Shorter Catechism Q. 28. Wherein consisteth Christ’s exaltation? A. Christ’s exaltation consisteth in his rising again from the dead on the third day, in ascending up into heaven, in sitting at the right hand of God the Father, and in coming to judge the world at the last day.
Commentary: Jesus didn’t come down from heaven and dwell among us for something to do. He certainly didn’t do it to remain in a state of humiliation forever. Instead, he did it to do the Father’s will and accomplish the work of salvation. He came to where we are, so that he might lead us to eternal glory. He descended to hell to bring us to heaven. He humbled himself to be exalted so that we who are humbled might be exalted with him.
Jesus’ transition from his state of humiliation to his state of exaltation begins with his resurrection. It does not, however, end there because it also includes his ascension, session (sitting at the right hand of God the Father), and his coming again to judge the world.
There is a progression to be observed in each step within his state of exaltation. Jesus went from mortality to immortality in his resurrection. Then he went from earth to heaven, a further advance in glory, in his ascension. When he entered heaven, Jesus sat down at the right hand of God the Father Almighty, which is an even further advance in glory. It is one thing to be a doorman in heaven, and another to be an archangel. But neither compares to being exalted to the highest place, the right hand of God. And yet this is only the penultimate stage of Jesus’ exaltation. The final stage is the second coming, when he will be revealed to all as the Lord of lords and the King of kings, the judge of all the earth. Every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord, and all his enemies, including the last enemy, death, will be placed under his feet.
By transitioning from his state of humiliation to his state of exaltation, Jesus when from the lowest of lows to the highest of highs. He went from being cursed to being blessed beyond measure. He went from being nothing to being everything, from mortality to immortality, from corruption to incorruption, from death to life. He went from being judged by Pontius Pilate to being the judge of the entire universe.
Further commentary on Jesus’ state of exaltation may be found in Westminster Larger Catechism questions 52-56.