May 21 in General discussion
Worshipping Jesus as God P.t. 2 by Sam Shamoun
B. Jesus Christ is worshiped.
According to the God-breathed Scriptures, different individuals worshiped Jesus on various occasions without a single word of rebuke from either God the Father or the Lord Jesus himself.
For instance, Christ as a child was worshiped for being the King of the Jews:
“Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, wise men came from the east to Jerusalem, saying, ‘Where is He who was born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the east and have come to worship Him.’… And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, ‘Go and search diligently for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring me word again, so that I may come and worship Him also.’… And when they came into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary, His mother, and fell down and worshipped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” Matthew 2:1-2, 8, 11
His own followers also worshiped him as the Son of God who sovereignly controls the natural elements, such as the winds and the seas:
“During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. But when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, ‘It is a spirit.’ And they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘Be of good cheer. It is I (Ego Eimi – I AM ). Do not be afraid.’ Peter answered Him and said, ‘Lord, if it is You, bid me come to You on the water.’ He said, ‘Come.’ And when Peter got out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw the strong wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink, he cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’ Immediately Jesus reached out His hand and caught him, and said to him, ‘O you of little faith, why did you doubt?’ And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. Then those who were in the boat came and worshipped Him, saying, ‘Truly You are the Son of God.’” Matthew 14:25-33
Nor was this the only time that the disciples worshiped Christ:
“As they went to tell His disciples, suddenly Jesus met them, saying, ‘Greetings!’ They came and took hold of His feet and worshipped Him… Then the eleven disciples went away to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. When they saw Him, they worshipped Him. But some doubted. Then Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the NAME of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’ Amen.” Matthew 28:9, 16-20
Here, the risen Lord is worshiped in the context of his claiming to possess absolute sovereignty over the entire creation, being the unique Son who shares the same divine name belonging to both the Father and the Holy Spirit, and who shall be personally present with every single disciple in order to make sure that they successfully carry out their great commission.
In this next example, the disciples continue to worship Jesus after he had already physically ascended into heaven to begin reigning as the sovereign Lord of creation:
“Then He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. While He blessed them, He parted from them and was carried up into heaven. Then they worshipped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.” Luke 24:50-53
Already much earlier, Christ was worshiped as the omniscient and omnipotent Lord, this time by a Gentile woman:
“Then Jesus went from there and departed into the regions of Tyre and Sidon. There, a woman of Canaan came out of the same regions and cried out to Him, saying, ‘Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David. My daughter is severely possessed by a demon.’ But He did not answer her a word. And His disciples came and begged Him, saying, ‘Send her away, for she cries out after us.’ But He answered, ‘I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.’ Then she came and worshipped Him, saying, ‘Lord, help me.’ But He answered, ‘It is not fair to take the children’s bread and to throw it to dogs.’ She said, ‘Yes, Lord, yet even dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.’ Then Jesus answered her, ‘O woman, great is your faith. Let it be done for you as you desire.’ And her daughter was healed instantly.” Matthew 15:21-28
Note how the Lord was able to command and cast out a demon from a far away distance without having to physically be there!
This wasn’t the only time that Jesus was worshiped in the context of performing a miracle. A synagogue ruler whose dead daughter was brought back to life worshiped the glorious and majestic Lord,
“While He was speaking these things to them, a certain ruler came and worshipped Him, saying, ‘My daughter is even now dead. But come and lay Your hand on her, and she will live.’ Jesus rose and followed him, and so did His disciples… When Jesus came to the ruler’s house and saw the musicians and the mourners making a noise, He said to them, ‘Depart. The girl is not dead, but is sleeping.’ And they laughed Him to scorn. But when the people were put outside, He went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose. The news of this went out into all that land.” Matthew 9:18-19, 23-26
As did a blind man whom Christ miraculously healed:
“Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when He found him, He said, ‘Do you believe in the Son of God?’ He answered, ‘Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?’ Jesus said to him, ‘You have seen Him, and it is He who speaks with you.’ Then he said, ‘Lord, I believe.’ And he worshipped Him.” John 9:35-38
Humans weren’t the only ones to worship Jesus since even unclean spirits did so in virtue of his being the all-powerful Son of God who possessed the power to utterly subdue and torment them, something which no mortal being was able to do:
“And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes. And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains: because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him. And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones. But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him, and cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not. For he said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit. And he asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many.” Mark 5:1-9 Authorized King James Version (AV)
God himself commands all of his angels to worship his Son in recognition of his divine work of creating and sustaining all of creation, as well as for being the God who rules forever and ever:
“In these last days, He has spoken to us by His Son. God has appointed Him heir of all things and made the universe through Him. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact expression of His nature, sustaining all things by His powerful word. After making purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. So He became higher in rank than the angels, just as the name He inherited is superior to theirs. For to which of the angels did He ever say, You are My Son; today I have become Your Father, or again, I will be His Father, and He will be My Son? When He again brings His firstborn into the world, He says, And all God’s angels must worship Him. And about the angels He says: He makes His angels winds, and His servants a fiery flame, but to the Son: Your throne, God, is forever and ever, and the scepter of Your kingdom is a scepter of justice. You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; this is why God, Your God, has anointed You with the oil of joy rather than Your companions. And: In the beginning, Lord, You established the earth, and the heavens are the works of Your hands; they will perish, but You remain. They will all wear out like clothing; You will roll them up like a cloak, and they will be changed like a robe. But You are the same, and Your years will never end.” Hebrews 1:2-12 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
In fact, every created thing in every single place is expected to (and eventually shall) worship the Lord Jesus in the same way that they are supposed to worship God the Father:
“Declare and set forth your case; let them take counsel together. Who has declared this from ancient times? Who has told it from that time? Have not I, the Lord? And there is no God besides Me, a righteous God and Savior; there is no other besides Me. Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth. For I am God, and there is no other. I have sworn by Myself, the word has gone out of My mouth in righteousness and shall not return, that to Me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall take an oath.” Isaiah 45:21-23
“Therefore God highly exalted Him and gave Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:9-11
“When He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each one having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of saints. And they sang a new song, saying: ‘You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals; for You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and have made us kings and priests unto our God; and we shall reign on the earth.’ Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voices of many angels, numbering ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice: ‘Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing!’ Then I heard EVERY CREATURE which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and in the sea, AND ALL THAT ARE IN THEM, SAYING: ‘To Him who sits on the throne AND TO THE LAMB be blessing and honor and glory and power, forever and ever!’ The four living creatures said, ‘Amen.’ And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshipped Him who lives forever and ever.” Revelation 5:8-14
The following text confirms that the twenty-four elders fell down to worship Christ as well, since he is also described as the One who lives forever and ever:
“When I saw Him, I fell at His feet as though I were dead. Then He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, ‘Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am He who lives, though I was dead. Look! I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.’” Revelation 1:17-18
Not only does the risen Lord refer to himself as the One who lives forevermore, he even identifies himself as the First and the Last, which is a title ascribed to Jehovah God alone:
“For My own sake, even for My own sake, I will do it; for how can My name be polluted? And I will not give My glory to another. Listen to Me, O Jacob and Israel, whom I called: I am He; I am the First, and I am the Last.” Isaiah 48:11-12 – cf. 41:4; 44:6
These texts simply affirm that the words of the Lord Jesus shall definitely come to pass, namely, every single person shall honor the Son in the same way that they honor the Father:
“The Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, that all men should honor the Son, JUST AS they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.” John 5:22-23
C. Jesus is therefore God Almighty in the flesh (even though he is not the Father or the Holy Spirit).
The only way that Christ could ever be allowed to receive the same exact worship that the Father receives is if he is also God in essence, just like the Father is; otherwise, such reverence would be pure idolatry since it renders unto a creature the worship and honor which belongs only to the Creator.
Thomas soon discovered this since a week after Jesus’ resurrection from the dead he was confronted by the risen Lord, and worshiped him in a manner appropriate only for someone who is God Almighty:
“Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. And Thomas answered and said UNTO HIM, My Lord and my God (ho Kyrios mou kai ho Theos mou). Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.” John 20:27-29 AV
Thomas worships Jesus as his Lord and his God, a confession which the risen Lord fully accepted and blessed. What makes Thomas’ declaration rather astonishing is that he worshiped Jesus in the same way that king David worshiped Jehovah!
“Rouse Yourself and awake for my judgment, for my cause, my God and my Lord.” Psalm 35:23
Hence, the only way that Jesus could accept such worship is if he believed that he was/is Jehovah God Almighty in the flesh, which indeed he was/is just as his physical, bodily resurrection from the dead on the third day proves beyond any reasonable doubt.
Unless noted otherwise, all Biblical citations taken from the Modern English Version (MEV) of the Holy Bible.
0
0 comments
Worshipping Jesus as God P.t. 2 by Sam Shamoun
skool.com/christ-apologetics-9656
A Christian Group Dedicated on Praising Jesus Christ, Learning the Bible, and Responding to Most if Not All Arguments Against Our Beloved Faith. ✝️
powered by