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June 2004
Worship? Why?
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June 2004
Worship? Why?
Recently I read some scholarly comments about the Gospel of Luke. One of the very interesting themes is how in his gospel Luke emphasizes Jerusalem. Mostly the ministry of Jesus is conducted in the rural region of Galilee but just behind the scene Jesus is always on a journey to the city made sacred by the Temple. Until he enters the city the week he dies, according to Luke, Jesus was only in Jerusalem when he was circumcised at eight days old and then again when he was about twelve years old.
However Luke begins and ends his telling the story of Jesus with the Temple in Jerusalem. Before Jesus is born God announces to Zechariah, a priest serving in the Temple, that although he and his wife are considered too old to have children they will in fact become parents. Elizabeth and Zechariah are to have a son and name him John. John will announce the coming of Messiah and turn the hearts of many to the Lord. Zechariah learned this while in the Temple, serving before the altar of the Lord.
Interestingly, the last scene in his gospel, the very last words in fact, he reports that the followers of Jesus have returned to Jerusalem. They are in the Temple everyday praising God for the work God is doing in the world. Luke says they have a deep joy as they worship the Lord Jesus.
The Gospel of Luke begins with worship and ends with worship. Of course, we are also told in Luke's gospel about many other things that occurred between the beginning and the ending but it is not by accident that worship frames the story of Jesus.
Worship is essential to living as God's people: In worship we lift our heart, mind and soul toward God. Our voices combine as one hymn of praise as we acknowledge that only God is worthy of our worship. Nothing in the universe deserves our highest adoration. Worship allows us to break the hold of lesser things and see the bigger picture for which we were created. When we are in a congregation of worshipers we move from a meeting of many individuals to a gathering of the one people of God.
With all the fracturing of our culture and all the broken aspects of our lives, we need worship as much as any people ever have. Worship will call us from following empty promises and remake us into a people with promises. It will move us forward when the way is blocked and cause us to stand even in the strongest of storms. Worship is not an instantaneous cure but a rebuilding of our lives from the inside out. In the worship of God there is grace, mercy and unbelievable transforming power.
Grace and Peace,
David