Worship in Spirit and Truth: John 4

S: John 4:23-24:

O: This scripture, Jesus is telling that true worship is worshipping in "spirit" and in "truth."  In the Message, one verse mentions:  "your worship must engage your spirit in the pursuit of truth."  This means more and now I can make a little more sense of "spirit and truth".  When we worship God, our spirit, our soul must be in sync to adore the Lord.  How many times have I falsely worshipped, when my soul was not ready.  Or, even if the spirit was, I was not ready to go before the Lord and worshipping false things.  Worshipping in truth means that when we come to worship Jesus, we do it for his sacrifice on the cross for us and that he is Lord of our lives.  Anything less is not the truth.

A: Worship does not mean that we do it only in church.  We must worship in both spirit and truth, whenever we do it.  Our heart must be in the right mind and also that we are worshipping for the right reason...Jesus, who died on the cross.  Anything else is not adequate. 

P: Lord, I pray that my worship is worthy to you.  I know a lot of times I come in not the right spirit to your throne.  I know you are my Lord, and I pray that you continue to work my heart and show me your truth.  Amen.

John Ch. 2: Why in this order?

S: "During the time he was in Jerusalem, those days of the Passover Feast, many people noticed the signs he was displaying and, seeing they pointed straight to God, entrusted their lives to him.  But Jesus didn't entrust his life to them.  He knew them inside and out, knew how untrustworthy they were.  He didn't need any help in seeing right through them." John 2:23-25

O: this story, which happens near the end of Jesus' ministry is placed in the first 2 chapters in John.  This is when Jesus is betrayed after he rides into Jerusalem. The question is why?  John's book is different than the other Gospels.  His is to reveal Jesus as God.  Ch. 1 starts as Jesus as the Word of Life, the beginning and John the Baptist's revealing of the Jesus as the Lamb and the call of his disciples.  Then John moves to Ch. 2, where he reveals a miracle of Jesus as the "first sign Jesus gave" to reveal his glory.  Then John moves to the clearing of the Temple, a clear sign that Jesus gave re: his death and resurrection and sets up the reader for the rest of the gospel.  It almost seems like foreshadowing and now John moves into the details of Jesus' life and ministry.

A: How can I apply this to my life?  Well, it shows that the Gospels are not really chronological, but has an audience and a purpose.  Like any story, you have to understand the audience and the purpose.  When sharing about Jesus, we need to know our audience and why we are sharing.  The more we understand this story, the better we can explain it for those who has questions.

P: Lord, thank you for the Gospels!  What a rich accounts of Jesus and His life.  I pray that you continue to teach me and give me lessons on how to speak to people with your amazing stories.  Amen

John 1: Lamb of God

S: "The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!"  John 1:29

"When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, "Look, the Lamb of God!"  John 1:36

O: 2 times John calls Jesus the "Lamb of God".  In the Message, it calls him the "Passover Lamb" of God.  This is in reference to the Passover and the passage in Exodus helps explain what a "passover lamb" is.

"Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year. You may take it from the sheep or from the goats. 6 Now you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of the same month. Then the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it at twilight. 7 And they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and on the lintel of the houses where they eat it. 8 Then they shall eat the flesh on that night; roasted in fire, with unleavened bread and with bitter herbs they shall eat it. "

Jesus, the Lamb therefore:

1) is without blemish and is perfect.  1Peter 1:19

2) Is sacrificed for others

3) Blood symbolizes the "covering of sins" or "passing of judgment by God"

4) Eaten symbolizes that Jesus is "taken in", like the last supper. (1Corinthians 11) and is a symbol of your belief in Him

A: Jesus, a perfect Lamb of God was sacrificied for the sake of us, in order to bring us into right standing with God.  What an unbelievable gift from God.  Despite our imperfections He will accept us as his own.  Wow.   Especially after an Asia trip, I saw firsthand the people worshiping Buddha and Krishnu and other gods.  Both Buddhism and Hinduism is works based.  That you must work towards enlightenment and heaven.  And the crazy thing is that they are worshiping a dead dude (Buddha) and cows (hindu)!  I know who the real Lord is and He is a living GOD!  How do we speak to the Buddhists and the Hindu?  By shining the light of Christ and bringing both Truth and Grace.  Boy, that is the difficult thing...

P: Lord, thank you for our great trip to Asia and how you showed us how many people do not know you.  I pray for the missionaries out there and thank you for softening our hearts to the people in Asia.  I pray that you continue to work truth into their lives and pray that you continue to soften my heart to ways that we can bring your Truth and Grace to them.  Amen.