Bowing Before the Risen Lord
Tony Nester
Matthew 28:1-10; Philippians 2:9-11
What if we, too, should see him — the Risen Christ?
How would we feel? What would we do? One thing
stands out in the stories of those who met him then
and meet him now is that they bowed before him.
Easter is day to bow the knee to the Risen Lord.
Matthew 28:9 tells us that when the two women who had
gone at dawn to the tomb met Jesus they "came to him,
took hold of his feet [which is to bow down] and
worshiped him. (Matthew 28:9 NRSV)
John's Gospel reports that when Mary Magdalene came to
recognize the Risen Lord in the garden by the tomb
that she fell at his feet and grasped on to him.
(John 20:17 NRSV) Jesus said to her, "Do not hold on
to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father.
But go to my brothers and say to them, 'I am ascending
to my Father and your Father, to my God and your
God.'"
John's Gospel tells us that when Jesus invited Thomas
to touch him and be freed of his doubts, that Thomas
fell to his feet, bowed before the Lord, and cried
out: "My Lord and my God!" (John 20:28).
When Jesus, risen from the dead, appeared to the
disciples on a mountaintop in Galilee "they worshiped
him." reports Matthew 28:17. The word used here for
worship means to bow down, even to fall completely
face down in an act of total reverence.
Why do we bow down and worship the Lord?
One answer is because that is what God intended Easter
to mean to us.
The Apostle Paul declared that in the crucifixion and
resurrection of Jesus God has exalted the name of
Jesus above all other names so that . . . "at the name of
Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth
and under the earth, and every tongue should confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the
Father. (Philippians 2:9-11 NRSV).
Another answer is that we bow in gratitude to God.
Eugene Peterson tells about a you ...
Tony Nester
Matthew 28:1-10; Philippians 2:9-11
What if we, too, should see him — the Risen Christ?
How would we feel? What would we do? One thing
stands out in the stories of those who met him then
and meet him now is that they bowed before him.
Easter is day to bow the knee to the Risen Lord.
Matthew 28:9 tells us that when the two women who had
gone at dawn to the tomb met Jesus they "came to him,
took hold of his feet [which is to bow down] and
worshiped him. (Matthew 28:9 NRSV)
John's Gospel reports that when Mary Magdalene came to
recognize the Risen Lord in the garden by the tomb
that she fell at his feet and grasped on to him.
(John 20:17 NRSV) Jesus said to her, "Do not hold on
to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father.
But go to my brothers and say to them, 'I am ascending
to my Father and your Father, to my God and your
God.'"
John's Gospel tells us that when Jesus invited Thomas
to touch him and be freed of his doubts, that Thomas
fell to his feet, bowed before the Lord, and cried
out: "My Lord and my God!" (John 20:28).
When Jesus, risen from the dead, appeared to the
disciples on a mountaintop in Galilee "they worshiped
him." reports Matthew 28:17. The word used here for
worship means to bow down, even to fall completely
face down in an act of total reverence.
Why do we bow down and worship the Lord?
One answer is because that is what God intended Easter
to mean to us.
The Apostle Paul declared that in the crucifixion and
resurrection of Jesus God has exalted the name of
Jesus above all other names so that . . . "at the name of
Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth
and under the earth, and every tongue should confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the
Father. (Philippians 2:9-11 NRSV).
Another answer is that we bow in gratitude to God.
Eugene Peterson tells about a you ...
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