When Worship Misses the Mark

Yeshua's heart was always for directing kavod (glory, honor) to the FATHER.

When he watches his followers in a synagogue praise and worship directing worship to him rather than to the FATHER, his response is certainly mirroring his teachings, and he would be upset!

He constantly pointed people away from himself and toward the FATHER.

John 4:23–24 (CJB): “The kind of people the FATHER wants worshipping HIM are those who worship HIM in spirit and truth. God is spirit; and worshippers must worship HIM spiritually and truly.”

So, he spoke to those who had spiritual ears to hear and redirected worship back to the FATHER, reminding people that true kavod belongs to Avinu Shebashamayim (Our father in heaven).

Like when people tried to exalt him beyond what was proper, he corrected them. For example, when someone called him “Good Teacher,” He replied (Mark 10:18): “Why are you calling me good? No one is good except God!”

He may be wondering why his people don't understand why he said the most important commandment is the Shema which shouts echad is a unity. The same word used when two people marry and become one! In John 17 he prayed that believers would become one like he and his father! Is he whispering in the spirit,  “Sh’ma Yisra’el, Adonai Eloheinu, Adonai echad. Worship the Father, not me. I am here to reveal HIS ways, HIS truth, HIS love.”

If Yeshua walked into a synagogue today where worship was directed at him instead of the father, he would firmly redirect honor to the father and quote Torah and the Prophets to remind people that Hashem alone is the object of worship. He would call people back to the Shema as the center of Jewish faith and explain the Hebrew and Greek meanings.