(continuation of meditation 66)
Here is a further indication of Spirit-given sacrificial love of my church for God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ which fulfills the first commandment:
b.) To love God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ whole-
heartedly as a church, means to have fellowship with them in true worship.
The Lord Jesus discloses to the Samaritan woman at the well that Christlike love for God is first of all expressed in true worship. He then explains what true worship is: “... true worshippers will worship the Father in Spirit and in Truth.” (John 4:23)
Jesus makes it clear to her what true worship actually indicates: the time of worshipping God on mountains and in temples is over. Under the new, Messianic covenant, the followers of Jesus will worship God through His Spirit:
“Jesus declared: Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. ... Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshippers will worship the Father in Spirit and Truth...”
(John 4:21 and 23a)
Earlier in John’s gospel, Jesus had already shown to Nicodemus that the gift of God’s Spirit is imperative for knowing God and for serving Him in the new, Messianic age: “The truth is, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit.”
(John 3:5)
In His talk with the woman at the well, Jesus continues by underlining the fact that “... the Father is looking for anyone who will worship him that way [i.e., in Spirit and in Truth].”
(John 4:23b)
Finally, Jesus states that “God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in Spirit and in Truth.” (John 4:24)
It is wonderful that so early in His earthly ministry Jesus discloses the core of the new, Messianic covenant: God gives us His Spirit so that we are able to truly worship Him.
True worship is a declaration of Christlike love and devotion to God, welling up from the heart! And it is by the gift of God’s Spirit that we are able to worship God in that new way. True worship adores God for who He is and for what He does, has done and will do.
Indeed, we are reborn by God’s Spirit to worship the Father and His Son! And it is by that same Spirit that we are able to come to God. The apostle Paul writes: “Now all of us, both Jews and Gentiles, may come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us.” (Ephesians 2:18)
How does the New Testament actually describe ‘worship’?
In John 4, the apostle John uses a Greek word that originally meant “to fall upon the knees and touch the ground with the forehead as an expression of profound reverence.” In the Gospels this word is more often used.
We can find the first story in the Gospels of those who worship the Son of God, the Ruler of the world, in Matthew 2, 11: “They [the wise men from the east] entered the house where the child and his mother, Mary, were, and they fell down before him and worshiped him.” (Matthew 2:11)
When Jesus is tested, before He starts His earthly ministry, He confronts Satan with the declaration: “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.” (Matthew 4:10)
The Gospels close with two stories about the disciples worshipping the risen Messiah:
- - First, the women on Easter morning, after returning from the empty tomb: “As they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, "Rejoice!" So they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him.” (Matthew 28:9)
-- Then, the disciples before Jesus returned to heaven: “While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up to heaven. They worshiped him and then returned to Jerusalem filled with great joy.” (Luke 24:51 and 52)
Interestingly, this Greek word for worship, with the emphasis on prostrating oneself, is not generally used in the Epistles for the church on earth, worshipping God.
We find it again used extensively in the book of Revelation. Here we receive a glimpse of the church in heaven:
“Whenever the living creatures give glory, honour and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives for ever and ever.
They lay their crowns before the throne and say: "You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honour and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.” (Revelation 4:9-11)
“Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing: To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honour and glory and power, for ever and ever! The four living creatures said, "Amen", and the elders fell down and worshipped.” (Revelation 5:13-14)
“All the angels were standing round the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshipped God, saying: Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honour and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!” (Revelation 7:11-12)
“And the twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshipped God, saying: "We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was, because you have taken your great power and have begun to reign.
The nations were angry; and your wrath has come. The time has come for judging the dead, and for rewarding your servants the prophets and your saints and those who reverence your name, both small and great--and for destroying those who destroy the earth.” (Revelation 11:16-18)
“The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshipped God, who was seated on the throne. And they cried: Amen, Hallelujah!” (Revelation 19:4)
We read earlier in Jesus’ declaration to the Samaritan woman that God seeks true worshippers. And although this Greek word with its emphasis on prostrating oneself is used here, it is clear from Jesus’ proclamation that God seeks first of all our worship through the Holy Spirit and in Truth.
Here, Jesus does not forbid specific places and specific gestures, but He shows that God actually seeks worshippers who worship Him from the heart, through His Spirit and in accordance with His Word.
So, if this particular Greek word for ‘worship’ is not used for the worship of the church on earth, what kind of word is used by God’s Word for Christian worship in the first century?
(to be continued)
John 4:21 and 23a, Matthew 4:10, Revelation 4:9-11, Revelation 5:13-14, Revelation 7:11-12, Revelation 11:16-18 and Revelation 19:4 are quotes of the New International Version. Matthew 28:9 is a quote of the New King James Version. The other texts are quoted from the New Living Translation.
No comments:
Post a Comment