Joy to the World - Pt 18

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. (Philippians 2:9-11 ESV).

Christmas was God’s most successful setback. He has always delighted to show his power through apparent defeat. He makes tactical retreats in order to win strategic victories. Joseph was promised glory and power in his dream (cf. Genesis 37:5–11). But to achieve that victory he had to become a slave in Egypt. And as if that were not enough, when his conditions improved because of his integrity, he was made worse than a slave — a prisoner. But it was all planned. For there in prison he met Pharaoh’s butler, who eventually brought him to Pharaoh who put him over Egypt. What an unlikely route to glory! But that is God’s way, even for his Son. He emptied himself and took the form of a slave. It was worse than a slave. He became a prisoner and was executed. But like Joseph, he kept his integrity. The Apostle Paul writes, “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” (vv. 9–10). And this is God’s way for us too. We are promised glory, when we suffer with him (cf. Romans 8:17). Isn’t it crazy that the way up is down? The way forward is backward. The way to success is through divinely appointed setbacks. They will always look and feel like failure. However, if Joseph and Jesus teach us anything this Christmas it is this: “God meant it for good!” (Genesis 50:20). Perhaps one of the most profound contemporary quotes emphasizing this truth comes from Craig D. Lounsbrough: “When surrounded by the ashes of all that I once cherished, despite my best efforts I can find no room to be thankful. But standing there amidst endless ash I must remember that although the ashes surround me, God surrounds the ashes. And once that realization settles upon me, I am what I thought I could never be ... I am thankful for ashes.” Jesus understood that from the beginning. He calls us to have that kind of faith. It will be rewarded!