There are four Greek words for worship and Jesus chose to use only one – PROSKUNEO – when he talked with the Samaritan woman at the well. It means move toward with your kisses.
Jesus took the road from Judea through Samaria on his way to Galilee. He was going to see the Samaritan woman at the well. In the course of the encounter, Jesus announced for the first time that he was the Messiah to a woman. Not just any woman. She was five time divorced and now living with her boyfriend. The speculation was she couldn’t have children in a culture where a son was as goldmine. When a man wants a divorce his wife, he just signs a divorce paper and leave her. She must have been gorgeous for men to pursue her.
Jesus went out of his way to speak to a marginalized woman in Samaria. Her story is found in the Gospel of John Chapter 4.
Jesus said to her: “God is Spirit and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” In other words, “If you move toward me with kisses you won’t be thirsty for affection anymore.” Just move toward God in your heart, look up and throw him kisses. That’s all.
James says it this way, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” (James 4:8)
I saw a short video of a little girl standing by a window, waiting for her daddy to come home from work. It was that time of the day. She saw him drive up and began jumping and squealing with joy and excitement. When he opened the door that girl ran to him shouting, “Daddy, Daddy, Daddy.” He put his lunchbox down, got on his knees with his arms wide open. She ran to him. They embraced. Lots and lots of kisses and laughter. He picked her up and hugged his little girl. It was so beautiful I cried good tears. I could hear her mommy laughing as she filmed the delightful scene.
I picture worship like that. Move toward our Heavenly Father with our kisses.
At Cana wedding when Jesus said to his mother when she said to him, “They’re out of wine.” He called her, “Woman”. In that culture calling his mother, Woman, was an endearing term. It’s like Jesus saying, “Honey… what is that got to do with me?” (Gospel of John Chapter 2)
In the Gospel of Luke Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues on Sabbath, and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. (I think it should have been translated and [she walked in physically bent, to look for Jesus] because women were not allowed in synagogues. She didn’t bother with protocol. I’m sure she heard of Jesus and went to look for him. She must have thought ‘if I just get closer…’ When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, “Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.” (Honey come closer with your kisses…”). Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God. Hallelujah ♡
Grace found me deep in toxic shame. Toxic shame is one believes that something so significant was terribly stinking wrong with (me) – within and without. Why would anyone want me? To survive, I used intelligence and associations with intellectuals to cover my shame like Adam and Eve in Genesis Chapter 2. They covered their nakedness with fig leaves. Fig leaves symbolize prideful attitudes. (John Bradshaw). A cover up of the emptiness inside.
Grace changed my thought life. I found that there’s a chance for someone like me. I was loved, so loved, unconditionally by that Man from Galilee. His name is Jesus. He is the kindest man I’ve ever met. He looked beyond my shame and fear and saw a redeemable image of God in me. It has taken years for me to renew my mind… actually it’s a day by day thing. Sometimes it’s moment by moment.
He is the Light when darkness seem to be everywhere.
When I met Jesus I began to read his words. I grew up hating that Book because I thought it contained too many rules I couldn’t possibly keep. Its not. It’s about love and grace from the Old to the New Testaments – cover to cover.
Five more days til Christmas Day. Come with me and let’s move toward our Heavenly Father with kisses.
~~~ May people leave you feeling better than when they came. ♡