Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered outside the gate. Therefore, let us go forth to him outside the camp, bearing his reproach. For we have no continuing city here, but we seek one to come.
Select a thought to read by choosing a collection, the month, and then the day:
“God highly exalted him . . .”
Paul, in Philippians 2:9
The honor of men is nothing in comparison to the honor God gives. Jesus did not covet and would not accept honors that men bestow. “I do not accept honor from humans,” he said (Jn. 5:41). Even when people wanted to take Jesus by force and make him their king, he refused and withdrew from them to a mountain alone (Jn. 6:15). He did not come to gain earthly honor; he came to do the will of his heavenly Father (Heb. 10:7). And as a result of his single-minded pursuit of honor from God, God “highly exalted him and bestowed upon him a name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus should bow every knee, of heavenly beings, and of earthly beings, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Phip. 2:9–11).
Jesus even refused to honor himself. He said, “If I honor myself, my honor is nothing; my Father is the one who honors me, whom you say, ‘He is your God’ ” (Jn. 8:54). Jesus was wise. He understood that no honor is worth having unless it comes from God.
In fact, he warned men that seeking and receiving honor from any other source will result in spiritual confusion. He told them (Jn. 5:44), “How can you believe while receiving honor from one another and not seeking the honor that comes from God alone?” Fallen men are so blind to the things of God that they often do not recognize God’s honor when it is given to one standing among them; and they can badly misunderstand what is being done when someone is truly honoring God. Men have been known to go so far as to accuse someone of madness, or even demon-possession, when he is, in fact, honoring God. They did that to Jesus, and in reply, Jesus said, “I do not have a demon! No! I honor my Father, and you dishonor me!” (Jn. 8:49).
Jesus loved God (Jn. 14:31; Ps. 91:14–16) and pleased Him because he desired only the honor that comes from God. He was even willing to suffer unjustly and die in order to please God. In response, God gave everything to Jesus (Jn. 3:35) and revealed Himself completely to Jesus (Jn. 5:20).