Praise, honour and glory
by Norma Koehne
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‘He humbled himself and became obedient unto death’ (Philippians 2:8).
It is impossible for us to fully grasp the incredible anguish and humiliation that Jesus suffered for us. There was the terrible physical suffering, but, more dreadful, there was the spiritual suffering. The sinless Son of God must have been overcome with horror as the sins of the world were placed on him. And then there was the agonising cry, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’.
The passage shows a downward spiral for Jesus. First, he is willing to leave the power and glory, which is his as the creator and ruler of the universe, to become a servant. Then he becomes truly human and shares all the hardships and sorrows that we endure. He was a refugee, and as an adult, he had no home. His life was not one of ease and comfort. The final act of humiliation was his death on the cross, the most shameful and painful death ever devised. Why did he do this? He did it for us, in his obedience to his Father’s plan of salvation for us all. He did it so that our loving God would never have to forsake us, and we can be held securely in his care for all our days and into eternity.
For his perfect obedience and the fulfilment of this plan, he is exalted and reclaims all honour and glory. He has the highest place, a name above every name, and acknowledgement of all in heaven and earth and under the earth, as they bow down and worship him.
My heart is full of thanks and a sense of humble amazement as I read this passage. He did this for me! Our praise here on earth may be weak, but how much more will it be when we join the saints in heaven singing?
‘To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honour and glory and power for ever and ever’ [Revelation 5:13]. Amen.
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