John 4:20-26 THE MEANING OF WORSHIP
After that heavy encounter with Jesus and her sins, the Samaritan woman might have tried to divert the conversation into something else which is the topic of worship. But I believe that the woman had a revelation from the Lord which caused her to raise that topic. It all ties out and went full circle from the beginning of John 4! We recall from previous our devotion that Jesus purposely went through Samaria so that He can heal the on-going generational dispute between the Jews and the Samaritans. And what was the root cause of this feud? The people in Samaria worshiped in idolatry.
“‘Sir (which means ‘Lord’), I perceive that you are a prophet. Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you say that in Jerusalem is the place where people ought to worship. Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. YOU WORSHIP WHAT YOU DO NOT KNOW; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews.”
Finally for centuries, God had shown the way to make clear all the blurred lines separating the two clans through Jesus. Jesus was speaking about how to truly worship God in a language that the Samaritan woman can easily understand. While Jesus might should assertive and demeaning by telling her that they worship what they do not know, but He was telling the truth and He want her to have the authentic revelation of God.
“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. GOD IS SPIRIT, AND THOSE WHO WORSHIP HIM MUST WORSHIP IN SPIRIT AND TRUTH.”
Jesus explained to the Samaritan woman that Father God does not look towards our physical form of worship. Worship is internal, not external. Worship is not about a place where people should perform it, but it is the position of the heart - IN SPIRIT and IN TRUTH. It is not about the awesome Christian band that goes on tour around so many places nor it is the amazing worship team that leads the congregation every Sunday. Worship is more than just the songs and melodies that we sing. It is an everyday kind of devotion that is translated into our actions, thoughts, speech, and core principles.
IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH
- To be able to worship God in SPIRIT, we need to know Him spirit to Spirit. The only way for this to happen is to be born again. Being born again starts out with believing that Jesus Christ is the Son of God who died for our sins and receiving Him as our Lord and Savior. Then being baptized in water and in Spirit.
- To be able to worship God in TRUTH, we need to accept that Jesus is the way, the TRUTH, and the life (John 14:6) and to accept the Word of TRUTH or the GOSPEL (Colossians 1:5) that salvation only comes from and through Him alone. Aside from that, we need to worship God not out of religion, or duty, or compulsion.
“The woman said to Him, ‘I know that Messiah is coming (He who is called Christ). When He comes, He will tell us all things.’ Jesus said to her, ‘I WHO SPEAK TO YOU AM HE.’”
THE PERSON OF WORSHIP
Most importantly, worship is about the person of Jesus Christ.
"BY THIS WE KNOW THE SPIRIT OF GOD: EVERY SPIRIT THAT CONFESSES THAT JESUS CHRIST HAS COME IN THE FLESH IS FROM GOD, AND EVERY SPIRIT THAT DOES NOT CONFESS JESUS IS NOT FROM GOD." (1 JOHN 4:2-3)
SPIRITUAL WORSHIP
“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a LIVING SACRIFICE, holy, and acceptable to God, which is your SPIRITUAL WORSHIP.”
PRAYER
Father God, we worship You with all of our hearts and minds. Thank You that You are helping us in our weakness and unbelief. Help us to test every spirit so that we will know how to truly worship You in Spirit and in Truth. Forgive us for all the things that we made worship to be like. We know that it is all about Jesus and Your glory. So Lord, please help us to glorify You alone and to lay down our religion that only brings us farther from You. We want to know You, God. Meet us where we are. Give us the revelation of who You are. Amen!