Day Five John 4:21-26
21 Jesus replied, “Believe me, dear woman, the time is coming when it will no longer matter whether you worship the Father on this mountain or in Jerusalem. 22 You Samaritans know very little about the one you worship, while we Jews know all about him, for salvation comes through the Jews. 23 But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. 24 For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.”
25 The woman said, “I know the Messiah is coming—the one who is called Christ. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.”
26 Then Jesus told her, “I am the Messiah!” – John 4:21-26 (NLT)
Discover
1. How does Jesus, once again, steer the woman’s earthly perspective back to the spiritual (verse 21)?
2. What does Jesus mean by worship “in spirit and in truth”?
3. Why do you think Jesus chooses to reveal Himself as Messiah to this woman?
Respond
Jesus knows everything about this woman, including her checkered past and current sin, and yet He comes to this place at this moment for her. He never condemns her or tells her to clean up her act. Instead He speaks truth and loves her in the midst of her sin and shame. The result, as seen in the rest of John 4, is a changed life and a true worshipper. The woman has finally experienced, in spirit and truth, this God she has only heard about. Have you experienced Him like this? This interaction is a picture of a God who goes out of His way to reach His lost kids. Thank Him for loving you so much that He refuses to leave you stuck in your sin. Confess to Him anything that's holding you back from worshipping Him fully in spirit and in truth.
For Further Reading: What Does It Mean to Worship the Lord in Spirit and Truth?
For Families with Kids at Home
Worship isn’t just about singing songs; worship is a lifestyle. It’s living a life that is constantly thanking God for how much He loves us. Ask your kids what their favorite worship song is (and maybe play it for them later!). Consider sharing your own favorite worship song and what it means to you. Ask them to share ways to worship God other than singing songs. Maybe it’s praying, serving others, or spending time admiring God’s beautiful creation in nature. Find creative ways to worship God with your family this week!
*TPCC does not necessarily endorse all For Further Reading/Learning sources. They are simply meant to be a helpful tool.