Worship is a Sacrifice

By David Hall

Jesus told the woman at the well in Samaria that the Father is seeking ‘true worshippers’.  (Jn 4:23)  What is a true worshipper?  At first we may be tempted to think that a true worshipper is one who observes the correct liturgy or mode of expression, whether ancient or modern.  This was at the centre of the long-standing dispute between the Jews and the Samaritans – whose mode was right, the Jews’ or the Samaritans’?  Jesus bypassed this external argument and said that true worshippers worship the Father ‘in spirit and in truth’.  (Jn 4:23)  He meant their worship was in the reality and truth of sons of God, presenting their entire beings as ‘living sacrifices’ in the Spirit of the Son of God.

This kind of worship was depicted in the Old Testament animal sacrifices in which a life was laid down as an expression of worship to God.  The animal represented the life of the offerer.  The multitude of these ancient sacrifices pointed to Jesus dying as the ‘Lamb of God’ to redeem lost humanity from the plight of sin.  But the essence of this sacrifice was firstly the  embodiment of worship - pure and total love and submission to the Father. (Jn 14:31;  15:10) This was the greatest demonstration of worship ever! 

The Messianic Psalms give us an insight into this.  In the 22nd Psalm, which prophetically describes His crucifixion, Jesus says, ‘I will declare Your name to My brethren; in the midst of the assembly I will praise You … My praise shall be of You in the great assembly’.  (Psa 22:22 & 25)  Another prophetic psalm quotes Jesus as saying, ‘Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but a body You have prepared for Me’. And yet another, ‘I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify Him with thanksgiving. This also shall please the LORD better than an ox or bull’.  (Ps 40:6, Heb 10:5; Psa 69:30)  It is abundantly clear that Jesus’ sacrifice at Calvary was as a ‘true worshipper’.

It is remarkable how this offering of Jesus was prefigured so dramatically in the lives of Abraham and Isaac, two thousand years earlier.  Abraham was well over one hundred years old when God tested Him by saying, ‘Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.’  (Gen 22:2)  After three days of travelling, Abraham saw Mt Moriah in the distance.  He said to the two servants, ‘Stay here with the donkey; the lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you.’ 

Notice the word ‘worship’.  Here God was painting a symbolic picture from which we shall make several important points.

Firstly, Isaac was an only begotten son who was born under miraculous circumstances.  In this he is like Jesus, the only begotten Son of God Who was also born into the world by a miracle – the virgin birth.

Secondly, Abraham’s journey took three days, after which he fully expected both he and Isaac to return.  This was despite the fact that he intended to offer Isaac there as a burnt offering.  Abraham believed God would raise Isaac again from the ashes of the altar.  (Heb 11:19)  In the same way, Jesus knew He would be raised again from the dead three days after His crucifixion.

Thirdly, Isaac was totally willing and submissive to his father, and was prepared to be the ‘lamb’ of sacrifice.  In this he is also a picture of Jesus.

Lastly, Abraham regarded his offering of Isaac as an exercise of worship – an action that could cost him the greatest price he could ever pay, the life of his only son.  In this Abraham was a true ‘worshipper’.  When Isaac allowed himself to be placed on the Altar, he too became a ‘true worshipper’. 

The same applies to us.  Our worship will involve an altar and a price which we will be willing to pay.  Ultimately, the price will indeed be our whole life as we give ourselves in loving service to the Lord.  When our vocal worship is an expression of this total commitment, then it also is true worship, and precious to God.