Did Christ crave worship?

[marco]

Jesus comes to us beautifully gift wrapped, especially at Christmas. His biographers have written wonderful eulogies to the extent that many think he had to be a god.


He told his friends not to say anything about his miracles or his identity. (Matthew 8, Matthew9 and Matthew 16) But of course his purpose was to display his divine gift so he wanted publicity.

When he asked: "What are people saying about me?" was he just seeking flattery?

And when he demanded that people love him more than their own children was he encouraging idolatry, like pop stars today?


Did Jesus crave worship?

[JehovahsWitness]

When he asked: "What are people saying about me?" was he just seeking flattery?

We weren't there and dont have mind reading skills so none of us can say for sure what he wanted. He didnt actually ask "what people were saying about me" he asked ...

MATTHEW 16:13

Jesus asked his disciples: “Who are men saying the Son of man is?�

So my guess is he was seeking to know who men were saying he was.


JW

[JehovahsWitness]

And when he demanded that people love him more than their own children was he encouraging idolatry, like pop stars today?

Biblically, idolatry is loving someone or something more than God YHWH (Jehovah), not loving someone more than your children. So, scripturally Jesus did not by definition encourage idolatry.

[Wootah]

[Replying to post 1 by marco]

God does not crave worship. Does a good bottle of wine crave worship?

If the Bible tales are true then he could have done much more powerful displays of worship don't you think?

[Tcg]

[Replying to post 1 by marco]

God does not crave worship. Does a good bottle of wine crave worship?

The author of John reports Jesus saying this:

• 4:23 But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.

Seeking worship may not be the same as craving it, but it's close. I'm not sure however if your statement refers to God the Father or Jesus.

The OP asks about Jesus and here Jesus is suggesting that the Father be worshipped, not himself.


Tcg

[marco]

When he asked: "What are people saying about me?" was he just seeking flattery?

We weren't there and dont have mind reading skills so none of us can say for sure what he wanted.

Thankfully historians haven't adopted this attitude. We weren't there when Marie Antoinette allegedly said: "Qu'ils mangent de la brioche." It may well have been a fiction composed by Rousseau. Similarly the sayings attributed to an earlier historical character, Jesus, may likewise be fictions. What we can do here is look at what we have and try to assess what statements imply.

So my guess is he was seeking to know who men were saying he was.

That's not a very good guess since Jesus appeared to be more informed than his disciples. But I agree it might just be a fictional statement. In which case we assess it in the way we would assess Macbeth's speeches while of course conceding the evangelists were no Shakespeares.

[marco]

And when he demanded that people love him more than their own children was he encouraging idolatry, like pop stars today?

Biblically, idolatry is loving someone or something more than God YHWH (Jehovah), not loving someone more than your children. So, scripturally Jesus did not by definition encourage idolatry.

The suffix -latry, means "worship of", Latria being worship paid to God. Idolatry is therefore the worship of some idol. Given that I added "like pop-stars" it is clear that I intended the meaning to be "hero-worship". If you allow your own definition to pertain to elephants or salamanders, then fair enough. Jesus had nothing to do with this.

Did Jesus want people to bow down to him, to shower adulation on him, or, in the common meaning of the word, to worship him as a popular idol? That is the question.

[marco]

[Replying to post 1 by marco]

God does not crave worship. Does a good bottle of wine crave worship?

The question was about Jesus of Nazareth not Jehovah. However, I understand that Jehovah does in fact demand, expect, insist upon worship.

A bottle of good wine does not have the sentient capabilities that presumably God has so I cannot understand the point you are making.

If the Bible tales are true then he could have done much more powerful displays of worship don't you think?

I don't know what this sentence means. Who is worshipping what, where?

[JehovahsWitness]

MATTHEW 16:13

Jesus asked his disciples: “Who are men saying the Son of man is?�

So my guess is he was seeking to know who men were saying he was.

That's not a very good guess....

Fair enough. I agree Jesus was indeed a historical figure and I can see why you contest his asking "who men were saying he was" was not a request to know "who men were saying he was". Your most reasonable position, based firmly on the text available, has been well noted.

Please be well and have an excellent and joy filled week,



JW

[Wootah]

[Replying to post 8 by marco]

In Christianity Jesus is God.

We aren't talking about demanding or expecting or insisting. Worship is for our benefit. Just like I demand, expect and insist on my children studying is for their benefit.

The point I am making is that humans seem to naturally praise a person or object when they realise it is good. Worship is a form of praise. Worship for me is the natural praise I have for my understanding of God.

If God is God and also craves worship don't you think He would have forced you to worship Him?