We have seen the seven steps of God’s descent in man. He gave up His position as God, gave up His person as a member of the Trinity, became a servant instead of Creator, became a man, became a humiliated man, became identified with our death, and the ultimate identification—with our sin. From God to sinner—by identification—that is identification all-out. He couldn’t go lower down than that. “In” became “in”—there was no further “in” to go! He hit bottom.
Having hit bottom, He then began to go up—the seven steps up:
Therefore God has highly exalted him [the Humbled became the Exalted] and bestowed on him the name which is above every name [the highest name in the universe—Savior!], that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow [ultimate acknowledgment as ultimate Authority], in heaven [ultimate in heaven] and on earth [ultimate where He wrought out the victory—on earth] . . . and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father [universal confession as Lord—“every tongue”]. (Phil. 2:9–11)
His identification with us was complete—from being holy God to being sinful man. The Incarnation could not be more “in”—it was an ultimate in. Now if we identify ourselves with Him by surrender, at the cross, then we go up with Him and are identified with Him on His throne—we share His glory and His power. He was identified with us that we might be identified with Him. He shared what was in man that we might share what is in Christ. That is what can be called “the divine exchange”—He came down that we might go up. Salvation is not then a mere transferring us from earth to heaven, but a transference from what we are to what He is—it is to be in Him.
THE PRAYER
O Christ, my Redeemer, I am catching little glimpses of the purpose of my redemption. I am speechless with awe and glory. I’m being transformed from being in me to being in Him, and nothing can be more wonderful than being in Him. I’m grateful. Amen.
AFFIRMATION FOR THE DAY
If I will be exploring forever the wonder of His stooping, I shall also be exploring forever the wonder of my ascent in Him.
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The Divine Exchange In Action
Last night a group of people gathered around a little stage where Johnny Cash used to sing in the tiny town of Bon Aqua, Tennessee. As we surrendered to Christ’s Headship and began to come to the mic and testify or sing as Jesus prompted us, He began to speak through and work in each person present. I wrote this poem about it this morning.
Testify time (Revelation 12:10-ll.)
Person after person
Came to the microphone
To open their heart and share,
But they were not alone.
You could clearly see Christ
Brightly shining in them.
You could even feel Him.
A holy hush filled the air,
Real love was everywhere,
And we were all aware
That the presence of Jesus
Surrounded us there.