Question 28: Christ's Exaltation

Question 28: Wherein consisteth Christ's exaltation?

Answer: Christ's exaltation consisteth in his rising again from the dead on the third day, in ascending up into heaven, in sitting at the right hand of God the Father, and in coming to judge the world at the last day.

Philippians 2:5-8 teaches the humiliation of Christ; Philippians 2:9-11 continues with the exaltation of Christ. "Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

Christ's return to glory was not an abandonment of his humanity in order to receive glory as God. Rather he is glorified as the Mediatorial King, the one who is fully God and fully man, now fully revealed for who he is. We call him the Mediatorial King because this unique glory makes him the only one suitable to act as mediator between God and man and to rule over all as God's promised Messiah. As Philippians shows, he is guaranteed to receive unique praise as the name above every name because of his unique position.

The catechism carefully outlines the events which have brought and will bring glory to Christ. His resurrection happened on the third day after his death (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). Forty days later, he ascended into heaven (Acts 1:3, 9) and was seated at the right hand of God with authority over all (Ephesians 1:20). Although his exaltation is not visible to all right now, he is advancing his kingdom, and at the appointed time he will return in glory to judge the world (Matthew 25:31-46).