Our Fathers Worshiped in This Mountain - John 4:20

John the apostle wrote how Jesus told the “Samaritan woman” at the well, “Whosoever drinks of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. The woman said unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come here to draw. Jesus said unto her, Go, call your husband, and come here. The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, you have well said, I have no husband. For you have had five husbands; and he whom you now have is not your husband: in that said you truly. The woman said unto him, Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet”, and in chapter four and verse twenty of his book, John shared how the woman told Jesus, “Our fathers worshiped in this mountain” where we read:

Our fathers worshiped in this mountain;

and you say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.

The verse reads, “Our fathers worshiped in this mountain;” John began with the words, “Our fathers worshiped” or “the Samaritans forefathers, ancestors and founders gave reverence, prostrated themselves and did homage and adoration” “in this mountain” which means “within this rising of the plain in Samaria”. John shared how the “Samaritan woman” said her “forefathers” gave “homage and adoration” to God within the “mountain” in “Samaria”.

The verse continues, “and you say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.”. John added the words, “and you say” which means “and you, the Jewish people, utter, declare and proclaim”, “that in Jerusalem is the place” or “that within the city of Jerusalem which means set you double peace and is the capital of Palestine exists the location” “where men ought to worship” which means “where it behooves, is necessary and meet for people whether male or female to give reverence, prostrated themselves and did homage and adoration to God”. John shared how the “Samaritan woman” told Jesus the “Jewish” people believed that “Jerusalem” was the proper “location” for them to “give adoration and homage” to God.

When we think through John's words in this verse, we learn how the “Samaritan woman” began to share about “location” for worship or “religiosity” rather than admitting to her “sin” and seeking Jesus for forgiveness. People often resort to “places or positions of worship” rather than submitting themselves to God and allowing Him to forgive and cleanse them from their sins. Jesus will say more about this in our next verse, but for now let it suffice us to know Jesus will meet anyone, anywhere when they humble themselves and yield their life to Him. He stands ready to forgive their sins and cleanse them from all unrighteousness when they simply “believe and trust” in Him.

Next time John shares how Jesus says to the woman, “believe me, the hour comes, when you shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem worship”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".