Most churchgoers have heard a pastor or worship leader say that one day, “Every knee is going to bow, and every tongue is going to confess.” This passage references Paul’s writing to the Philippian church, which has served to frame the future reality. There will be a time when all people will finally come to grasp that Jesus is Lord. Some may bow now, but all will bow eventually.
9 For this reason God highly exalted him
and gave him the name
that is above every name,
10 so that at the name of Jesus
every knee will bow—
in heaven and on earth
and under the earth—
11 and every tongue will confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.Philippians 2:9-11.
At the name of Jesus, such honor will finally come when the world beholds Him for who He truly is. Why did God exalt Him? It is essential to consider why Paul would say, “for this reason” (Phil. 2:9). There’s a particular purpose for such reactions to be imminent. A quick backward glance indicates that what Jesus did is why God highly exalted Him. Though equal with God, He emptied Himself. He humbled Himself to be born as a man, live as a servant, and die as a criminal (Phil. 2:6-8). His exaltation is directly tied to His humiliation.
That sequence is noteworthy because it completely contradicts everything this world tells you to do if you want to be noticed. To be considered significant, you must prove to be just that. The more confidence you exude, the more achievements you broadcast, and the more distance you create from others not as stellar as you, the better your chances are of being recognized.
Jesus did the complete opposite. Though He was deserving of all recognition, He deflected it. God exalted Him because Jesus did not seek to elevate Himself. Every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess because He never demanded it. That’s why Paul’s encouragement at the beginning of that passage is now better grasped: “Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus” (Phil. 2:5). If Jesus humbled Himself to that level, you will never outdo Him. If you seek to exalt yourself, God will humble you, but if you seek to humble yourself, God will exalt you (Matt. 23:12). Choose wisely; be like Jesus.
Travis Agnew serves as the Lead Pastor of Rocky Creek Church in Greenville, SC. His most recent book is Just (About) Married.
