“Behold, My Servant shall deal prudently; He shall be exalted and extolled and be very high” (Isaiah 52:13; NKJV).
Made a Little Lower. In eternity, the Word submitted to the will of the Father. In the first century, the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. He "was made a little lower than the angels" (Hebrews 2:9; NKJV). Angels are spirit beings of a higher order than physical men and women. The Word lowered Himself. A body was prepared for Him (Hebrews 10:5). The One who inhabits eternity inhabited a body for some thirty-three and a half years. He became flesh and blood. He was a baby, a young man, a teenager, a twenty-something. He was made a little lower.
Lifted Up. The Word became flesh for the purpose of being "lifted up" (John 3:14). The process of crucifixion was efficient. A hole was dug in the Earth. The cross was laid on the ground. The victim was laid on the cross where he was then nailed to it. The cross was then "lifted up" and dropped into the Earth. The Word "was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death" (Hebrews 2:9; NKJV). GOD in the form of GOD cannot die. The Word made Himself lower than the angels so He could die. He became flesh “so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone” (Hebrews 2:9; NASBU). He was made a little lower so He could be lifted up.
Exalted. The death of Jesus on the cross is not the end of the story. It was never intended to be the end of the story. Isaiah prophesied the story from beginning to end over seven hundred years before the Word lowered Himself. “Behold, My servant will prosper, He will be high and lifted up and greatly exalted” (Isaiah 52:13; NASBU). The I AM raised up His Servant and "Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins" (Acts 5:30-31; NKJV). When He, "by Himself purged our sins," He then "sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high," exalted (Hebrews 1:3; NKJV). Jesus is worthy of exaltation because He lowered Himself, He sacrificed Himself, and He loved us without end. With the “myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands” around the throne, let us say with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing” (Revelation 5:11-12; NASBU).
Is He exalted in your life?
Jason
