No Cross, No Crown

The cross, the very instrument of death, now becomes the symbol of life.The crown, so magnificent, now becomes the symbol of how far God is willing to go to redeem us. If there is no cross, there is no crown.And so Jesus, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross! 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, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Jesus Christ is Lord - Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.