EXALTED, NOT PUNISHED

I am working this week with Philippians 2:5-11, one of Paul's most famous Christological statements:

5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.

8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death — even death on a cross!

9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

It is striking that the cross here functions as a pivot. The verses directly before v.8 describe Christ's descent from the glory of heaven, the cross is the lowest point, and the result is Christ then being lifted to the highest place. 

As "penal substitutionary atonement" has been on my mind recently, I can't help but notice that though the cross is central here, there isn't the merest hint of it being the locale of God's wrath being poured out on Jesus. 

I know making an argument from silence has severe limitations. 

Still ... 

What is celebrated here is Christ's "mindset" which was one of humility and obedience. And it is this mindset which leads Him to His death - even death on a cross!

And then, according to this passage, it is Christ's humble and obedient death which results in God exalting Him.

No punishment from God's hand is evident here - only the opposite: Exaltation!