The Pulpit Commentary — John — Volume 1 — Section 327

Ill, DURING THE PREPARATORY DIBPF.NBATION, IT PLEASED GoD IN IDB WISDOM TO MAKl!l UBE OF THIS TF:NDENCY TO PROMOTJr. EDUCATIONAL ENDS, The temple at ,Jeru- so.lem a.dually was the house of God; in it was the holiest place; its beauty was the beauty of holiness. Such a provision was adapted to the reliuioue childhood of humanity. 'l'hus reverence wo.s inculcated, the consciousness of a Divine presence was elicited, o.nd the minds of men were drawn on to more elevated and spiritual conceptions. IV. 'l'ml INCARNATION SUPERSEDED ALL LOCAL SANCTITY. Our Lord Jesus became the true Tabernacle, the true 'l'emple. In him dwelt all the folness of the Godhead bodily. The temple of his body was taken down, but in three days was reared again. On the other hand, the temple at Jerusalem was destroyed, never to be replaced. V. Tm;; Tll:NDENCY OF TRUE RELIGION IS NOT SO MUCH TO DE-CO:l/SECRATE ANY PLACE AB TO CONSECRATE ALL PLACES. Doubtless, as our Lord declared, spiritual worship is independent of localities. Yet all places where Christians meet, an<l where the Master is spiritually present, become" holiness unto the Lord." "Jesus, where'er thy people meet, There they behold thy mercy-seat; Where'er they seek thee thou art found, And every spot is hallowed grolllld I" T. Vers. 23, 24.- Worship and worshippers. In some form worship is all but universal. Wherever on earth man is found, there he presents to the Power above the offerings of his devotion. Doubtless there are cases without number in which worship has degene- rated into mere superstition. Yet, where worship is at its best, it is one of the very highest manifestations and exercises of human nature. Much has been said by philo- sophers, by poets, by theologians, concerning the nature and the virtue of worship. But more light has been cast upon this subject by Jesus, in the few words recorded to have been spoken by him to the poor Samaritan woman at the well of Sychar, than has been yielded from every other source. Few portions of our Lord's discourses have been more quoted or more admired than this, But the world has still much to learn from these memorable sayings. I. CHRIST TELLS us WHOM WE ABE TO WORSHIP. Idolaters offer their adoration, in some cases to the great and imposing objects of nature, as the sun, the moon, etc.; in other cases to the works of their own hands, as to images of silver, of gold, of wood, etc. The perplexed in mind have worshipped "the Unknown God," and a,,unostics profess to venerate" the Unknowable." But it is the happy privilege of Christians to worship the God who is revealed by the Lord Jesus. 1. As the Spirit, apprehended, not by the senses, but by the soul. 'l'he Divine Being, spiritual in nature, everywhere present, everywhere conscious, everywhere acting, is the proper Object of human wor- ship. 2. As the Father, who is not distant and unapproachable, but very near, to whom we owe our being, who supplies our wants, exercises over us a constant care, anrl trains us for the future by a moral discipline. Such is the affectionate relation which is sustained to us by the great Object of our adoration. II. CHRIST TELLB us HOW WE ABE TO WORSHIP. There have been devised by men's ingenuity and superstition many methods by which it has been thought worship migbt be acceptably offered. Bodily posture, ascetic rites, unholy ceremonial, painful pilgrim- ages, and cruel sacrifices have been deemed acceptable, aud have accordingly beeu practised. In contradistinction from such modes of service, Christ bids his disciples worship: 1. In spirit, Man's spirit, because created in the likeness of the heavenly Father, possesses the power of honouring, praising, thanking, and loving the living God. The heart is the seat of loyalty, of gro.titude, of love. Not that worship is to be locked up in the secrecy of the breast; it may and will find expression in solemn speech.and joyful song. But all utterances and forms of worship derive their value and their power from their being the manifest.ation of spirituo.l life and spiritual aspirations. 2, In truth; i.e. with a just conception of the Ileing worshipped, and in sincerity and reality. Such worship will be personal, and not merely formo.1 or vicarious. The priest must not nrrognle the funotio]).s of the worshipper. And true worship will be of the life, as well ns of the lips; for both alike will be accepted as the revelation of deep and spiritual feeling.  Hl2 THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. JOHN. [cu. Iv. 1-54,