what worship is

Jesus has an encounter at a well in Samaria that provides a whole new paradigm for worship in the New Testament. Up to this point in biblical history, true worship is limited to a specific place and a particular people. At the time of John chapter 4, the place is the temple and the people are the Israelites. But Jesus is about to expunge expectations and wreck worship. John 4:24 reads, “God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” Jesus is inaugurating a new reality to an old routine.

Intriguingly, the woman to whom Jesus gifts this information is a woman out of place and from the wrong people. She is to be found guilty of infidelity and adultery. In effect, she is the perfect imperfect example for a worshiper in Israel . . . . and so naturally, she is forgiven and welcomed with wonder into true worship!

in spirit and truth: Let’s talk about this for a micro-minute. I’ve heard many-a-message on this concept and it seems like much that is mentioned is missing the salvific point John is making.

What this is NOT:
right doctrine + genuine emotions = true worship

What this IS:
right Person + genuine Spirit = true worshiper

In characteristic Jesus-style, Jesus turns this concept inside out. He does not allow humanity the satisfaction of a self-made religious religion: this is not about getting the right ingredients together to make a righteous meal. Because God is Spirit, humanity must become spirit-like. But no amount of human invention, ingenuity or intuition can create such a reality. Only God can create God-like-ness; only His Spirit can create Spirit-like-ness.

The right Person is the One who dares proclaim, “I am the way, the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6) He is the One who stands before Pilate and is brazenly asked, “What is truth?” (John 18:37-38) Jesus is the Word made flesh, “glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14) The Gospel writer is portraying Jesus as the portrait of Truth.

Consider this then: those who worship God in spirit and truth are those who have placed their faith in the Person and Work of the Lord Jesus by the awesome means of the awakening power of the Holy Spirit.

More succinctly, true worshipers are true believers!