How does John 13:32 connect to Philippians 2:9-11 about exaltation? Setting the Scene • In John 13 Jesus has just washed the disciples’ feet and is preparing them for His imminent betrayal, death, and resurrection. • Philippians 2 is Paul’s sweeping hymn of Christ’s humility and exaltation, written to encourage believers toward Christ-like service. Jesus Speaks of Glory — John 13:32 “ ‘If God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself, and He will glorify Him at once.’ ” • “Glorify” appears three times, underscoring certainty and immediacy. • The Father’s glory and the Son’s glory are inseparable; what happens to the Son redounds to the Father. • “At once” signals that the cross, resurrection, and ascension form a single, unified act of divine glory. Christ’s Exaltation Described — Philippians 2:9-11 “Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name above all names, 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.” • “Therefore” links exaltation to Christ’s obedient suffering (vv. 6-8). • “Highest place” mirrors John’s promise of glory “in Himself.” • Universal worship (“every knee,” “every tongue”) reveals the full manifestation of the glory first promised “at once” in John 13:32. • The purpose: “to the glory of God the Father,” perfectly echoing Jesus’ words about the Father’s glory. Threads that Tie the Texts Together 1. Same Divine Initiative – John: “God will also glorify Him.” – Philippians: “God exalted Him.” The Father is the active agent in both passages, proving that exaltation is God’s own work. 2. Same Object of Glory – John: “Him” (the Son). – Philippians: “Him… the name above all names.” Both stress Jesus as the singular focus of divine honor. 3. Same Reciprocity of Glory – John: The Son’s glorification brings glory to the Father. – Philippians: Universal confession of Jesus as Lord results “to the glory of God the Father.” Father and Son are mutually glorified, fulfilling Isaiah 42:8’s declaration that God shares His glory with no other except within the Godhead. 4. Same Timeline, Different Perspectives – John speaks of an immediate glorification beginning with the cross. – Philippians views the completed arc—resurrection, ascension, and future universal acknowledgment. Together they show one continuous movement from shame to ultimate glory (cf. Hebrews 2:9; Acts 2:33-36). Living in the Light of His Exaltation • Confidence: The One who was “at once” glorified now reigns “in the highest place.” • Humility: The path to exaltation is obedient service (Philippians 2:5-8; John 13:14-17). • Worship: Bows and confessions are not optional; they are the fitting response to the glory God has already set in motion (Revelation 5:12-13). |
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