“Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father.
“You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews.
“But the hour is coming, and now is when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.
“The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming” (who is called Christ). “When He comes, He will tell us all things.”
“Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am He.”
John 4 21-26
After reading this full scripture it makes me think about times God has talked to me or communicated with me and I had not known. Just like the woman at the well.
I imagine her being like, “Uh, huh. Yeah when the Messiah is here he’s going to explain all of that.” And then here is Jesus like, “I’m Jesus Christ.”
What a humbling moment!
We think we know, and God reveals to us exactly that. We think we know. But we don’t. We have so much growing to do.
We are still children and acting as children do. No sense of boundaries, we hear what we want to hear, what are consequences you say?
I just described a toddler.
For some reason we think we know more than we actually do.
Eventually I feel like God makes it click for us, partly because of us His love for his children and because of his patience.
Then we begin to make the connections and understand.
If only we took things serious the first time could we have avoided some struggling. Maybe.
Let’s break down this scripture a little bit though.
What does “the hour is coming” mean?
When Jesus says “the hour is coming” in the scriptures, He is often referring to a specific moment or event in God’s divine plan, particularly His crucifixion, resurrection, and the coming of God’s kingdom. This phrase points to a future fulfillment of God’s purpose for salvation.
For instance, in John 4:23 as we read above, Jesus says, “The hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth.” Here, He’s referring to the future when worship will no longer be tied to specific locations or rituals but will be through a genuine connection with God.
In other passages, like John 12:23 (“The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified”), it refers to His upcoming death, where He would complete His mission on earth.
In summary, “the hour is coming” points to a pivotal moment in God’s plan, often linked to the transformative events in the life and ministry of Jesus.
But how do we worship the Father in spirit and in truth?
To worship the Father in spirit and truth, as Jesus describes in John 4:23-24, involves a deep, sincere connection with God that transcends external rituals and locations. Here’s how:
1. Worshiping in Spirit:
Worship in spirit means connecting with God on a spiritual level, from the heart and soul, rather than relying solely on outward acts or physical locations. It’s about an authentic relationship with God, led by the Holy Spirit, where worship is heartfelt, personal, and not limited to rituals or ceremonies. This kind of worship engages our whole being, aligning our spirit with God’s Spirit.
• Romans 8:14 says, “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.” Worshiping in spirit is being led by the Holy Spirit, letting Him guide our hearts, prayers, and lives in a way that honors God.
2. Worshiping in Truth:
Worship in truth refers to worshiping God as He truly is, in alignment with the truth revealed in His Word, the Bible. It means worshiping with sincerity and understanding of who God is, grounded in the knowledge of Scripture. Jesus is the embodiment of truth (John 14:6), and worshiping in truth involves acknowledging and following Him as the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
• Psalm 145:18 reflects this, stating, “The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth.” Worship in truth rejects hypocrisy or superficial worship and embraces an honest, authentic pursuit of God.
In summary, worshiping in spirit and truth means bringing together heartfelt devotion and sincerity with a grounded understanding of God’s Word and His true nature. It’s worship that’s both inwardly genuine and outwardly aligned with God’s revealed truth in Scripture.
Wishing you love and blessings.
May our hearts and ears hear when God is speaking to us. And even so, may we continue to have greetings at the well.
May God never stop revealing himself to us even when we have lost our sight.
May we share our wisdom with others when God makes it very clear who He is to us.
May we honor the Father and The Son.
Amen.
The Wild Gems 