{"id":3522,"date":"2018-04-18T15:28:34","date_gmt":"2018-04-18T15:28:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/takingeverythoughtcaptivetoobeychrist.wordpress.com\/?p=3522"},"modified":"2018-04-18T15:28:34","modified_gmt":"2018-04-18T15:28:34","slug":"an-analysis-of-john-420-24-worshiping-in-spirit-and-truth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/an-analysis-of-john-420-24-worshiping-in-spirit-and-truth\/","title":{"rendered":"An Analysis of John 4:20-24 – Worshiping in Spirit and Truth"},"content":{"rendered":"

INTRODUCTION<\/strong><\/p>\n

The purpose of all creation is to worship the true and living God in a way that he has commanded. The New Testament makes it clear that God is seeking worshippers who will worship him \u201cin spirit and truth\u201d (John 4:24) \u2013 \u00a0but what does that mean? This paper seeks to analyze John 4:20-24 in order to gain a greater understanding of New Testament worship. In this Gospel, John moves from the \u201cidea of Jesus as the true tabernacle (1:14) and the true temple (2:19) to suggest that he fulfils the ideal of the holy mountain where God can be encountered (4:20-24).\u201d<\/span> Therefore, worshipping God \u201cin spirit and truth\u201d is a spiritual engagement with God by means of Christ. In other words, \u201cour meeting place with God – the “place” we now worship – is the exalted Lord Jesus Christ, who is truth incarnate.\u201d<\/span> Therefore, New Covenant worship is not tied to location, rather it is God-centred, Christ-focused, and gospel-inspired worship.<\/span><\/p>\n

This paper will be divided into three sections. First, I will look at the historical context behind John 4:20-22. Next, I will then analyze John 4:23-24, which focuses on worship being done \u201cin spirit and truth.\u201d Finally, I will look at the text\u2019s implications for the lives of believers. \u00a0Ultimately, this essay concludes that the worship described by the passage is one that marks the entirety of the believer\u2019s life, as they live to glorify and enjoy God.<\/span><\/p>\n

HISTORICAL CONTEXT<\/strong><\/p>\n

To understand John 4:23-24, we must first look at the historical context behind v. 20-22. This involves considering the Samarian Woman\u2019s remarks in v. 20-22, \u00a0then the Lord Jesus\u2019 way\u00a0<\/span>of viewing this in v. 21, and finally, the knowledge behind this new way of worship (4:22). To begin, Old Testament worship was often centred and focused around a given location, e.g., on the mountain or in Jerusalem. Historically, both Jews and Samarians recognized that God had commanded their forefathers \u201cto seek the place the Lord your God [would] choose from among all [your] tribes to put his name there for his dwelling\u201d (Deut. 12:5). \u00a0However, both groups drew different conclusions. In this passage, it is likely that the Samarian woman brought up this controversial topic to avoid Jesus\u2019 confrontation (4:7-18). She says in v. 20, \u201cOur fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you say that in Jerusalem is the place where people ought to worship.\u201d The woman suggests the main concern is not how we are to worship, but where we are to worship. Is Jerusalem the \u201cpermanent dwelling place for the Lord among His people\u201d, or is it on the Mountain where the Samarians Worship?<\/span> The historical context of this passage shows that worship was often tied to a specific location, and that ideology had become deeply ingrained in the mindsets of the people.<\/span><\/p>\n

Next, it is important to note that the Lord Jesus was aware of this kind of thinking, and he responds accordingly to the woman by showing the \u201cimpending obsolescence of both the Jerusalem temple and the Mount Gerizim site as definitive places of worship (4:21).\u201d<\/span> The Lord Jesus said to the Samarian woman, \u201cWoman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father\u201d (4:21). Jesus\u2019 response indicates that the woman would no longer be faced with a choice between two places of worship<\/span>; the person and work of Jesus Christ would inaugurate a new kind of worship which is not limited to location or space.<\/span> \u201cThe hour\u201d of Jesus\u2019 cross, resurrection and exaltation was coming (16:32), and with it the obsolescence of locations as definitive places of worship (4:21).<\/span><\/p>\n

Finally, before we address v. 23-24, we will first look at the true and false views of God in worship. In v. 22, Jesus says to the woman, \u201cyou worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews.\u201d Christ addresses the fact that the Samarians\u2019 object of worship is unknown to them, since it is not characterized by truth and knowledge. However, in contrast, it is seen that the Jews had a object of worship that was known to them.<\/span> Thus, the Lord Jesus makes it clear that true worship now requires a proper knowledge and truth about God, who is the object of worship. Therefore, in v. 20-22, Jesus explains more positively the nature of the worship that forever renders obsolete the conflicting claims of Jerusalem and Gerizim (4:23-24), namely that true worship is in \u201cspirit and truth.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

NEW TESTAMENT WORSHIP<\/strong><\/p>\n

We will now focus on analyzing v. 23-24, which contains the statement that true worship must be done \u201cin spirit and truth.\u201d In v. 21, Jesus draws focus away from <\/span>location<\/span><\/i> of worship to <\/span>manner<\/span><\/i> of worship.<\/span> First, it must be understood that the Lord Jesus Christ initiated a new way by which man can approach God. \u2013 through him, we can fully meet with God. \u201cJesus’ life, death, and resurrection had been the perfect and eternal fulfillment of all that the temple merely foreshadowed.\u201d<\/span> It highlights Christ\u2019s role as mediator, reconciling us with the Father so that through Christ, and only through him, we can truly worship the Father. He is the true temple where we meet with God as part of the New Covenant, and it is only made possible through his spirit. This is the precious truth he is showing the Samarian woman; this coming hour brings a new manner of worship \u201cin spirit and truth\u201d because there is now the profound prospect of personal communion with him. <\/span><\/p>\n

To understand the main phrase, \u201cin spirit and truth,\u201d it is important to first discuss the simple clause, \u2018God is spirit,\u2019<\/span> since this \u201cserves as further explication and grounding for the reiterated truth that God\u2019s worshippers must worship in spirit and truth\u201d (4:24).<\/span> Since God is spirit, proper worship must be performed in accordance with his being. The point here \u201cis that since God is spirit, proper worship of him is also a matter of spirit rather than physical location (Jerusalem versus Mount Gerizim).\u201d<\/span> Additionally, proper worship must be performed in accordance with how God has revealed himself in his word. In the Gospels, we see that God fully revealed himself through his Son, the Word made flesh. Therefore, the true worship that God is seeking is that which is done \u2018in spirit and truth,\u2019 by means of Christ (4:24).<\/span><\/p>\n

Finally, the main thrust of this passage is in 4:23-24, where the Lord Jesus says, \u201cthe hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him\u201d (4:23). The immediate context of this verse shapes the argument made by Jesus. As discussed above, the Samarians thought that the proper location for worship was at the mountain, while the Jews held Jerusalem as the proper place. However, in this text it is seen that the Lord Jesus abolishes both Samaria\u2019s mountains and Jerusalem as the proper location for the corporate worship of the people of God. God is spirit, and he cannot be contained by a simple location, even if in the past he chose to disclose himself in a given location. The language and idea of worship, which was bound up in locations and systems under the Old Covenant, has been radically transformed by the coming of Christ.<\/span><\/p>\n

It is important to note that \u2018spirit\u2019 and \u2018truth\u2019 are not two separable characteristics of the worship that must be offered. True worship \u201cmust be \u2018in spirit and truth\u2019, i.e., essentially God-centred, made possible by the gift of the Holy Spirit, and in personal knowledge of and conformity to God\u2019s Word-made-flesh,\u201d the Lord Jesus.<\/span> To worship God in spirit is to remember that God is Spirit, and is not tied to one location for worship. \u201cIt is the spiritual activity of regenerated man as he communicates with God by faith.\u201d<\/span> Therefore, worshipping \u2018in spirit\u2019 can be understood as worship that is spiritual activity, where the whole person is engaged, which contrasts the purely intellectual or physical side of worship. <\/span><\/p>\n

Additionally, not only is true worship \u2018in spirit,\u2019 but it is to be \u2018in spirit and truth.\u2019 To worship God in truth means that we must glorify God (in public, family, private, and all of life) in accordance with God\u2019s own nature and truth. This is spiritual worship that is thoroughly consistent with God\u2019s revelation of himself in the Scriptures.<\/span> We must worship according to the truth of Jesus\u2019 person and work, for He is the truth (John 1:14; 14:6) and, thus, the only way whereby we may truly worship God.<\/span> Therefore, to worship God \u201cin spirit and truth\u201d reflects his nature and character. The worship that God is seeking is worship aided by the spirit (which is not limited to location) and mediated through the person and work of his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.<\/span><\/p>\n

IMPLICATIONS<\/strong><\/p>\n

Finally, we will look at how this New Covenant worship is God-centred, Christ-focused, and gospel-inspired worship. This God-honouring worship is not merely a formal ascription of praise to God: \u201cit emerges from my whole being to this whole God, and therefore it reflects not only my understanding of God but my love for him.\u201d<\/span> Worship is no longer defined by location, but it is defined by the object of one\u2019s affection. True worship is done \u201cin spirit and truth\u201d as one contemplates the glory of God.<\/span><\/p>\n

It is important to mention that God-centred worship can be further defined as Trinitarian worship, where the entire Godhead is in mind. The Trinitarian view of worship is that it is \u201cthe gift of participating through the Spirit in the incarnate Son\u2019s communion with the Father. That means participating in union with Christ, in what he has done for us once and for all, in his self-offering to the Father, in his life and death on the cross.\u201d<\/span> Therefore, all true worship is God-centred, and that means appreciating the beautiful interworking of the facets of the Trinity in reconciling us to God. The Lord Jesus is at the heart of the transition from worship under the Old Covenant to worship under the new. \u201cThe way wholly loving God works out under the new covenant is in heartfelt obedience to the terms of that covenant \u2013 which has been transmuted to all of life.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Additionally, not only is true worship God-centred, but it can also be seen as Christ-centred. \u201cIn effect, the exalted Christ is now the \u201cplace\u201d where God is to be acknowledged and honoured.\u201d<\/span> The Lord Jesus is known as the truth, who reveals the character and purposes of God (8:45; 14;6; 18:37). In Christ, the presence of God tabernacle in the midst of his people (John 1:14, matt 18:20; 28:19-20). Those who are true worshippers will be those who come to God through his beloved Son Jesus Christ (17:3). Therefore, those whom the Father seeks are those who come to him through his Son. However, it is important to note that Jesus is \u201cnot the ultimate focus or object of worship in John 4:23-24 but the means by which the Father obtains true worshippers from every nation (12:32).\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Finally, true worship is worship that is inspired and shaped by the gospel. New Covenant worship \u201cfinds its first impulse in this transforming gospel, which restores our relationship with our Redeemer-God and therefore with our fellow image-bearers, our co-worshipers.\u201d<\/span> It is important to recognize that worship is both at the individual and corporate level, encompassing all the redeemed in Christ. Therefore, \u201cworship must manifest itself both in the individual believer and in corporate worship, which is offered up in the context of the body of believers.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

In most cases, worship is thought of as Sunday mornings, where we come together to offer God the worship we have been withholding all week.\u201d<\/span> However, the New Testament has a different view on worship, which highlights the individual as well as the corporate level. We have already seen how genuine worship is not tied to a specific meeting place (4:21), and therefore it is no longer tied to a specific time \u2013 true \u201cspirit and truth\u201d worship (4:23-24) encompasses everything in our lives. Whatever we do, even if we are simply eating or drinking, whatever we say, in business or in the home or in church assemblies, we are to do all to the glory of God. The text, John 4:20-24, shows that Christians are to worship the true living God, through our mediator Christ, by the Spirit of God, wherever we are, twenty-four-seven. Therefore, God-centred, Christ-focused, and gospel-inspired worship is a necessary outflow of worshipping God \u201cin spirit and in truth.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

CONCLUSION<\/strong><\/p>\n

In conclusion, considering what has been said, New Testament worship is a spiritual engagement with God by means of Christ. The true worship God is seeking, worship that is \u201cin spirit and truth\u201d is not tied to location, rather it is God-centred, Christ-focused, and gospel-inspired. In other words, we now meet to worship God in and through the exalted Lord Jesus Christ, by the Spirit of God. These conclusions were drawn by first looking at the historical context behind John 4:20-22. In this section, we saw how Jesus began to inaugurate a new worship, no longer tied to a place or location. Then, we analyzed 4:23-24, which identifies New Covenant worship as worship done \u201cin spirit and truth.\u201d Finally, I concluded this essay by arguing that worship done \u201cin spirit and truth,\u201d is worship that is God-centred, Christ-focused, and gospel inspired. Fundamentally we see that the era of location-governed worship is now done with, we must now worship God by means of Christ through the Spirit. To worship God \u201cin spirit and truth\u201d is worship that marks all our life as we live to glorify and enjoy God.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

BIBLIOGRAPHY<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Bateman, Herbert IV. ed. <\/span>Authentic Worship: Hearing Scripture\u2019s Voice, Applying Its Truths<\/span><\/i>. <\/span> Grand Rapids: Kregel, 2002.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Carson, D. A. <\/span>The Gospel According to John<\/span><\/i>. PNTC. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1991.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Carson, D.A. ed. <\/span>Worship by the Book<\/span><\/i>. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2002.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Chapell, Bryan. <\/span>Christ-Centered Worship: Letting the Gospel Shape Our Practice<\/span><\/i>. Grand <\/span> Rapids: Baker <\/span> Academic, 2009. <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Duncan, Ligon. “Worship in Spirit and in Truth,” Ligonier Ministries (2005). <\/span> http:\/\/www.ligonier.org\/learn\/articles\/worship-spirit-and-truth\/. (Accessed November 15, <\/span> 2017).<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Frame, John M. <\/span>Worship in spirit and truth<\/span><\/i>. Phillipsburg: B & H, 1996<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Kauflin, Bob. <\/span>Worship Matters. Leading Others to Encounter the Greatness of God<\/span><\/i>. Wheaton: <\/span> Crossway, 2008.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Kostenberger, Andreas J. <\/span>John<\/span><\/i>, BECNT. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2004. <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

MacArthur, John. <\/span>Worship: The Ultimate Priority<\/span><\/i>. Chicago: Moody, 2012.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Martin, R. P. \u201cWorship.\u201d In <\/span>The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia<\/span><\/i>, rev. ed, ed. <\/span> Geoffrey W. Bromiley, 4: 1117-1133. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1995.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Morris, Leon. <\/span>The Gospel According to John<\/span><\/i>. NICNT. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2009.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Peterson, David. <\/span>Engaging with God: A Biblical Theology of Worship. <\/span><\/i>Downers Grove: <\/span> InterVarsity, 2002.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Rayburn, Robert G. <\/span>O Come, Let Us Worship: Corporate Worship in the Evangelical Church<\/span><\/i>. <\/span> Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1980.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Torrance, James B. <\/span>Worship, Community and the Triune God of Grace<\/span><\/i>. Downers Grove: <\/span> InterVarsity, 1996.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

INTRODUCTION The purpose of all creation is to worship the true and living God in a way that he has commanded. The New Testament makes it clear that God is seeking worshippers who will worship him \u201cin spirit and truth\u201d (John 4:24) \u2013 \u00a0but what does that mean? This paper seeks to analyze John 4:20-24 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":686,"featured_media":3523,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"wds_primary_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[27,32],"tags":[130,205,274,465,557,679,687,699,823,1014,1056,1105,1172,1280,1283,1367],"class_list":{"0":"post-3522","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-gospel","8":"category-theology","9":"tag-analysis","10":"tag-bible","11":"tag-christ","12":"tag-exposition","13":"tag-god","14":"tag-jesus","15":"tag-john","16":"tag-joshua","17":"tag-mills","18":"tag-rags","19":"tag-riches","20":"tag-scripture","21":"tag-spirit","22":"tag-true","23":"tag-truth","24":"tag-worship","25":"entry"},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2018\/04\/first_congregational_portland_window_-_balcony_west-c_0.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":3845,"url":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/what-is-true-worship-john-415-26\/","url_meta":{"origin":3522,"position":0},"title":"What is True Worship? John 4:15-26","author":"Joshua Jenkins","date":"August 26, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"\u00a0 15\u00a0The woman said to him, \u201cSir,\u00a0give me this water, so that I will not be thirsty or have to come here to draw water.\u201d 16\u00a0Jesus said to her,\u00a0\u201cGo,\u00a0call your husband, and come here.\u201d\u00a017\u00a0The woman answered him, \u201cI have no husband.\u201d Jesus said to her,\u00a0\u201cYou are right in saying, \u2018I\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Commentary"","block_context":{"text":"Commentary","link":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/category\/commentary\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2019\/08\/20090115_samaritan.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":3767,"url":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/jesus-cleanses-the-temple-john-213-22\/","url_meta":{"origin":3522,"position":1},"title":"Jesus Cleanses the Temple, John 2:13-22","author":"Joshua Jenkins","date":"May 27, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"\u00a0 \u00a0 Before we focus exclusively on our passage, I want to consider the wedding at Cana and the temple cleansing together, and why they might have been placed side by side in chapter 2. The gospel writer, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, placed these two accounts next\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Commentary"","block_context":{"text":"Commentary","link":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/category\/commentary\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2019\/05\/jesus-cleansing-the-temple.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2019\/05\/jesus-cleansing-the-temple.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2019\/05\/jesus-cleansing-the-temple.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1297,"url":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/on-emotionalism-and-the-gospel\/","url_meta":{"origin":3522,"position":2},"title":"On Emotionalism and the Gospel","author":"Joshua Jenkins","date":"March 10, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Emotionalism places excessive focus on emotions. Many Christians have likely experienced this at various worship services and events. You will see this in places where \u201cdecisions\u201d or \u201cworship experiences\u201d are elevated above proper worship of God; or quite frankly, above the gospel. In its ugliest forms, the leaders attempt to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In \"Christ\"","block_context":{"text":"Christ","link":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/tag\/christ\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":3737,"url":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/the-word-became-flesh-john-114-18\/","url_meta":{"origin":3522,"position":3},"title":"The Word Became Flesh: John 1:14, 18","author":"Joshua Jenkins","date":"April 8, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"\u00a0 The Word Became Like Us \u00a0 \u201cThe Word became flesh\u2026\u201d Here of course is not a reference to the sinful nature of man that we sometimes call \u201cthe flesh.\u201d It is a reference to the physical body of flesh. This is one of the most astounding acts of God\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Commentary"","block_context":{"text":"Commentary","link":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/category\/commentary\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2019\/04\/bible.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2019\/04\/bible.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2019\/04\/bible.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2019\/04\/bible.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3634,"url":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/abide-in-him-commentary-on-1-john-218-29\/","url_meta":{"origin":3522,"position":4},"title":"Abide in Him: Commentary on 1 John 2:18-29","author":"Joshua Jenkins","date":"October 8, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Last week we looked at these same verses, but we focused primarily on the antichrist while this week we will focus on the Christian. Within this passage there is a contrast set up between the antichrist and the Christian. So as we look at the things regarding the Christian in\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Commentary"","block_context":{"text":"Commentary","link":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/category\/commentary\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2018\/10\/favola.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2018\/10\/favola.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2018\/10\/favola.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2018\/10\/favola.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2018\/10\/favola.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2018\/10\/favola.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4065,"url":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/rivers-of-living-water-john-737-39\/","url_meta":{"origin":3522,"position":5},"title":"Rivers of Living Water; John 7:37-39","author":"Joshua Jenkins","date":"March 30, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"\u00a0 37\u00a0On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out,\u00a0\u201cIf anyone thirsts, let him\u00a0come to me and drink.\u00a038\u00a0Whoever believes in me,\u00a0as[a]\u00a0the Scripture has said,\u00a0\u2018Out of his heart will flow rivers of\u00a0living water.\u2019\u201d\u00a039\u00a0Now\u00a0this he said about the Spirit,\u00a0whom those who believed in him were\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Commentary"","block_context":{"text":"Commentary","link":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/category\/commentary\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2020\/03\/cometotheriver.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2020\/03\/cometotheriver.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2020\/03\/cometotheriver.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2020\/03\/cometotheriver.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3522","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/686"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3522"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3522\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3523"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3522"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3522"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3522"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}