Original Broadcast: January 2009
Monthly Theme: Jesus' Exaltation (Apostles' Creed)
Whoever exalts himself will be humbled,
and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
(Matthew 23:12)
The Second Article of the Creed is really two sections: Jesus' state of humiliation, or His Incarnation, and Jesus' state of exaltation. Looking at the Christmas story throughout December, we saw how everything in the Incarnation points to His death on the Cross. This month, as we also begin a new year, we'll see Jesus' state of exaltation as an effective "New Year's Day" for Jesus in His ministry and life.
The Creed contains the exaltation in the words: "He descended into Hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into Heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead."
As we look through these phrases from the Creed, we see what St. Paul also said about Jesus, "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 ... and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2:9-11). May that be your wish this morning--to bow the knee and confess Jesus as your Lord to the glory of Your Father in Heaven. Amen.
