DEITY OF CHRIST: HE NEVER REJECTED WORSHIP

 Jesus had been very secretive about His identity for many reasons. He never explicitly said, “I am God. Nevertheless, there is an abundance of evidence that He believed Himself to be God. For one thing, He received worship that only God would receive. Not even angels would receive worship. Here are some examples:

 

·       Matthew 2:11 And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

 

·       When he had come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him. And behold, a leper came and bowed the knee worshiped him, saying, "Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean" (Matthew 8:1,2).

 

·       Matthew 14:33 And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

 

·       Matthew 28:9 And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him.

 

·       Matthew 28:16–17 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. (Also Matthew 9:18; Matthew 14:33; Matthew 15:25; Matthew 20:20; Matthew 21:9; Mark 11:9-10; Luke 5:8; Luke 23:42)

 

·       Mark 3:11–12 And whenever the unclean spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, “You are the Son of God.” And he strictly ordered them not to make him known.

 

·       Mark 5:6–7 And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and fell down before him. And crying out with a loud voice, he said, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me.”

 

·       Luke 4:41 And demons also came out of many, crying, “You are the Son of God!” But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew that he was the Christ.

 

·       Luke 24:52–53 And they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple blessing God.

 

·       John 9:38 He said, 'Lord, I believe,' and he worshipped him."

 

·       John 12:13 So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name [Personhood] of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” (John 5:23; John 9:38).

 

·       John 20:28 Thomas responded, "My Lord and my God!"

 

·       And when he again brings the firstborn into the world, he says, "And let all the angels of God worship him" (Hebrews 1:6).

 

In none of these instances did Jesus refuse worship.