Worship; The Where, How, and Who

Worship; The Where, What, and the Who

John 4:14-29

Intro: Recently the Footnotes podcast did a series on the topic of Worship. Pastor and I spent several weeks on the topic. Defining and answering all of the questions in the title. I don’t think we looked at John. However the story of the Samaritan woman at the well and her conversation with Jesus is a great illustration to this. Jesus breaks down and answers these questions of what Worship looks like. In John chapter four we see the three parts of worship that should be called into question in regards to worship. Jesus address the where worship happens. The What or how we are to worship, and most importantly the Who we are to Worship.

Transition: At this point in the text its not completely known if the woman knew or completely comprehended who she was talking to. Yet she figures out she is talking to someone that isn’t just another Jew. This part of the story feels similar to Nathanael being called by Jesus. In John Chapter 1 verse fifty. Jesus says to Nathanael that he saw him while sitting under the fig tree not long prior to meeting Jesus for the first time. This woman recognizes that Jesus knows her every sin and that he was of God, and so she gets a little more respectful. No longer is Jesus just another Jew. Instead she steps up her game and refers to Jesus as a Prophet of God. Look what she does when confronted with her sin though. She tries to change the subject off of her sin. By trying to change the subject of worship to something more comfortable. Something less divisive.

The Where: Jesus not being distracted or put off from what the woman would need to do for salvation. To repent of sin, and take accountability with Jesus. Jesus puts a bookmark in the conversation to come back to it in a minute. Jesus patiently answers her question. She in a way tries to test the ground where she is treading with Jesus. Trying to figure out how different He is from other Jews. She asks a question within the big three for Jewish culture. Worship and where it can happen. At the time so much of the pursuit of God happened within the confines of the temple. So much centered around the sacrificial lamb once a year. This conversation feels somewhat like when you talk to someone who, “used” to go to church. Like someone who makes reference of what they have been told, but never internalized and chose to believe themselves.This is like you have been told that it is important to go to church on Sunday your whole life. Yet it doesn’t really seem to change anything when you get in the car going home. And so the Samaritan woman asks the question that is in her heart. As a Samaritan I cant go into the temple. I’m not allowed to come anywhere near the throne of God. I’m not worthy to have any part of Jehovah. Yet Jacob worshipped on the mountain she lived on. Look how Jesus answers her, READ John 4:21. Jesus is saying in this moment the place isn’t the important thing. The place isn’t where you will find the living God. Jesus is saying whether you are speaking of Jerusalem in the temple, or the building that is Harvest Baptist Church the place isn’t where we find Jesus.

Transition: Jesus moves through the conversation like only Jesus can. Perfectly in every turn of a word and phrase. One who knows what is in the hearts of the person he is talking to. Who knows when you are zoning out on right now. He knows. But Jesus next addresses the how. READ John 4:22, Jesus is addressing the fact that people apart from Him not only aren’t able to worship God. They don’t really understand who and how they are to be worshipping.

The What: The what or the how we are to worship in this portion of scripture is what Jesus is addressing. He’s saying soon the where wont matter, but the what is in the worshipping the one true God you don’t know how to. Because while these particular Samaritans were the descendants of Jacob. They didn’t know what or how to worship God. Jesus is saying, you are speaking about worship like you know, but you don’t know. You don’t know God. Why? Because while her culture dictated that she participate and be apart of religious acts of the worship of God. They lacked the things that brought revelation to a heart in regards to worship. Jesus is saying, you don’t know, and you don’t know that you don’t know. Jesus is saying salvation is for the Jews. Not because they are a more holy people. They aren’t desirable in of themselves. That should hit in a certain way in your heart right now Christian. Because you in yourself are not desirable in any way. Apart from Jesus you and I are disgusting people. Wicked in nature at our very core. I am completely unable to worship God without the work that His spirit does in me daily. That right there is a promise of God that Jesus is talking about in part. Jesus is saying that the woman at the well didn’t know how to worship God, because her people lacked prophets, or any promises of God.

Transition: And right here is where Jesus turns the conversation on its head! Pay attention this is awesome. READ John 4:23, In other words the Jews being the only people that have access to God at the time because of promises of God. Jesus was saying thats about to change. True worshippers will have complete access to worship God the Father. Don’t miss what Jesus is saying, because when he says true worshippers He is saying there will still be those that believe they are worshipping God but are in fact not.

The Who: There will still be those that miss it. There will still be those that miss the what of worshipping God, because they fail to worship the who. The who being to worship Jesus. Look at the modern day religious landscape even today. How many types of churches in Albany alone that claim to preach a way to heaven. Yet have missed it because they have not acknowledged within their doctrine their very need for Jesus as the sole savior and King of their life. No they will say they are Christians when they come to your door. Yet when they are questioned as to how they can receive salvation. The explanation they give is somewhat like that funny meme out there. The crazy looking guy standing in front of a cork board with red strings that go in every direction. The idea that he is explaining in intricate detail the complexities of something. Sin has a way of complicating things. Sin has a way of taking your eyes off of Jesus. And Jesus is saying in John chapter four and today! The only way we have access to worship God the Father the only true and living God is in spirit and in truth. Lets not skip over that part. The phrase, “Spirit and in Truth”. Its the thing that ties this all together. It’s the corner stone of it in a way. So lets break that down. READ John 4:24, Jesus is speaking of the Holy Spirit. Being equal to God the Father, and Son within the trinity. Our heart and mind are prepared by His Spirit to worship Him. He does that work. So now we come to the part where it says, “In Truth”. To quote Sam Davidson, “What does it mean to worship in truth? Truth is a Person - The Son of God. Jesus Christ. Jesus said. Davidson quotes Jesus in his commentary, Son of God “I am the way, the TRUTH, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” Jesus is pointing out to the Samaritan woman. You think you worship God, but you do not because you do not have the spirit of God through the promises of God and you don’t have Me! We think we serve God and follow God because we show up to church multiple times a week. Because our suit is pressed, and we carry an expensive Bible. But if we were to be completely honest with Jesus today. Your relationship with the Savior hasn’t been quite what you would desire it to be in some time. You feel in your spirit there is something lacking in your worship. That hearing the word of God preached doesn’t have the same effect on your soul. That reading your Bible is sort of uninspiring. That you find yourself falling asleep in your devotions. Here’s something to consider. When was the last time you asked the author of what your reading to give you a tutorial on it. When was the last time that your devotions caused you to encounter your Savior? If that question makes you pause and question when that was. There is a tell sign. We see it in VS 27. READ John 4:28. That word in the text left, in the greek the word is aphiemi. It means to abandon or leave a place, a person, a thing. Ready for it, also means to abandon or leave a belief. The belief that we are enough in ourselves. Pre or post salvation! Its the same word as we find in Mark 1:18. Simon Peter and Andrew had come up empty the night before fishing. And so in the morning, they go out fishing again with Jesus. And Jesus fills their nets to the breaking. And then in Vs 17 we READ Mark 1:17-18. With utter abandon and disregard to everything else they followed Jesus. They followed Jesus in a way that could only be described as a life abandoned to worship Jesus. The Samaritan left every care and desire from her old life, and immediately spiritual fruit was born out. And so right there is the pinnacle of the issue. Have you had a moment in your life or maybe I should I say when was the last time in your life where you met your Savior, and you chose to aphiemi everything to chase Jesus. To borrow on the definition Pastor Thomas gave the word Blessed from Luke chapter six. You are so very lucky Sir.

Conclusion: I hesitate to make the statement that we don’t hear about the Samaritan woman again in scripture. As I was wrong the last time I made that kind of statement regarding Nicodemus. However we can make an assumption that the Samaritan woman chose to believe in Jesus as Messiah. As we almost immediately see a change in her life. She immediately starts telling people her testimony in Christ. Inviting people to come to the well to receive Living water from the Messiah. Evangelization is complicated? No its not. A heathen woman who had no Bible School training met her savior, and told people about it. Invited people to do the same. Man I don’t think I could break down the gospel better. If you desire to worship God. Reject the idea that you need to seek God in a specific building, although going to church regularly is important. Although I would say not for the reasons some might say. No accountability and hearing the word taught to me from someone who has studied the text more than me is important in that process. When we understand that we are trying to seek the one true God, and that seeking process can only be done when God’s Spirit, and the Truth indwelling us occurs. The Truth being Jesus himself. Christian read your Bible daily. Don’t stop praying. Pray about everything. Pray about what you read. Pray about your day as it goes on. Pray about the people that are brought into your life. DON’T STOP PRAYING! And finally call out for Jesus. Not in a way that we seek Jesus. But instead as a child that is lost in the woods, and is in desperate need for a Savior. A Savior to daily change you into His likeness. Worship Him because He is worthy. Worship Him because deserves it certainly. And worship Him because He is the only way to actually worship the Father.

Pray: