Every Knee Will Bow
The day Jesus Christ was born the fate of the world changed. Jesus’s birth breathed hope into the darkness of the world. His birth brought new life, freedom, healing, peace, restoration and love.
That’s right. His birth was the beginning of the greatest love story our world will ever know.
Philippians 2:8-11 says, “And being found in appearance as a man,he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! 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.
Christ Jesus, one part of the triune God, chose obedience to the Father God. He chose to take the cup. Jesus chose to be born of a virgin. To live on this earth as human & God. Jesus chose the path that was most difficult – to be nailed to the cross.
The physical pain of what Jesus endured as he was crucified was nothing compared to the anguish his soul experienced as he took the past, present and future sin of the world on his shoulders.
Out of his obedience he bore the weight of the sin of the world – past, present and future. He bore it all, so that we would not be held guilty – and therefore be eternally separated from God.
Jesus, because of his great love for us, said “yes” to excruciating pain. He said “yes” to leaving the comfort of heaven. He said “yes” to being ridiculed, beaten and heartbroken.
Jesus chose a path that exhibits the greatest love the world will ever know.
And it is because of his obedience. Because of his choice to sacrifice all of himself on our behalf, that “God exalted him to the highest place.”
It is God who gives him “the name that is above every name.” No other person would go to the extent of self-sacrifice, to the extent of love that Jesus displayed for us, and therefore there is no other person that is worthy of our devotion, honor, praise, adoration, love, surrender and obedience.
As Jesus walked this hard road, his choice to be obedient provides an example for all who believe in him. His example demonstrates radical obedience for the sake of love. Because of Jesus’ example of radical love, his followers are encouraged to live in radical obedience for the sake of love as well.
On the day that Jesus was born the trajectory of humankind shifted from hopelessness to hope. The night Jesus was born was holy night indeed. The angels sang, “holy, holy, holy.” The shepherds and the wise men knelt before the baby born in a manger in an animal stall.
There was nothing lofty or kingly about the place he was born. But that place and circumstance did not change the reality that the King above all Kings was born.
The Christmas song, O Holy Night, tells the tale of Jesus’ birth. The emotion of the music enlivens our souls to experience what it may have been like to be there on the night that Jesus was born.
The lyrics portray his Lordship. “Fall on your knees. O Hear the angel voices. O night divine. O night when Christ was born.”
The lyrics resound and point back to the verse from Philippians 2:10, “at the name of Jesus every knee should bow in heaven, on earth and under the earth.”
There will come a day when every man & woman on the earth will acknowledge Jesus as Lord. There will come a day when every person is brought to their knees when Jesus returns and His glory shines.
There will come a day when every authority will submit to Him. When every other priority will fall away. When Jesus – the name above all other names – is given His rightful praise.
I want to encourage you today to not wait until the day when Christ returns to give him the praise he is due. Don’t wait to be humbled by Him. Humble yourselves. 1 Peter 5:6 says, “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time.”
If the Heavenly Father, God, Lord of all, creator of the world chose to exalt Jesus above all others, it only beckons his followers to recognize Jesus as Lord and exalt him. As we chose surrender, as we choose to humble ourselves under the authority of Christ, he will exalt us, just as His father exalted him because of his humility & obedience.
On so many levels Jesus lived his life as an example for us, his disciples. He lived a life of love, of grace, of kindness, of truth, of humility, of sacrifice, of faith, of generosity, and of selflessness.
He brought himself low – to be the servant of all, and God elevated Him to be the king of all.
As you prepare for this Christmas season may you be reminded of Jesus’s amazing love and sacrifice for you. May you see the birth of Jesus in a fresh new light – that his birth changed everything because it set in motion the hope of eternal life with God – a washing away of our sin that separated us from God.
When you celebrate Christmas this year be reminded of the gift of new life, the gift of eternal life, the gift of the price Jesus paid for us on the cross.
If you are wanting to know more about Jesus, please reach out to me, I would love to introduce you to him. I pray even now as you read this blog that the Holy Spirit is drawing you close, and opening your heart, mind and eyes to desire to know the person of Jesus Christ.
For more helpful resources to grow in your faith check out my books. For resources in Spanish, check out Una Copa de Esperanza.
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