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ENCOUNTERS WITH JESUS

Compiled by Nate Wilson


Following is a collection of verses from describing the encounters that different people had with Jesus:


Abram: Gen. 14:18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was priest of God Most High... And [Abram] gave him a tenth of all [the spoils of the war].


Abraham: Gen 18:1ff And Jehovah appeared unto him by the oaks of Mamre... three men stood by him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door and bowed himself to the earth and said, “My lord, if now I have found favor in your sight, please do not by-pass your servant...”


Daniel: Dan 10:5-9 I lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, a man... his face as the appearance of lightning... the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude... this great vision, and there remained no strength in me; for my comeliness was turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength... and when I heard the voice of his words, then I put my face on the ground and became speechless.


The shepherds: Luke 2:17 And when they saw it, they made known concerning the saying which was spoken to them about this child.


Simeon: Luke 2:28 then he received him into his arms, and blessed God


Anna: Luke 2:38 And coming up at that very hour she gave thanks unto God, and spoke of him to all them that were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.


The Magi: Matt. 2:11 And they came into the house and saw the young child with Mary his mother; and they fell down and worshipped him; and opening their treasures they offered unto him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.


Demons: Mark 3:11 And the unclean spirits, when ever they beheld him, fell down before him, and cried, saying, "You are the Son of God."


The woman with the issue of blood: Mark 5:33 But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what had been done to her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth.


Peter, upon seeing the miraculous catch of fish: Luke 5:8 But Simon Peter, when he saw it, fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord."


A leper: Mark 1:40 And there came to him a leper, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, "If you want, you can make me clean."


Jairus: Luke 8:41 And behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue: and he fell down at Jesus' feet, and urged him to come into his house;

cf. Matt. 9:18 ...there came a ruler, and worshipped him, saying, "My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay your hand upon her, and she shall live."


Demon-possessed man from Gadara: Mark 5:6-7 And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshipped him; and crying out with a loud voice, he said, "What do I have to do with you, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you by God, do not torment me."


The disciples on the lake: Mark 6:49 And when they saw him walking on the sea, they supposed that it was a ghost, and cried out... Matt. 14:32-33 And when [Jesus and Peter] had gotten up into the boat, the wind ceased, and they that were in the boat worshipped him, saying, "You really are the Son of God."


The lame man Jesus healed in the temple: John 9:38 And he said, "Lord, I believe." And he worshipped him.


Caananite woman: Matt. 15:22-27 A Canaanitish woman... cried out, saying, "Have mercy on me, O Lord, son of David; my daughter is grievously troubled with a demon... She came and worshipped him, saying, "Lord, help me."


Bartimaeus and the other blind man: Matt. 20:30 two blind men sitting by the way side, when they heard that Jesus was passing by, cried out, saying, "Lord, have mercy on us, son of David."


The disciples' mother: Matt. 20:20 Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to him with her sons, worshipping him, and asking a certain thing of him.


Father of a demon-possessed boy: Mark 9:22-24 "If you can do anything, have compassion on us, and help us. And Jesus said unto him, "If I can? All things are possible to him who believes." Immediately the father of the child cried out, and said, "I believe; help my unbelief."


Mary: John 11:32 Mary therefore, when she came where Jesus was and saw him, fell down at his feet, saying unto him, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died."


Women at the tomb: Matt. 28:9 Jesus met them, saying, "Rejoice." And they came and took hold of his feet, and worshipped him.


Paul: Acts 9:9-5 ...he drew near to Damascus and suddenly there shone around him a light out of heaven. He fell upon the earth and heard a voice saying unto him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, I am Jesus whom you are persecuting.”


Angels in heaven: Rev. 7:11-12 And all the angels were standing around the throne, and the elders and the four living creatures; and they fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, saying, "Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honor, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen."


Saints in heaven: Rev. 11:16-17 And the four and twenty elders, who sit before God on their thrones, fell upon their faces and worshipped God, saying, "We give thee thanks, O Lord God, the Almighty, who is and who was; because you wielded your great power and reigned."


The unsaved: Phil. 2:10-11 every knee should bow ..., and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.



Lessons learned:

Let us follow the examples of these people from Scripture. When people saw Jesus, they worshipped Him. Their expressions of worship included the following:


1. Prostration - We should do more of this, kneeling, even bowing to the ground as an act of worship to Jesus.


2. Proclamation - We should speak aloud the truth of who Jesus is - the LORD, the son of God, the son of David, the Almighty God. This should not only be done in worship with other believers, but should be taken to the streets and told to people who haven't heard. "I believe!"


3. Prayer Requests - Done in the confidence that Jesus is the Almighty God who can do anything. We come to God with needs - healing from sickness being one of the more common ones. "Have mercy on us," "Make me clean," "Come into my house," "Help my unbelief," "Heal my servant," "Help."


4. Purity - Our sin should bring us humbly before our Savior. We meet Him confessing our rebellion against Him and asking for forgiveness. "I am a sinful man," "make me clean." Even the word the crowds spoke at Jesus' triumphal entry, "Hosanna" (Save us!)


5. Praise and Thanks - The songs of praise and blessing uttered by Simeon at Jesus' birth and by the elders and angels in John's Revelation are excellent examples of what we should be doing.


6. Present-giving - The Magi gave Jesus costly gifts. Our encounter with Jesus should include giving ourselves and all we have as a living sacrifice to be used to honor Jesus and do His will on the earth.


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