What can we learn about preparation for worship from John 11:55? Setting the Scene • John 11:55 tells us: “Now the Jewish Passover was near, and many people went up from the country to Jerusalem before the Passover to purify themselves.” • The Passover was not merely a holiday; it was a covenant-renewal feast, a national act of worship centered on God’s saving work. • Notice the timeline: worshipers arrived “before” the feast. They built margin into their schedules because genuine worship demanded deliberate preparation. Why Preparation Matters • Worship is approaching the holy God. Scripture presents that approach as weighty and joyful at once (Psalm 100:2; Hebrews 12:28-29). • The worshipers’ instinct to purify themselves echoes earlier biblical patterns—Mount Sinai (Exodus 19:10-11), temple dedications (2 Chronicles 30:17-20), even daily Levitical routines. • God has never treated worship as a casual drop-in event. Preparation honors His holiness and protects the people from treating sacred things lightly (Leviticus 10:3). The Call to Spiritual Purification • External cleansing symbolized an internal reality. While Old-Covenant rituals involved water, animals, and priests, the principle stands: hearts must be readied. • Psalm 24:3-4 asks, “Who may ascend the hill of the LORD? … He who has clean hands and a pure heart.” • In the New Covenant, Christ fulfills the ceremonial law, yet purification remains essential—now centered on repentance, faith, and Spirit-led holiness (Hebrews 10:22; 1 John 1:7-9). Practical Steps Toward Worship Readiness 1. Schedule margin – Passover travelers left early. Likewise, plan arrival, rest, and focus so Sunday doesn’t begin in a rush. 2. Examine the heart – “Each one must examine himself” (1 Corinthians 11:28). Confess sin, resolve conflicts (Matthew 5:23-24), renew obedience. 3. Cleanse through the Word – Jesus said, “You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you” (John 15:3). Read Scripture ahead of corporate worship to prime the soul. 4. Consecrate the body – Sleep, dress, and posture communicate reverence. Romans 12:1 calls us to present our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God. 5. Cultivate expectancy – Those pilgrims journeyed to meet God in Jerusalem. We gather expecting Christ to be present among His people (Matthew 18:20), ready to respond in faith. Lessons for Today • Preparation is worship: treating the lead-up as sacred time transforms the gathered time. • Purity is holistic: thoughts, motives, relationships, and habits come under Christ’s lordship. • Community is involved: families, friends, and congregations can encourage one another in shared readiness (Hebrews 10:24-25). • The cross undergirds it all: our cleansing flows from Jesus’ once-for-all sacrifice (1 Peter 1:18-19). By arriving early in spirit and in body—confessing sin, renewing faith, and setting aside distractions—we follow the pattern of John 11:55 and approach the Lord in worship that is both reverent and rejoicing. |
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