John 4.19-26
What a fascinating conversation. Sitting at the local well, Jesus is chatting with this woman. And what do they discuss? Worship! They actually have a little debate about worship. When was the last time you chatted with a stranger about worship. It just doesn't happen. If you were to raise a question about worship you'd probably hear, 'You mean, do I go to church? Sure, I go to church. But why are you asking me about that?' So many people today will tell you that worship just isn't that important, though probably not in so many words. But that wouldn't be true. Worship really is that important to them. It is actually something that most people stress over. That may sound wrong, but it's not. It comes down to how you understand 'worship'. If you define worship as some religious ritual performed in a special building on special days, then it is a very small part of life for the great majority of people these days. In fact, for a growing number of people, this ritual has absolutely no role in their lives. But that's not how the Father defines worship. Whatever a person focuses on, greatly desires, dreams about, looks to, is awed by, demands, defends with vigor, longs for, hopes in and lives for is what that person worships. So, you see, everybody worships. The whole issue of worship is the focal point of their lives. And when people have what used to be called a 'nervous breakdown' it is because whatever they worship didn't come through for them, and they finally accepted that fact. Everybody worships. It's the whole issue of worship that lies behind the demand of so many football stars for a Super Bowl ring. It's the whole issue of worship that takes a good worker and transforms him into a workaholic. It's the whole issue of worship that makes parents demand that their children achieve specific goals. Is it wrong to try to do well at sports or work hard at the job or to want to see kids succeed? It all depends on how one defines doing well, working hard and succeeding. It's all about worship.
What someone worships is not always obvious to him. The heart is deceitful. But people can discover what they worship - what they really worship - just by watching themselves in action. One big tip‑off is the emotions. Are they engaged? How? There are some people who have absolutely no interest in football. The TV is blaring about some key game that's going down to the wire, and they give it no attention - not even a little. But then, as you know, there are those for whom football is everything. It's obvious to everyone. And it's obvious because, for one thing, their emotions are engaged. Oftentimes, a person can tell that the issues of worship are at stake in some situation or other as he notices either the ecstasy or the rage pouring forth. Here, just think of Jesus, rejoicing in what the Father is doing in rescuing people or enraged as He cleans out the Temple. The emotions are a tip‑off. So, while people may not stop to chat about worship at the local well, worship is still a hot issue for everyone.
Now, we're ready for the text. 'But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.' Understand what Jesus is saying here. The Father is seeking people who focus on, greatly desire, dream about, look to, are awed by, demand, defend with vigor, long for, hope in and live for - Him. The Father is seeking people who are emotionally engaged when it comes to Him, so much so that there are times of ecstasy and times of rage - just because of Him. The Father is seeking worshipers, this kind of worshipers. And so, do you know what He did? He sent Jesus. We're still dealing with the same question we've been looking at for the last couple of weeks. Why Advent? Why did Jesus come? And we're coming up with yet another answer. Jesus came seeking worshipers for the Father, people so given to the Father that it shows.
I hope that it is clear that this worship is by no means limited to times of religious ritual. It certainly includes that, but it goes far beyond those times. This kind of worship of the Father is about all of life, just as the workaholic's worship is about all of life. Jesus has been sent to seek people whose whole lives are so focused on the Father that it becomes obvious in everyday living. It becomes impossible to miss. He is why they live. Or to put it another way, Jesus has come to win the hearts of people away from whatever else they have been worshiping so that they might greatly desire, long for, be awed by the Father instead. That's why Jesus has come. That's what the Gospel is all about.
It's time for a question. And this question isn't just some hypothetical. This is a real question coming from real people.
So, what shall we say? How shall we answer this question? The key to our answer is tied to the Christian idea of creation. It makes a big difference that the God of the Bible, Jehovah, has created us. It goes beyond the idea that since He has created us He can require of us whatever He wants. That's true, but if that's all there is then we really are ruled by a tyrant who can bully us to do whatever. So, you need to see the rest. You need to see that our Creator has created us in a certain way. He made us to enjoy dazzling sunsets, leisurely meals with close friends, moving symphonies and restful sleep at the end of a full day. He made us in a certain way. And those who cannot enjoy such things, for whatever reason, are missing something. The Father also made us to worship Him, to focus on Him, to desire Him as our chief joy. We were made for real worship of the Father. And likewise, those who cannot enjoy this worship, are missing something. But missing this 'something' is much more devastating than not being able to enjoy that sunset. Missing this is missing something huge. Life cannot be lived, not truly, when this is missing from a person's life. We were created for worship.
And so, you see, the Father's call to worship Him is not the demand of some insecure and egotistical deity. Worshiping the Father is the way things work best, the way life is lived best. It's part of how we were designed. The call to worship the Father is not a demand that oppresses but an invitation that gives life. Jesus told us that He came that we might have life and have it abundantly. At the heart of that life is the worship of the Father, that He would be the focus of who we are and what we do. Life without true worship isn't life. It's death.
Now, we need to be very careful here. There are those who think about the worship of the Father only in terms of what it will get them. For them, the Father simply becomes a means to an end. And that end, that goal, is all about themselves. Here, we're back to football stars and workaholics. But think. Is it possible to use the eternal God simply for one's own sake? Does anyone really think that he can get away with that? This was the error of the Pharisees. They were hot for worship, ready to debate anyone about it. But their focus was not on the Father. Their focus was on themselves. It is no wonder that Jesus had such damning words for them.
When it comes to true worship of the Father, He is the goal. He is no means to some other end, some other goal. There is no using Him. He is the goal. However, it's still true that, in worshiping Him, we do, in fact, gain. We are, in this way, able to enjoy life. There is a subtle, but crucial, difference here. Real worship of the Father is for His sake. Counterfeit worship is for my sake. Those who understand the difference and truly worship the Father, truly focus all on Him, rejoice the most because, as a result of their worship, their lives work best. Jesus came to seek such worshipers.
And that presents us with another aspect to all of this that we need to see. When Adam and Eve were working the Garden, eating the fruits and vegetables, enjoying walks with Jesus in the cool of the day, they were worshiping, and it was all good. But, as you know, sin entered the picture and everything was ruined. The focus of worship was dramatically changed. Just consider Satan's temptation, 'You know, you really should worship yourself. You should be the focus of your life. If you eat, you'll be able to do exactly that. If you take the fruit you'll be gods, worthy of being the focus of your own life, worthy of worship. Go ahead and take some, and worship yourself.' They believed him, and, as a result, there have been billions upon billions who have followed in their footsteps. And that's why the Father seeks worshipers. That's why Jesus has come. Left to ourselves we would never worship the Father. We might opt for some counterfeit worship but never the real thing. Never! Left to ourselves we would believe Satan's lie to our last day. And so, Jesus came to deal with that. And it all boils down to repentance and faith. If anyone is going to be able to enjoy a life of worshiping the Father he must turn from what ultimately is self worship. (Repentance.) And then he must turn to true worship. (Believing the Gospel.) Repentance and faith are absolutely essential. But by themselves they are worthless. They work only because of Jesus. Your repentance and faith will never satisfy God's demand for justice when it comes to your sin. And they will never give you the ability to change from what you are into a true worshiper of the Father. These things work only because of Jesus. His death on the cross, His being raised to the right hand of the Father, His sending His Spirit, these are what make the difference. So, now that Jesus has come, your repenting of your sin and your believing the Gospel will actually accomplish something. Only Jesus makes true worship possible for sinners like us.
So, you see, Jesus' ministry is all about remaking you into a true worshiper of the Father. Jesus' Advent is all about worship. And, fortunately, His ministry among us is not done. From time to time, His Spirit nudges us - as only He can - to point out the different ways in which we falter in our worship of the Father. He shows us when we are worshiping the wrong things. And the emotions are often the tip‑off. Bit by bit we are remade into people who really do worship the Father, the right way, all the time. Bit by bit we get to really enjoy life.
So, we have another answer to our question: Why Advent? Why did Jesus come? He came to seek true worshipers for the Father. This is something to ponder in the context of the different parts of our lives. This is something to work at as the Spirit guides us away from false worship and into a greater experience of true worship. This is something to enjoy and rejoice in as we see what Jesus has done for us.
What a fascinating conversation. Sitting at the local well, Jesus is chatting with this woman. And what do they discuss? Worship! They actually have a little debate about worship. When was the last time you chatted with a stranger about worship. It just doesn't happen. If you were to raise a question about worship you'd probably hear, 'You mean, do I go to church? Sure, I go to church. But why are you asking me about that?' So many people today will tell you that worship just isn't that important, though probably not in so many words. But that wouldn't be true. Worship really is that important to them. It is actually something that most people stress over. That may sound wrong, but it's not. It comes down to how you understand 'worship'. If you define worship as some religious ritual performed in a special building on special days, then it is a very small part of life for the great majority of people these days. In fact, for a growing number of people, this ritual has absolutely no role in their lives. But that's not how the Father defines worship. Whatever a person focuses on, greatly desires, dreams about, looks to, is awed by, demands, defends with vigor, longs for, hopes in and lives for is what that person worships. So, you see, everybody worships. The whole issue of worship is the focal point of their lives. And when people have what used to be called a 'nervous breakdown' it is because whatever they worship didn't come through for them, and they finally accepted that fact. Everybody worships. It's the whole issue of worship that lies behind the demand of so many football stars for a Super Bowl ring. It's the whole issue of worship that takes a good worker and transforms him into a workaholic. It's the whole issue of worship that makes parents demand that their children achieve specific goals. Is it wrong to try to do well at sports or work hard at the job or to want to see kids succeed? It all depends on how one defines doing well, working hard and succeeding. It's all about worship.
What someone worships is not always obvious to him. The heart is deceitful. But people can discover what they worship - what they really worship - just by watching themselves in action. One big tip‑off is the emotions. Are they engaged? How? There are some people who have absolutely no interest in football. The TV is blaring about some key game that's going down to the wire, and they give it no attention - not even a little. But then, as you know, there are those for whom football is everything. It's obvious to everyone. And it's obvious because, for one thing, their emotions are engaged. Oftentimes, a person can tell that the issues of worship are at stake in some situation or other as he notices either the ecstasy or the rage pouring forth. Here, just think of Jesus, rejoicing in what the Father is doing in rescuing people or enraged as He cleans out the Temple. The emotions are a tip‑off. So, while people may not stop to chat about worship at the local well, worship is still a hot issue for everyone.
Now, we're ready for the text. 'But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.' Understand what Jesus is saying here. The Father is seeking people who focus on, greatly desire, dream about, look to, are awed by, demand, defend with vigor, long for, hope in and live for - Him. The Father is seeking people who are emotionally engaged when it comes to Him, so much so that there are times of ecstasy and times of rage - just because of Him. The Father is seeking worshipers, this kind of worshipers. And so, do you know what He did? He sent Jesus. We're still dealing with the same question we've been looking at for the last couple of weeks. Why Advent? Why did Jesus come? And we're coming up with yet another answer. Jesus came seeking worshipers for the Father, people so given to the Father that it shows.
I hope that it is clear that this worship is by no means limited to times of religious ritual. It certainly includes that, but it goes far beyond those times. This kind of worship of the Father is about all of life, just as the workaholic's worship is about all of life. Jesus has been sent to seek people whose whole lives are so focused on the Father that it becomes obvious in everyday living. It becomes impossible to miss. He is why they live. Or to put it another way, Jesus has come to win the hearts of people away from whatever else they have been worshiping so that they might greatly desire, long for, be awed by the Father instead. That's why Jesus has come. That's what the Gospel is all about.
It's time for a question. And this question isn't just some hypothetical. This is a real question coming from real people.
'What kind of God wants people to make Him the center of their lives, the exclusive focus of everything that they do, the very reason that they exist? If any of us were to make that kind of demand we'd be labeled egotistical and selfish. So, how can this Christian idea of God get away with it? A real God would just let us live and enjoy life and not make this demand of people. And it is a demand. What happens to those who refuse to worship this God? They end up in hell - or so you say. What kind of God are you guys peddling?'The people who ask this kind question often have an attitude, but the question is still quite appropriate. What kind of God, indeed? We need to answer this question, and we need to answer it well. For one thing, we need to respond to those who raise such questions. This is a real issue for them. We need to rise to the challenge to help them see the truth. But even more important than that, we need to answer this question for the sake of our own souls. Is the God whom we worship just an egotistical tyrant? If we do not settle this in our own minds then we will be dogged by large doubts about the character of the Father, doubts that will ultimately destroy our ability to worship Him. After all, how can anyone look to, hope in and long for a tyrant who is stuck on Himself? We need to answer this question. Our ability to worship is at stake.
So, what shall we say? How shall we answer this question? The key to our answer is tied to the Christian idea of creation. It makes a big difference that the God of the Bible, Jehovah, has created us. It goes beyond the idea that since He has created us He can require of us whatever He wants. That's true, but if that's all there is then we really are ruled by a tyrant who can bully us to do whatever. So, you need to see the rest. You need to see that our Creator has created us in a certain way. He made us to enjoy dazzling sunsets, leisurely meals with close friends, moving symphonies and restful sleep at the end of a full day. He made us in a certain way. And those who cannot enjoy such things, for whatever reason, are missing something. The Father also made us to worship Him, to focus on Him, to desire Him as our chief joy. We were made for real worship of the Father. And likewise, those who cannot enjoy this worship, are missing something. But missing this 'something' is much more devastating than not being able to enjoy that sunset. Missing this is missing something huge. Life cannot be lived, not truly, when this is missing from a person's life. We were created for worship.
And so, you see, the Father's call to worship Him is not the demand of some insecure and egotistical deity. Worshiping the Father is the way things work best, the way life is lived best. It's part of how we were designed. The call to worship the Father is not a demand that oppresses but an invitation that gives life. Jesus told us that He came that we might have life and have it abundantly. At the heart of that life is the worship of the Father, that He would be the focus of who we are and what we do. Life without true worship isn't life. It's death.
Now, we need to be very careful here. There are those who think about the worship of the Father only in terms of what it will get them. For them, the Father simply becomes a means to an end. And that end, that goal, is all about themselves. Here, we're back to football stars and workaholics. But think. Is it possible to use the eternal God simply for one's own sake? Does anyone really think that he can get away with that? This was the error of the Pharisees. They were hot for worship, ready to debate anyone about it. But their focus was not on the Father. Their focus was on themselves. It is no wonder that Jesus had such damning words for them.
When it comes to true worship of the Father, He is the goal. He is no means to some other end, some other goal. There is no using Him. He is the goal. However, it's still true that, in worshiping Him, we do, in fact, gain. We are, in this way, able to enjoy life. There is a subtle, but crucial, difference here. Real worship of the Father is for His sake. Counterfeit worship is for my sake. Those who understand the difference and truly worship the Father, truly focus all on Him, rejoice the most because, as a result of their worship, their lives work best. Jesus came to seek such worshipers.
And that presents us with another aspect to all of this that we need to see. When Adam and Eve were working the Garden, eating the fruits and vegetables, enjoying walks with Jesus in the cool of the day, they were worshiping, and it was all good. But, as you know, sin entered the picture and everything was ruined. The focus of worship was dramatically changed. Just consider Satan's temptation, 'You know, you really should worship yourself. You should be the focus of your life. If you eat, you'll be able to do exactly that. If you take the fruit you'll be gods, worthy of being the focus of your own life, worthy of worship. Go ahead and take some, and worship yourself.' They believed him, and, as a result, there have been billions upon billions who have followed in their footsteps. And that's why the Father seeks worshipers. That's why Jesus has come. Left to ourselves we would never worship the Father. We might opt for some counterfeit worship but never the real thing. Never! Left to ourselves we would believe Satan's lie to our last day. And so, Jesus came to deal with that. And it all boils down to repentance and faith. If anyone is going to be able to enjoy a life of worshiping the Father he must turn from what ultimately is self worship. (Repentance.) And then he must turn to true worship. (Believing the Gospel.) Repentance and faith are absolutely essential. But by themselves they are worthless. They work only because of Jesus. Your repentance and faith will never satisfy God's demand for justice when it comes to your sin. And they will never give you the ability to change from what you are into a true worshiper of the Father. These things work only because of Jesus. His death on the cross, His being raised to the right hand of the Father, His sending His Spirit, these are what make the difference. So, now that Jesus has come, your repenting of your sin and your believing the Gospel will actually accomplish something. Only Jesus makes true worship possible for sinners like us.
So, you see, Jesus' ministry is all about remaking you into a true worshiper of the Father. Jesus' Advent is all about worship. And, fortunately, His ministry among us is not done. From time to time, His Spirit nudges us - as only He can - to point out the different ways in which we falter in our worship of the Father. He shows us when we are worshiping the wrong things. And the emotions are often the tip‑off. Bit by bit we are remade into people who really do worship the Father, the right way, all the time. Bit by bit we get to really enjoy life.
So, we have another answer to our question: Why Advent? Why did Jesus come? He came to seek true worshipers for the Father. This is something to ponder in the context of the different parts of our lives. This is something to work at as the Spirit guides us away from false worship and into a greater experience of true worship. This is something to enjoy and rejoice in as we see what Jesus has done for us.
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