Luke J. Wilson | 14th November 2023 | Apologetics

Often a claim from critics of the faith, and especially Muslims arguing against Christianity, is that Jesus wasn't thought of as God early on and more to the point, wasn't ever worshipped in the accounts of the New Testament. This is a very cursory look at a few places within the Gospels where Jesus was clearly worshipped, either by his followers or others he encountered, and didn't rebuke or correct people for doing something wrong. Worshiping Jesus: 1. Matthew 14:33 - The Proclamation of Divinity And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” In the aftermath of a storm on the Lake of Galilee which Jesus calmed with a word, the disciples, awestruck, worshiped Jesus, acknowledging, "Truly you are the Son of God". This moment captures the essence of recognising and bowing before the divine presence. 2. Matthew 28:9 and 28:17 - Post-Resurrection Adoration Matthew 28:9 Suddenly Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him. Matthew 28:17 When they saw him, they worshiped him, but they doubted. In the dawn of the resurrection, women, and disciples alike encountered the risen Christ, seizing his feet in worship. Even amidst doubt, worship persisted, displaying that even in disbelief, Jesus accepted worship. 3. Luke 24:52 and John 9:38 - Worshiping with Joy and Belief Luke 24:52 And they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy John 9:38 He said, “Lord, I believe.” And he worshiped him. In Luke we see that the disciples all worshipped Jesus at his ascension, and in the instance in John, the man born blind who had been healed turned and worshipped Jesus when he realised who he was. Another example where Jesus didn't turn away worship towards himself from others. A Glimpse into Early Criticism The early second-century Roman governor and historian Pliny the Younger wrote a letter to Emperor Trajan around 112 AD. In this letter, Pliny des...