Another part of Jesus’ claim was to accept worship, which was normally given to royalty or deities. Jesus was a homeless, penniless Jewish Carpenter, an itinerant preacher/teacher. So why would someone from such a humble station in life accept the worship offered to Him on many occasions? Here are some examples –
1. When He healed a leper:
A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.“ Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cured of his leprosy. Matthew 8:2-3.
2. When a ruler made a request:
While he was saying this, a ruler came and knelt before him and said, “My daughter has just died. But come and put your hand on her, and she will live.” Matthew 9:18
3. When speaking to the Gerasene demoniac:
When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. He shouted at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Swear to God that you won’t torture me!” Mark 5:6-7
4. When he healed a blind man healed:
When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. (See also John 9:38) Matthew 28:17
Notice that these occasions are tied to the miracles that Jesus performed. People knew that such healings required the power of God, and in fact, were the signs God instructed them to use to determine the identity of the coming Savior. Jesus refers to this authentication several times.
In Luke 4, at the beginning of His ministry — “16 He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read. 17 The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” 20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, 21 and he began by saying to them,”Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”
Then again in Matthew 11:2-5: When John heard in prison what Christ was doing, he sent his disciples to ask him, “Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?” Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.”
People recognized the unique nature of Jesus because they had witnessed the unique nature of this words and deeds, and they worshiped him accordingly.
Lines from Lynn 