Can we worship Jesus?
In John 17:3, Jesus Himself declared:
“And this is life eternal, that they might know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent.”
At first glance, this verse may seem to suggest that only the Father should be worshiped since He is called “the only true God.” However, when we study the whole of Scripture, it becomes clear that worshiping Jesus is not a contradiction—it is an affirmation of who He truly is.
The Father is indeed the Source of all life and divinity, yet Jesus is the only begotten Son of God, who shares His Father’s divine nature. He is distinct in person, yet one in essence with the Father—a divine being of the same kind, possessing the same holiness, life, and creative power.
1. Jesus Is the Son of God—A Divine Being
Scripture clearly distinguishes between the Father and the Son, but it also reveals that Jesus fully possesses the divine nature of God.
John 1:1–3: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. … All things were made by Him.”
Hebrews 1:3: “Who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person…”
Philippians 2:6: “Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God.”
Jesus is not the Father, but He shares the Father’s very essence—a divine being of the same kind, perfect in character, holiness, and love. That is why the Bible calls Him “the only begotten Son of God” (John 3:16): not created, but brought forth from the Father, uniquely divine and of the same nature as His Father.
To call Jesus “the Son of God” is not to lessen Him, but to recognize His divine origin—that He proceeds from the Father, just as a son shares the life and nature of his father.
It’s also important to understand that the word “God” in the Bible is used in more than one sense:
In its highest and ultimate sense, “God” refers to the one true God—the Father, who is the Source of all life and authority (John 17:3; 1 Corinthians 8:6).
But the same word “God” (Theos in Greek) is also used in Scripture to describe a divine being or God-being, one who possesses the very nature of God. For example, in Hebrews 1:8, the Father Himself says to the Son, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever,” and in John 1:1, the Word (Christ) “was God.”
Thus, while the Father is the one true and supreme God, Jesus is also rightly called God because He shares His Father’s divine nature, glory, and authority.
2. Jesus Is Our Creator
Because Jesus is the active agent of creation, He rightly deserves our worship.
John 1:3: “All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.”
Colossians 1:16: “For by Him were all things created… all things were created by Him and for Him.”
Hebrews 1:10: “You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth.”
Jesus was not merely present at creation—He was the One through whom creation came into existence.
All things owe their existence to Him, including the angels who worship before His throne. Because He is our Creator, it is both right and natural to worship Him.
3. What Does Worship Mean?
The word worship signifies supreme reverence, adoration, and submission to a divine being. It is more than respect—it is the acknowledgment of ultimate authority and worthiness.
In the New Testament, the Greek word proskyneō literally means “to bow down” or “to prostrate oneself before” in surrender and reverence.
However, the same word can have two different meanings depending on the context:
Civil or respectful homage—bowing before a king, ruler, or judge as a gesture of respect or submission.
For example, in Matthew 18:26, Jesus’ parable describes a servant who “fell down and worshiped” (proskyneō) his master, saying, “Lord, have patience with me.” This was not divine worship but humble pleading before authority.
Sacred or divine worship—offered only to God or a divine being, expressing faith, adoration, and total submission.
For instance, in John 9:38, the healed blind man worshiped Jesus, recognizing Him as Lord and Savior.
Thus, proskyneō can describe both respectful homage to human authority and true worship of the divine, depending on who is being worshiped and why.
True worship, as Jesus explained, is not merely an outward act but a spiritual devotion:
“The true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeks such to worship Him.” (John 4:23–24)
Therefore, when we worship Jesus, we are not performing mere homage as to a human ruler—we are offering spiritual adoration to our divine Creator and Redeemer.
True worship involves:
Reverence for divine majesty (Psalm 95:6),
Love and gratitude for salvation (Revelation 5:9–12),
Submission to divine authority (Romans 12:1).
When we worship Jesus, we are not creating a second god or breaking monotheism—we are giving rightful honor to the divine Son who shares the Father’s nature and carries out the Father’s will.
4. Jesus Accepted Worship
Throughout the Bible, whenever someone mistakenly tried to worship an angel or prophet, they were immediately corrected (see Revelation 19:10; Acts 10:25–26). Yet Jesus, unlike all created beings, accepted worship freely and rightly, because He is truly divine.
Even before His incarnation, the pre-existent Son of God received worship in the Old Testament.
In Joshua 5:13–15, Joshua encountered “the Commander of the Lord’s army.” Joshua fell on his face and worshiped Him, and the divine Commander told him to remove his sandals because the ground was holy—just as God told Moses at the burning bush. This “Commander” was no ordinary angel; He spoke with divine authority, identifying Himself with God’s presence. This was none other than the divine Son of God appearing before His birth in Bethlehem. Jesus did not rebuke Joshua’s worship, confirming His right to receive it.
In the New Testament, the same pattern continues:
The wise men worshiped Him at His birth (Matthew 2:11).
A healed leper worshiped Him (Matthew 8:2).
The blind man worshiped Him after being healed (John 9:38).
The disciples worshiped Him after He calmed the storm (Matthew 14:33).
Thomas confessed, “My Lord and my God” (John 20:28).
All heaven worships the Lamb (Revelation 5:12–14).
In every instance, Jesus accepted worship without hesitation. He never corrected them, for He is worthy of the same honor given to the Father.
5. Unity of Worship
The Father and the Son are perfectly united in purpose, love, and glory. Worshiping Jesus does not take glory away from the Father—it fulfills the Father’s will.
Jesus Himself said:
“That all should honor the Son, even as they honor the Father.” (John 5:23)
When we worship Jesus, we are not exalting Him above the Father but honoring the Father through His Son, for the Son perfectly reveals the Father’s character and carries out His will.
“He who has seen Me has seen the Father.” (John 14:9)
However, it must be clearly understood that the Father alone is the Supreme Being, the ultimate Source of all life and authority. The apostle Paul affirms this divine order:
“The head of Christ is God.” (1 Corinthians 11:3)
Even Jesus Himself acknowledged this truth, saying:
“My Father is greater than I.” (John 14:28)
Thus, when we worship the Father and the Son together as our Creators, we do so in harmony with divine order—the Father as the Supreme God and Source of all, and the Son as His divine offspring through whom all things were made.
The worship of Jesus is therefore the worship of the Father revealed through His Son. When we adore Christ, we are honoring “the image of the invisible God” (Colossians 1:15), the full expression of the Father’s heart.
6. No Scripture Commands Us to Worship the Holy Spirit
It is important to note that nowhere in the Bible are we told to worship the Holy Spirit—nor any other being apart from the Father and the Son. Every example of worship in Scripture is directed either to God the Father or to Jesus Christ, His Son.
Angels, prophets, and even the apostles firmly rejected worship (Acts 10:25–26; Revelation 22:8–9), and the Holy Spirit never draws attention to Himself but always glorifies Christ (John 16:13–14).
The Holy Spirit is not presented as a separate divine being to be worshiped, but as the personal presence and power of God—the Spirit of the Father and of His Son working in the hearts of believers (John 14:16–18; Romans 8:9–11).
Jesus referred to the Holy Spirit as “He” and “Him” in John 14–16 because He was speaking of Himself in the third person—as the One who would come again to His followers, not in the flesh, but in the Spirit:
“I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.” (John 14:18)
After His ascension, Christ returned to His people through the Holy Spirit—His own divine presence dwelling within believers:
“Now the Lord is that Spirit.” (2 Corinthians 3:17)
This harmonizes with Romans 8:16, which says, “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.” The King James Version uses “itself” because the Greek word pneuma (Spirit) is grammatically neuter, meaning “breath” or “wind.”
Thus, the Holy Spirit is described as both He (Christ’s personal presence) and It (God’s divine power and life), depending on the context. Both descriptions reveal the same truth: the Spirit is the living presence of the Father and His Son working in and through us.
Therefore, the doctrine of the Trinity, which teaches that God is one being in three co-equal and co-eternal persons to be worshiped alike, leads many to worship or pray to the Holy Spirit as a distinct god-being. This concept, however, is not found in Scripture and can lead to idolatry. The Bible consistently directs worship only to the Father and the Son (Revelation 5:13), through whom the Father is glorified.
Furthermore, it is worth noting that nowhere in Scripture are we told to worship God the Father only. Even the Ten Commandments do not say “worship the Father only,” but rather:
“You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only shall you serve.” (Matthew 4:10, quoting Deuteronomy 6:13)
To serve God means to submit to His authority and obey His will. Since the Father and the Son are one in purpose and work, serving God includes serving and honoring His Son. Jesus said:
“I and My Father are one.” (John 10:30)
Therefore, worshiping the Son is fully consistent with the first commandment, for to serve and honor the Son is to serve and honor the Father who sent Him.
*** Conclusion
While the Father is indeed “the only true God”—the ultimate Source of life, love, and divinity—Jesus, the only begotten Son, shares that divine nature. He was brought forth from the Father before all creation, holy and of the same divine substance, and through Him all things were made.
To worship Jesus is to recognize His true identity as “God manifested in the flesh” (1 Timothy 3:16).
Worship, in its highest sense, is the act of total submission, love, and adoration toward a divine being. Since Jesus shares the Father’s nature, created all things, and redeemed us with His blood, He deserves our full worship.
“Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing.” (Revelation 5:12)