The Power of Honoring Jesus
Honor is a theme that runs deeply through the Gospels. It is not merely about respect but about recognizing and responding to the authority and majesty of Jesus. The Bible provides us with striking examples of individuals who honored Jesus in profound ways, as well as those who missed the mark entirely.
Let's explore three significant passages that show us what it means to truly honor Jesus: the faith of the centurion, the persistence of the Canaanite woman and the lack of honor in His hometown.
The Centurion's Faith
In Matthew 8:5-13, we read the story of a Roman centurion who came to Jesus seeking healing for his servant. This passage is remarkable for several reasons. The centurion, a man of authority and a Gentile, approached Jesus with profound humility and faith.
Think about this: this man was a commander of Roman soldiers, a person of great authority in the Roman army. At this time, Rome was occupying the Jews, meaning that this man’s attitude toward Jesus was extremely countercultural for that time period.
"The centurion answered and said, 'Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed'" - Matthew 8:8
Look at Jesus’ response:
"When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, 'Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!'" - Matthew 8:10
The centurion's honor towards Jesus even caused Him to be amazed!
Notice how Jesus connects honor with faith. This man showed great honor for Jesus’ authority from God the Father, and he believed in Christ’s real identity.
The man’s faith, expressed through his honor, was rewarded with the miraculous healing of his servant.
The Canaanite Woman's Persistence
Another powerful example is the Canaanite woman in Matthew 15:21-28. This woman, a Gentile, approached Jesus with a desperate plea for her demon-possessed daughter.
At first, Jesus didn't respond, and even the disciples suggested sending her away. However, her persistence was remarkable:
"Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, 'Lord, help me!'" - Matthew 15:25
Despite being initially rebuffed, she honored Jesus with her unwavering faith and humility. She even responded gracefully to a challenging comparison:
"And she said, 'Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table'" - Matthew 15:27
Initially, Jesus focused on His mission to the Jews, explaining that it wasn't right to give the children's bread to the dogs. While many might have been discouraged by this, the woman remained respectful and honored Him with her humble response.
Instead of being offended, she honored Him by saying that even the dogs eat the crumbs from the Master's table.
Look how this woman's honor was rewarded by the Lord:
"Then Jesus answered and said to her, 'O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.' And her daughter was healed from that very hour" - Matthew 15:28
This account beautifully illustrates the value of persistently seeking Jesus' help, even when faced with challenges. Just like the centurion man, the Lord recognized her great faith. Once again, we see how faith is related to and expressed through honor.
Jesus commended these two people for their great faith, demonstrated through their honor, and miracles quickly followed.
Rejection in His Hometown
In stark contrast to these examples of honor, we see a different scenario unfold in Jesus' hometown of Nazareth. Mark 6:1-6 describes how Jesus faced unbelief and dishonor from those who knew Him growing up. Despite His wisdom and miracles, they saw Him merely as the carpenter's son:
"Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us?” So they were offended at Him. But Jesus said to them, 'A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, among his own relatives, and in his own house'" - Mark 6:3-4
The lack of honor resulted in a profound consequence:
"Now He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them" - Mark 6:5,
Their familiarity bred contempt, preventing them from recognizing and honoring Jesus’ true identity and power. This passage is a sobering reminder that failing to honor Jesus hinders His work in our lives.
Verse 5 says He couldn’t do any mighty work there, whereas in the examples with the centurion man and the Canaanite woman miracles and deliverance flowed freely.
It doesn’t say Jesus’ wouldn’t, but He couldn’t. The people’s lack of honor limited the miracles Jesus could do for them, even though He had unlimited access to the power of God.
Honoring Jesus through Honoring His Servants
Jesus also taught about the importance of honoring those He sends in His name. In Matthew 10:40-42, Jesus emphasized the connection between honoring His disciples and honoring Him:
"He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me. He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward. And he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward. And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward" Matthew 10:40-42, NKJV
He who hears you hears Me, he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me - Luke 10:16
By honoring and welcoming those who come in Jesus' name, we are effectively honoring Jesus Himself and even God the Father. This teaching extends the concept of honor beyond our direct relationship with Jesus to include how we treat His representatives.
The examples of the centurion, the Canaanite woman and the people of Nazareth show us the consequences of what it means to honor or dishonor Jesus. Honoring Jesus involves recognizing His authority, approaching Him with humility and faith and persistently seeking His help.
On the contrary, familiarity and unbelief can lead to dishonor and missed opportunities for experiencing His power. Additionally, Jesus' teaching on honoring His servants reminds us that our actions toward others reflect our honor for Him.
Let us strive to honor Jesus in every aspect of our lives, ensuring that our faith and love for Him allow His mighty miracles to manifest among us!