The Bible expresses many principles in decisive succinct statements, and this is one of them. We may well ask, “Who was it that honored God?” The answer is obvious: the Lord Jesus Christ.

Although not so noticed by man in His early years, His Father saw Him. When the Lord started His public ministry, when He was baptized by John in the Jordan, the heavens opened and the voice of God was heard: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Mt. 3:17). Then, in the years of His public ministry, His desire always was to do the will of Him who sent Him (Heb. 10:7). He willingly followed the pathway that led to the cross. “Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given Me?” (Jn. 18:11). Some years after the first declaration from heaven, a similar exclamation was made when the Lord was transfigured on the mount. God declared again, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!” (Mt. 17:5). Yes, the Lord was honored by the Father, even though men still hated, rejected, and crucified Him. He was received up into glory and “is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens” (Heb. 8:1), and He was given “the name which is above every name” (Phil. 2:9).

As we come to know and love our Lord, we delight in the fact that He is thus exalted, and we gladly exclaim, “Blessing and honor and glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!” (Rev. 5:13). But how marvelous that by honoring Him we too are honored as being in Him. Amazing!