The Deity of Christ Seen through the Lens of His Worshippers, Part 2

October, 2004

by: Brodie McClain

In an effort to recapture afresh the doctrine of the deity of Christ an effort was made to place ourselves back on the sandy roads of Israel and envision what life around the man Jesus Christ would have been like. By examining the responses of the common person encountering this carpenter from Nazareth it becomes obvious that Jesus was more than just a man. Rather, he was someone worthy of worship.

The first hints of the worship of Jesus are revealed early on when the Magi approach the child Jesus and fall before Him (Matt 2:11). A silence then surrounds this unique child until the beginning of His public ministry where we find a smattering of people worshipping this man. Jesus Christ entered into the public eye most vividly through His ability to heal the diseased and demon–possessed. As Jesus mingled with the crowds we witness many people falling to their knees much like the Magi. Jairus, an important Jewish office bearer, acknowledged Christ's ability to raise the dead and bowed down before Him (Matt 9:18). A Canaanite woman in hopes of helping her daughter also bowed before Christ, calling Him “Lord” (Matt 15:25). A man with a demon–possessed son asked Christ to help his unbelief (Mark 9:24), a recognition of the power Christ had over the heart. Lepers bowed before Jesus both before being healed and after (Matt 8:2; Luke 17:16), and a blind man after defending Jesus before the Pharisees believed in Jesus and worshiped Him (John 9:38). An interesting fact surrounding these acts of worship is that Jesus never rebuked or corrected any person for bowing before Him or offering Him worship. It was in fact the most appropriate thing to do in His presence. While men and angels reject worship from other people Jesus accepted the worship of those who offered it (Acts 14:8ff.; Rev 19:10).

Those looking for healing weren't the only ones to reveal their worship of the carpenter, Jesus. As the Disciples grew in their relationship with their Leader, they too acknowledged the exalted state of Jesus. After calming the storm, the disciples were quick to acknowledge that Jesus held authority over the elements and deserved to be worshiped (Matt 8:27, 14:33). Peter confessed that Jesus was the Son of God, a title inferring deity (Matt 16:16). Thomas declared emphatically that Christ is his Lord and his God (John 20:28). Even the Disciples as a whole admitted Christ's omniscience (John 16:30). Thus, throughout Christ's public ministry he not only vocalized His own position of equality with God but is also treated as such by those around Him.

So far the evidence points very emphatically to the position of Jesus Christ as more than a mere man. If in such a short period of time a plethora of Jews and others from all walks of life could come to a point where they completely abandoned their monotheistic upbringing and were willing to bow before a man, then Jesus is either an amazing deceiver or worthy of the worship they are offering. As we will see next month the record of the early church established the latter to be the case.