hearts and minds to the exalted Christ, the One who reigns supreme and calls all creation to worship Him. The Scriptures declare His divine authority, sovereignty, and ultimate victory, drawing us to recognize and honor His glory. In this reflection, we explore the profound attributes and the universal call to worship the exalted Christ.
Prophetic Foretelling
The prophets spoke of the coming Messiah, high and lifted up. Isaiah proclaimed, “Behold, My Servant will prosper, He will be high and lifted up and greatly exalted” (Isaiah 52:13). Daniel saw in visions of the night, “And to Him was given dominion, glory, and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom one that shall not be destroyed” (Daniel 7:14). These sacred words call us to bow before the One who holds all power and authority. Isaiah also declared, “For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). This prophecy invites us to worship the Prince of Peace, who reigns eternally.
Teachings and Declarations of Jesus
When the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, He spoke of His future exaltation and the glory to come. To His faithful disciples, He promised, “When the Son of Man sits on His glorious throne, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel” (Matthew 19:28). As the days drew near for His departure, He assured them, “They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory” (Matthew 24:30). After He had spoken to them, “He was taken up into heaven and He sat at the right hand of God” (Mark 16:19). The angel announced His birth, “You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call Him Jesus” (Luke 1:31), and at His circumcision, “He was named Jesus, the name the angel had given Him before He was conceived” (Luke 2:21). These declarations affirm His exaltation and call believers to anticipate and prepare for His glorious return, worshiping Him as the reigning King.
Apostolic Testimony
The apostles, filled with the Holy Spirit, bore witness to Christ’s exaltation. Peter, standing with the eleven, declared, “Exalted to the right hand of God, He has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear” (Acts 2:33). Paul, in his letter to the Romans, emphasized, “Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us” (Romans 8:34). Furthermore, Peter proclaimed, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). These testimonies call us to fall in adoration before Him who intercedes on our behalf and whose name alone brings salvation.
Pauline Epistles
Paul speaks of the exaltation of Christ and the universal call to worship. To the Ephesians, he wrote, “He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 1:20). In Philippians, he exclaims, “Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:9-11). These words stir our souls to worship Him whose name is above all names. Paul also writes, “May the name of our Lord Jesus be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thessalonians 1:12).
The Epistle to the Hebrews
Hebrews eloquently describes Christ’s exaltation and calls believers to worship. “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His being, sustaining all things by His powerful word. After He had provided purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven” (Hebrews 1:3). Later, it encourages believers to “fix our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before Him, He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2). These passages invite us to worship Christ for His sacrificial love and His exalted position.
Letters of Peter and the Revelation
Peter testifies to Christ’s exaltation, declaring, “Who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities, and powers in submission to Him” (1 Peter 3:22). In the Revelation given to John, we hear the triumphant voice: “To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with Me on My throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with My Father on His throne” (Revelation 3:21). In a vision, John saw “every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: ‘To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!’” (Revelation 5:13). These declarations emphasize that Christ’s exaltation calls for universal worship, recognizing His ultimate authority and eternal reign. John also saw Christ with many crowns on His head, bearing the name “King of Kings and Lord of Lords” (Revelation 19:12, 19:16).
Universal Call to Worship
From the dawn of creation, the call to worship Christ has echoed through the ages. “May His name endure forever; may it continue as long as the sun. Then all nations will be blessed through Him, and they will call Him blessed” (Psalm 72:17). The Song of Solomon praises, “Your name is like perfume poured out. No wonder the young women love you!” (Song of Solomon 1:3). In every tongue and tribe, let the name of Jesus be magnified, as Peter declared, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins” (Acts 2:38). The apostles testified, “By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through Him that has completely healed him, as you can all see” (Acts 3:16). Even the enemies of the gospel recognized the power of His name: “But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn them to speak no longer to anyone in this name” (Acts 4:17). And in Ephesus, “The name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor” (Acts 19:17).
Paul urged the Corinthians, “I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought” (1 Corinthians 1:10). He wrote to the Ephesians that Christ’s name is “far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come” (Ephesians 1:21). James also acknowledged, “Is it not they who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called?” (James 2:7).
Conclusion: Worshiping Christ
Beloved, let us lift our hearts and voices in worship to the exalted Christ. His divine authority and eternal reign call all of creation to bow before Him. From prophetic declarations to apostolic testimonies, Scripture affirms Christ’s supreme position and the universal call to acknowledge His sovereignty. His exaltation assures us of His ultimate victory and the fulfillment of God’s redemptive plan. Therefore, let us join the heavenly hosts and all creation in worshiping the exalted Christ, for His name is above every name, and His kingdom will never end. To Him be glory and honor, now and forevermore. Amen.
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