The Name

September 13

Isaiah 14-16

Psalm 104:10-15

Proverbs 22:22-23

Philippians 2:1-11

The Name

“Therefore, God also highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the Glory of God the Father.”  Philippians 2:9-11 LSB

This passage in Philippians is referring to a time when every being in heaven, on earth, and even under the earth will acknowledge Jesus’ authority and will bow to Him.  God has exalted Him to this position of authority because of His sacrifice on the cross and His resurrection from the dead in which He defeated death and hell.  Currently, He is sitting at the right hand of His Father in heaven and one day He will return to earth to take His rightful place on David’s throne where He will rule and reign for 1,000 years and then in the new heaven and new earth, He will reign forever as sovereign King of the universe.  Everyone who has ever lived will bow before Him in recognition of His divine authority.  Those who have accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior will bow to Him in submission, love, and gratitude.  Those who rejected Him will bow to Him as their judge in fear and trembling.  No one will escape this moment.  EVERY knee will bow and EVERY tongue confess.  Paul was quoting the Old Testament prophet in Isaiah 45:23, “I have sworn by Myself, the word has gone forth from My mouth in righteousness and will not turn back, that to Me every knee will bow, every tongue will swear allegiance.  They will say of Me, ‘Only in Yahweh are righteousness and strength.’” LSB  In Philippians 2, Paul describes Jesus coming as a suffering servant who humbled Himself to die a humiliating death on a cross in obedience to His Father atoning for the sins of humanity.   At His second coming, He will return as a conquering King.  As the King of kings and Lord of lords, every being will bow in complete submission to Him. 

The knee is a symbol of strength, it holds the weight of our body.  To bow the knee symbolizes bowing our strength, acknowledging our weakness and His strength.  Every tongue will confess is not just a verbal acknowledgement of His power but a complete recognition of who He is and submission to His authority.  Whether willingly or grudgingly, all will submit.  This universal recognition is ultimately to the glory of God the Father because it acknowledges the culmination  of His divine plan fulfilled through Jesus.  This has been God’s plan since before time began and it will happen exactly as it is described in Scripture.  Even in this moment of triumph, Jesus will submit to His Father’s will.  He won’t be grabbing power, He will humbly accept the power given to Him by His Father.  Jesus will give God all the glory.