The Woman At The Well

She was putting the puzzle together. His statements about “living water,” “eternal life,” and now knowledge about her private life had finally convinced her that He was a prophet.

Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe Me, an hour is coming when neither in this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” (NASB) John 4:21-24

What Jesus said next ignores what the Jews in Judea believed and what the Samaritans believed. Worship was not defined by a special place such as in Jerusalem or at Mount Gerazim. Instead, the worship that God looks for comes from the heart. True worship is done in spirit and truth. God looks at the heart and not at the form.

We have a funny idea about worship, just as the Jews and the Samaritans did. Worship does not occur only when the organ, piano, guitars, flute, violin, or drums play. Worship is not just singing and Christian mood music. Worship originates only in the heart. Worship is not hindered or motivated by form. Worship does not depend upon the instruments that are playing or the “worship leader.” In fact, true worship can occur throughout the “Worship Service” because true worship occurs in spirit and truth. True worship can occur both while we sing and while the Word of God is taught.

Puzzle Put Together. This woman was stunned once again. She appeared not to be sure about His statement, so she made this comment,

The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” (NASB) John 4:25