John 4:20-21
“‘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. ‘”
As we work through our study of John we find the author pointing again and again to Jesus’ connection with the Father and His omniscient perspective. In this amazing moment of time, Jesus sits alone with a woman beside an ancient well. As we pan back from the scene we see a community of people near the well and the two mountains nearby that Moses caused the Israelites to read God’s blessings and curses from. (Deuteronomy 11:29) The landscape around is desolate looking until we pan farther back and take in the view of the Jordan River valley, the Sea of Galilee, the Dead Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea. The beauty of the landscape under the brilliant sunlight might just take our breath away, but Jesus sees even farther.
God’s view includes both the past and the present; what has happened and what he wills to happen. Jesus / God knows that the time of the Old Testament covenant has almost expired. A new covenant (Jeremiah 31:31, Luke 22:20, 1 Corinthians 11:25) will be made by God that radically changes the nature of worship.
Q: How has knowing Jesus personally changed your concept of what it means to worship God?
Didn’t think about it. Christianity seemed pretty silly. Now I know it is not a once a week go to church and listen to someone talk about the bible life. through Christ we have the Holy Spirit in our hearts. Worship is a way of life, 24/7. Christ has given me life and my acts of worship are giving this back to Him.
When I start to understand what Jesus has done for me, it gives me freedom in worshipping God.
As Ron stated, it becomes more if a 24/6 thing.
24/7…deep sigh
It’s a relationship, a wonderful relationship of acceptance and understanding full of love built on truth of the word.