"Imagine a judge not demanding that full payment for a debt be made - would this be just?" Kathy's teacher asked.

"No," Kathy replied.

"Imagine a judge demanding additional payments after a debt is paid in full - would this be just?" he questioned.

"No," she again responded.

"How does this example illustrate why God's justice required both Christ's humiliation and exaltation?" he inquired.

How would you answer this question?

The humiliation and exaltation of the Mediator refers to Jesus' human nature, not His divine. As God, He can neither be humbled nor exalted. In His human nature He suffered the pain, shame, and curse required in His state of humiliation, but also the liberty, joy, and glory required in His state of exaltation. However, because Christ's human and divine natures are united in one Person, His work as Mediator is of infinite and eternal value.

In His state of humiliation, Jesus merited salvation for His Church; in His state of exaltation Christ applies salvation to His people. In His humiliation, Jesus descended into the full depth of the fall for His Church; in His exaltation, Jesus fully restores His people into the glorious position they possessed before the fall.

Why would God be unjust in not punishing unbelievers but also in not graciously rewarding true believers?

In which state was Jesus' divine nature more concealed - in His state of humiliation or exaltation? Why?