As we continue our study of the Gospel of John, we pick up at verse 20 of chapter 4. Writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the Apostle pens the words of a conversation that Jesus was having with a woman He had gone to Samaria to give a message to. He writes:
“Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.” “Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe Me a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You Samaritans worship what you do not know, we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. Yet a time is coming and has now come when true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the father seeks. God is Spirit, and His worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” (John 4:20-24)
When God created man, He put into him a love to be with family. He created us to be in Fellowship. To enjoy each other. To value and appreciate each other. As Jesus Himself said of living life: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it. Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:37-40)
The message Jesus came to give to the Samaritans, and to all of the world, was and is about the relationship of God and man. As we had previously seen after the woman perceived that Jesus was a Prophet, she spoke of worship, and customs, and places to worship, and all of the old ways. Jesus told her “A time has come when all of this shall change. You will not need to go to a certain place to worship, for He whom you worship will be in you, in Spirit. (For God is Spirit and our body is His Temple.) (1 Corinthians 3:16)
The old ways and laws given unto Moses were fulfilled and completed in Christ Jesus. He became the truth, and the Way, and the life for man. He became the new Covenant, and it is a Covenant of Love.
Therefore, when we worship our God, we do not take sacrifices for our sins. We take truth, which is Christ Jesus. Christ was our sacrifice – once and for all time, and for all who will believe and receive Him. We do not go to a certain place, and have someone else intercede for us. He is our intercessor and forever with us. We do not go in fear of consequence. He has taken our consequence.
Rather we go in Love for our Abba Father who has shown His great love for us in Christ Jesus our Savior, and has given unto us His sweet Holy Spirit, our Spirit of power and love, and Keeper.
We walk in worship at all times. For true worship is simply walking in His Spirit, which is Love, and walking in His truth, which is Christ Jesus. We worship as we show His love to those in our lives. We worship when we love ourselves – not in a selfish way, but rather in a way of appreciation and celebration for who, and what, He has made us to become, and into becoming.
Let us worship in the Spirit, and in truth within ourselves, and in a Spirit filled Fellowship as God leads.
Be blessed in all things and in all ways, God’s Beloveds. You are greatly loved.
Poppa B.