Exalting Jesus

Joel Kindiak Exposition (3)

Date: 3 February 2014
Topic: Exalting Jesus

If you would like to view my previous 2 expositions, you may do so in the following links:

Joel Kindiak Exposition (1): Frozen and Christianity
joelkindiak.blogspot.sg/2014/01/frozen-and-christianity.html

Joel Kindiak Exposition (2): The Secret to Effortlessly Excellent Grades
joelkindiak.blogspot.sg/2014/01/the-secret-to-effortless-excellent.html

In her album titled, ‘Revealing Jesus’1, critically–acclaimed Darlene Zschech was resolute to compose “songs filled with the name of Jesus and to keep declaring the finished work of Christ”2. Renowned worship leader Israel Houghton, who penned the global Christian anthem, ‘Jesus at the Center’ reflects, “it’s not Jesus, then everything [but rather] it’s Jesus in everything”3. What do they have in common? In all that they expertise in, they want to exalt Jesus.

It is quite intriguing to note that the Bible never mentioned that at the name of God, every knee shall bow, but rather at the name of Jesus, every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:10–11) Indeed, by lifting high the name of Jesus, by proclaiming upon His finished work, we have victory over the enemy. We overcome with the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony (Revelation 12:11), and that testimony is the secured victory that Christ has ransomed us into. (1 John 5:10)

I do not doubt that many of us would baulk at the Old Testament, that it’s mere Bible history with little to no practical use in our daily lives. I mean, what has killing animals got to do with us in 2014? With regards to the awe–inspiring miracles like the parting of the Red Sea (Exodus 14) and raining of manna from heaven (Exodus 16), do we get to see such incredible phenomena today? It seems as though the Old Testament is just a dry book with little to no obvious treasure. Here’s the catch: they’re all hidden pictures of Jesus! All the treasure one hopes to uncover is hidden in the Word, and the revelations that come forth all redirect you toward the beloved Son of God. (John 1:1)

“Well, Joel, I don’t believe you! How can the Old Testament be pointing toward Jesus?”

I’m glad you asked. I will point you to just one example and we’ll see what else God reveals to us during our own Bible Studies. Let us look at one of my favorites: the bronze serpent. In Jesus’ chat with Nicodemus, “a master of Israel”, (John 3:10 KJV) where Jesus speaks the most famous quote in all of scripture, John 3:16, He likens Himself to the serpent Moses lifted up in the wilderness. (John 3:14) By cross–referring to the quoted incident, we teleport ourselves to Numbers 21. Over there, the Israelites, even after more than three decades of wilderness–wandering, complained yet again that God led them out of Egypt in order to kill them. (Numbers 21:5) Here, God permitted fiery serpents to bite the people, “so that many people of Israel died”. (Numbers 21:6) Upon repentance, God’s solution for His people is to make “a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live”. (Numbers 21:9) Moses then made the bronze serpent4, and whoever looked at the pole lived.

We will completely dig out all of the truths that we can find in a future exposition, but for now, here’s the clearest parallel: while the Israelites fall seriously sick and ill due to venomous snakes biting them, a result of sinning against God time and again, the world continues to decay due to Adam’s sin in the Garden of Eden. (Genesis 3) God’s supply of the bronze serpent to save the lives of the Israelites typified how He sent Jesus to the world, and just as how the Israelites lived when they looked toward the bronze serpent, so whoever believes in Jesus shall not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16) The bronze serpent is a symbol of Jesus Christ!

That was just one of many examples of how Jesus is magnified in the Scriptures, and how Jesus is to be exalted. In many cases, the name of Jesus is exalted by the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. (1 Corinthians 1:21) Look at Peter, the disciple who denied Jesus three times, with cursing and swearing! (Matthew 26:74) This same Peter, on the Day of Pentecost, who was drunk with the Holy Spirit, rebutted the crowds’ accusation of them being drunk by preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The result? On that day, 3000 people were saved! (Acts 2:41) In a more recent context, we see the fiery boldness that Billy Graham5 delivered in each sermon. At each of his more than 400 crusades, thousands of people convicted by the Holy Spirit surrender their lives to our Lord. Why? It is due to the preaching of Christ and lifting Him up in every message. When we sing His praises and magnify Him (Psalm 34:3), the Holy Spirit graces us with His sweet anointing presence, the presence that convicts, comforts, heals and restores us broken people.

While the foolishness of preaching is one way of inviting the Holy Spirit, it is by no means the only way. I am convicted that every new day is a fresh day to lift Jesus higher, primarily by surrendering all that we are to Him. Let’s face the fact that not a single one of us is able to sustain his life on his own. Let’s face the harsh reality that we cannot do it. And it is in this vulnerability, in this weakness, when we are strong. (2 Corinthians 12:10) Let go, not because God will turn His countenance against you if you don’t, but because God wants to carry your burden while you take His light yoke. (Matthew 11:30) That’s how to make Jesus the center of it all: by confessing, “I cannot, but You can!” And I am convicted that when Christ is central, He will make all things, good, bad and ugly, to abound for your good. (Romans 8:28) You cannot get your act together, but fret not; God can! And He will! He is able to do exceedingly, abundantly, above all that you ask or think, according to the power at work within you! (Ephesians 3:20) Jesus lives in you and He loves you too much to leave you that way!

I’ll wrap up this exposition with a more modern, astronomical beauty that speaks for itself. The photograph above was taken from center of the Whirlpool Galaxy6, estimated between 15 and 35 million light years away from the earth. That is the picture of the center of that galaxy, and at the center of it all, we see Jesus, yet again. 

At this time and age, the name of Jesus needs to be lifted higher than ever before, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. (Acts 4:21) This 2014 will be the greatest year yet, for God is bringing forth a nation–wide revival. All across Singapore, we are going to lift high the name of Jesus. We are going to exalt the name above every name. Jesus will return to His rightful place: at the center of it all! Let’s remember: it’s not Jesus, then everything, but rather, it’s Jesus in everything! It’s time to exalt Jesus, my friends!

Copyright Acknowledgements:
1. Revealing Jesus Album Art © http://tinyurl.com/RevealingJesusAlbumArt
2. ‘Revealing Jesus’ © http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDY_4bahXi0
3. ‘Big Church Day Out’ © http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqKBEX3kpZE
4. Bronze Serpent Picture © http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/64/Brazen_Serpent_Sculpture.jpg
5. ‘Billy Graham’ © http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Graham
6. ‘Whirlpool Galaxy’ © http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/af/M51_whirlpool_galaxy_black_hole.jpg