The Expressions of Jesus’ Worship
There are two main ways that we see Jesus expressing His love for God. Firstly, Jesus worshipped in private. Mark wrote this about Jesus: “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” (Mark 1:35)
We know that when He taught his disciples to pray, He said to them, “Go by yourself into your prayer closet and say our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.” That’s worship. Spending time alone with God and just revering Him and loving Him in private.
Rory Noland wrote “If a church wanted to take the next step in improving its worship, I wouldn’t rush to change the program or find a new music leader. I would encourage every member to become a personal worshipper. Can you imagine a church largely comprised of people who worshipped privately during the week and then came together on Sunday to worship? Their hearts would be so primed for worship, it wouldn’t matter if the music was traditional, contemporary, or blended.”
Jesus' Approach to Worship
Jesus worshipped in private, and so His heart was always primed for worship. Do you see your home as a place of worship? Your car? Your office? These are places that we can connect with God! In fact, remember what Jesus said to the woman in our reading yesterday? “A time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem... a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth” (John 4:21–23). It’s not about place anymore. It’s not only churches that are sacred places. If your heart is primed for worship, if you long to express your adoration, love and valuing of God above all, you can do it anywhere on this planet.
But secondly, Jesus worshipped with others. As important as personal worship was to Jesus, He also spent much time worshipping with others. “He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom” (Luke 4:16). Jesus was in the habit of going to the synagogue on the Sabbath day. He gathered with others, weekly, to worship.
Constance M Cherry mentions some of the roles Jesus played in corporate worship: “Jesus served as lector in the synagogue… He was involved in worship gatherings… Jesus presided at the liturgy of Passover… Jesus led singing… Jesus pronounced blessings upon people… Jesus gave thanks at meals… Jesus led in small group prayer.” He valued worshipping with others.
Balancing Private and Corporate Worship
Since COVID, many people have chosen to worship at home. In some cases, that is a wonderful thing. People who can’t get to church, people who are sick, those who are away or out of town, can still join in and worship in private.
But if you’re able to go to church, go to church! If you’re able to gather with others, gather with others! There is such blessing and growth that comes from being with others in worship. It is much like playing music: You can sit in your room and play your instrument all day long, and you might even get quite good at it. But to get really good you must learn to play with others. There’s more risk when you involve others. More wrong notes that might be hit. But there’s greater joy when you hit the right notes with others alongside you!
Friends do not neglect your private worship or your corporate worship. Value them both, and then you will be a worshipper like Jesus.
