Since Jesus Is "Worshipped" He must Be God. Right? Right??

Monsy Mathew

In the Bible, Jesus Christ Was Worshipped as the Son of God, Messiah, King of Israel, and Lord Made by Yahweh—not as Yahweh Himself or as Almighty God. Let’s carefully see the context of each passage where Jesus was “worshipped” (proskuneo / shachah). The Bible makes it clear what people confessed when they bowed before Him:

Worshipped as Son of God
• Matthew 14:32–33 (NLT)
“When they climbed back into the boat, the wind stopped. Then the disciples worshiped Him. ‘You really are the Son of God!’ they exclaimed.”
• John 9:35–38 (NLT)
“When Jesus heard what had happened, He found the man and asked, ‘Do you believe in the Son of Man?’ The man answered, ‘Who is He, sir? I want to believe in Him.’ ‘You have seen Him,’ Jesus said, ‘and He is speaking to you!’ ‘Yes, Lord, I believe!’ the man said. And he worshiped Jesus.”
In both cases, Jesus is worshipped as the Son of God and the Son of Man (Messiah), not as Almighty God.

Worshipped as Messiah / Christ
• Matthew 28:8–9 (NLT)
“The women ran quickly from the tomb… And as they went, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they ran to Him, grasped His feet, and worshiped Him.”
The angel had just said in v.7: “He has risen from the dead… He is going ahead of you to Galilee.” 

They worshipped Him as the risen Messiah whom Yahweh raised from the dead.

• Luke 24:51–52 (NLT)
“While He was blessing them, He left them and was taken up to heaven. So they worshiped Him and then returned to Jerusalem filled with great joy.”
Their worship was in recognition of Jesus being exalted as Messiah at Yahweh’s right hand (Psalm 110:1; Acts 2:33–36).

Worshipped as King of Israel
• John 1:49 (NLT)
“Then Nathanael exclaimed, ‘Rabbi, you are the Son of God—the King of Israel!’”
• Matthew 2:11 (NLT)
“They entered the house and saw the child with His mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.”
The wise men came seeking, “Where is the newborn King of the Jews?” (Matthew 2:2). They worshipped Him as King of Israel, not as Almighty God.

Worshipped as Lord (made so by Yahweh)
• John 20:28–29 (NLT)
“‘My Lord and my God!’ Thomas exclaimed. Then Jesus told him, ‘You believe because you have seen Me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing Me.’”
But just before this, Jesus had said:
“I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.” (John 20:17 NLT)
So Thomas recognized Jesus as his Lord (Adoni, exalted Master), because Yahweh had made Him Lord and Messiah.
• Acts 2:36 (NLT)
“So let everyone in Israel know for certain that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, to be both Lord and Messiah!”
Jesus is Lord (capital L) because Yahweh appointed Him, but He is not LORD (all caps, Yahweh).

Summary:
Every time Jesus was worshipped in the Bible, it was in recognition of His God-given role as:
• the Son of God
• the Messiah (Christ)
• the King of Israel
• the Lord whom Yahweh made

Never once was He worshipped as Yahweh Himself or as Almighty God. True worship (latreia) belongs only to Yahweh our Heavenly Father (John 4:23–24; Matthew 4:10).