In Matthew 2, wise men came to Jerusalem seeking “the King” and ultimately found him in a home in the city of Bethlehem. They found Jesus as a child, less than two years old, and the Bible says that they “fell down and worshiped Him” (Matt. 2:11). This was the first time that men worshiped Jesus in His very presence. What a sight!
As you read through the life of Jesus, there were at least nine other occasions when individuals worshiped Jesus in His very presence. “A leper came and worshiped Him” (Matt. 8:2). A man of the Gadarenes, demon-possessed by Legion, “when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshiped Him” (Mark 5:6). Jairus, one of the rulers of the synagogue near Capernaum, “came and worshiped Him” (Matt. 9:18). After walking on the water to rescue and comfort His apostles, Jesus got into the boat and the apostles “came and worshiped Him” (Matt. 14:33). A Canaanite woman, whose daughter was severely demon-possessed, having found Jesus in the region of Tyre and Sidon, “came and worshiped Him” (Matt. 15:25). Jesus restored the sight of a man who was blind from birth, and with a heart of faith and gratitude, the man came and “worshiped Him” (John 9:38). The wife of Zebedee and mother of James and John came to Jesus, “worshiping Him” (Matt. 20:20). On His resurrection morning, when Jesus met and greeted the women who came to the tomb, “they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him” (Matt. 28:9). Then, when the eleven disciples went to Galilee as Jesus had instructed, “they saw Him” and “worshiped Him” (Matt. 28:17).
From the time He was a child until the time of His resurrection, men and women were able to worship Jesus in His very presence. What an experience that must have been! Then, on the eastern slopes of the Mount of Olives, over against Bethany, Jesus “parted from them and was carried up into heaven” (Luke 24:50-51). What would the disciples do now? Jesus was gone; He was no longer in their presence. The very next verse states, “They worshiped Him” (Luke 24:52).
The disciples did the same thing in Jesus’ absence as they had done in His presence—they worshiped Him! They were still full of awe! They were still full on wonder and amazement! They were still full of thanksgiving! They were still full of humility! They were still driven to honor and praise their King and their Savior! They could not but fall down and worship Him, as if He was still present, for in reality, true worshipers are still in His presence!
We may think that Jesus is not present today, but such a thought could not be further from the truth! He is here! Are you full of awe, wonder, thanksgiving and humility toward your Savior? Let us worship Him…in His presence!