The Father Seeks
Notes
Transcript
Reading from Ronald Allen, Worship: Rediscovering the Missing Jewel
Last week - Started the story of Jesus’ encounter with a Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well in Samaria.
We pick up from last week when the Samaritan woman exclaims “give me this ‘living water’”
Please stand as we honor the reading of God’s Word
16 He told her, “Go, call your husband and come back.”
17 “I have no husband,” she replied. Jesus said to her, “You are right when you say you have no husband.
18 The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.”
19 “Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet.
20 Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.”
21 “Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem.
22 You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews.
23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.
24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”
25 The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.”
26 Then Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you—I am he.”
THE WORD OF GOD, FOR THE PEOPLE OF GOD
Samaritans worshipped on Mount Gerizim. Abraham, Jacob, and Moses had built altars here. Joshua led a covenant renewal after crossing the Jordan as Moses instructed in Deuteronomy. Samaritans built a temple here later destroyed by the Jews about 100 years before our scripture reading.
NLT - verse 20 - why is it that you Jews insist that Jerusalem is the only place to worship?
Faithlife Study Bible Chapter 4
salvation is from the Jews Jesus probably is alluding to the Jews’ preservation of the entire OT Scriptures that revealed God’s plan for salvation. Also, the Messiah would be from the Jews, a son of David—not a Samaritan or Gentile.
The relevance of Mount Gerizim or the temple mount of Jerusalem diminishes in Jesus response today.
Jesus says...
Who is greater than Where
Why is greater than What
When is greater than How
Who > Where
Who > Where
If the Father seeks worshippers in Spirit and in Truth - they must focus on Him and His Son
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Since Jesus is the giver of the Spirit and the embodiment of the truth, worship in Spirit and in truth is also worship centered in and mediated by Jesus.
Andrew T. Lincoln, The Gospel according to Saint John, Black’s New Testament Commentary (London: Continuum, 2005), 177–178.
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It is not a mountain, a particular city, a particular temple or cathedral - these places can have significant influence and meaning to us - but real worship is not contained there - it must happen in these places but it is not limited to these places
When we come into this place - set aside for the gathering of God’s people - we must worship - whether it is for Sunday worship, for Brotherhood gathering, for a funeral, for a wedding - we must worship God in spirit and in truth.
Jesus says that our worship is not limited to these 4 walls - where ever we find ourselves we must worship Him.
The focus is on WHO is worshipped in spirit and in truth.
Why > What
Why > What
Why we worship - is more important than the what we do doing worship
Ronald Allen made some “worship is not” statement in our reading earlier
Rituals and ceremonies provide some pattern and structure - but it is more important for the why?
A wedding ceremony can be structured and we have certain expectations
but it is more important to understand why we celebrate the union and commitment of a husband and wife
Some of our sister churches are more liturgical and some are more laid back
Some sing songs from centuries ago - some sing songs from the radio released this year.
But it is not the what - but the WHY
Ronald Allen - it is to celebrate God - Jesus say to celebrate, to worship, to seek out the Father, who is seeking us, in spirit and truth
When > How
When > How
verse 23 - A time is coming and is now here
The time is now -
tomorrow? - the time is now
Monday, Tuesday? the time is now
Do I need to be all cleaned up?
Do I need to bring or make a sacrifice?
Do I need to have read the entire Bible?
At all times, right where we at, in what ever context we’re in, we are to worship in spirit and in truth
Jesus says...
Who is greater than Where
Why is greater than What
When is greater than How
17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
Grace - verses 17-18 - the truth of her relationships is disclosed by Jesus - verse 22 - Samaritans (and hers) limited knowledge - but we don’t see any condemnation - Jesus continues to offer her what she needs from the Father and from the Messiah, the Christ, from Jesus.
Truth - verse 23 - The Father seeks true worshippers - those who worship in spirit and truth.
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In worship, human beings recognize God for his attributes and express this through adoration, praise, thanksgiving, service, and living holy lives. Worship constitutes the primary calling of humans.
Ed Smither, “Worship in the Life of the Church,” in Lexham Survey of Theology, ed. Mark Ward et al. (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2018).
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Jesus says - the Father seeks those who worship in spirit and truth.