Philippians 2:9-10

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place

and gave him the name that is above every name,

that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,

in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

(v9-10, NIV)

Jesus is God, but he made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant in humble obedience to the Father. Because of Jesus' humble obedience to the point of death on a cross, God exalted him to the highest place. There may be rulers or kings on this earth that are high for some reason, but Jesus has the highest place. No matter how high these people may be or these things may be, Jesus is higher. The highest place is reserved for Jesus by God the Father.

Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all."

(Mark 9:35, NIV)

The disciples were arguing about who was the greatest. There is a desire to be high and exalted and lifted up. Jesus tells us that in order to be first, you must be last and servant of all. This thinking is backwards and contradictory to the way the culture thinks. However, we only need to look to Jesus to see that this is true. He humbled himself and became the very last. However, God the Father exalted him to the highest place.

A name is given to Jesus. It makes me think of knights and how they were knighted and bestowed a name in accordance with their knighthood. Sometimes we give each other nicknames or titles. These nicknames may be for fun or for representation of a characteristic we have or achievement we have done. In addition, we may be given titles in accordance with our achievements in school. Some people may receive a doctorate upon completion of a Ph. D. or something of the sort. Titles or names can have a great deal of meaning. Jesus' name is quite different from any title anyone can be given. At this name, every knee will bow. I can't think of any name or title that can be given to anyone in which every single person will bow. In martial arts, the students may bow to the teacher according to the hierarchy in that school. In the military, people may salute each other and lower people will show respect to those who are higher in position. Some names or titles people have may demand respect and may demand the bowing of the knee; however, not everyone bows the knee. But for Jesus, every knee will bow. Whether willfully, or with great resistance, every single knee will bow to Jesus.