Friday, November 28, 2008
Determining what Jesus meant by "in spirit and truth" forces us to consider the context. The conversation with this Samaritan lady has just covered one of the differences she saw between Jews and her own people. Where and by extension how they worship God. Jesus points out the two errors common to Samaritans. They did not know the God they claimed to worship and therefore were worshipping in the wrong place. We need to remember they are still during the reign of the old covenant and true worship is restricted to Jerusalem.
Jesus' instruction in v. 24 addresses both. First the location, as the time is coming (v. 23) when things are going to change. As a matter of fact, Jesus already announced there is a new temple in place during the transitional period of His ministry. That temple is Jesus Himself (John 2:19); He is the place where men meet with God and will remain so until the Ascension. The new location is where ever there is spiritual life. I do not believe Christ is referring to the Holy Spirit due to the lack of a definite article.
John's Gospel uses the word "spirit" in several ways. He sometimes is speaking of the Holy Spirit as in 1:32-33; 3:5 & 7:39. He generally places the definite article with Spirit in those cases. The second way John uses spirit is referring to Jesus' spirit; possibly His human nature. Examples are John 11:33 & 19:30. The last way John uses spirit is a bit more difficult to define. John 3:6 is a good example: "that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." The first usage is clearly the Holy Spirit, but the second is something else. We see a similar contrast in John 6:63. The Holy Spirit gives life and the word Jesus speaks are "spirit and are life."
It is this last meaning that I believe Jesus has in mind when He says we must worship in "Spirit and Truth."
Jesus' instruction in v. 24 addresses both. First the location, as the time is coming (v. 23) when things are going to change. As a matter of fact, Jesus already announced there is a new temple in place during the transitional period of His ministry. That temple is Jesus Himself (John 2:19); He is the place where men meet with God and will remain so until the Ascension. The new location is where ever there is spiritual life. I do not believe Christ is referring to the Holy Spirit due to the lack of a definite article.
John's Gospel uses the word "spirit" in several ways. He sometimes is speaking of the Holy Spirit as in 1:32-33; 3:5 & 7:39. He generally places the definite article with Spirit in those cases. The second way John uses spirit is referring to Jesus' spirit; possibly His human nature. Examples are John 11:33 & 19:30. The last way John uses spirit is a bit more difficult to define. John 3:6 is a good example: "that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." The first usage is clearly the Holy Spirit, but the second is something else. We see a similar contrast in John 6:63. The Holy Spirit gives life and the word Jesus speaks are "spirit and are life."
It is this last meaning that I believe Jesus has in mind when He says we must worship in "Spirit and Truth."
