Jesus came to this earth in a very humble setting.  When He was born He was wrapped in swaddling cloths and laid in a manger.  His earthly family was not rich, for His father was a carpenter.  We know very little of his life before His ministry, but during His ministry we understand that he had few possessions.  When one individual wanted to follow Him, Jesus said to him “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” (Luke 9:58).  When He was crucified, the soldiers cast lots for his clothes, the few possessions that he had. 

Towards the end of his ministry, Jesus prayed the following prayer.  John 17:4-5 “I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.  And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.”  From this prayer we understand that Jesus was glorified with the Father before the world began.  He gave that up to come to the earth as a man.  Philippians 2:5-11 “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.   And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.  Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”  The pattern Jesus left us was that he humbled himself and became a servant to God and His fellow man.  Now God has exalted Him to the highest position; everyone in heaven and on earth and under the earth should bow before him in submission and worship. 

Another description of the exalted position of Jesus is given in Ephesians 1:20b-23 “When He (God) raised Him (Christ) from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.  And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.”  The position of the right hand of God is the position of power and authority.  Notice this description of Him in 1 Timothy 6:15b-16  “He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen.” 

What encouragements can you receive from this knowledge of Jesus and His exaltation?  First, be thankful that He gave up His glory to come to the earth and die for you.  Second, praise and worship your great Lord and Redeemer; He is King of kings and Lord of Lords and sits at the right hand of God the Father.  Third, come boldly to the throne of God to present your requests in prayer.  Hebrews 4:14-16 “Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.  For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.  Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”  And finally, follow His example by humbling yourself, by being obedient to your Father, and by being a servant to others that you may be exalted in due time.  1 Peter 5:6 “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time.”