Mark 11:1-11
"Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the Highest!”
What is worship?
Most dictionaries define worship, the noun, as reverence/adoration for a deity, supernatural power, or object of esteem (paraphrased). The definition of worship, the verb, is mostly about expressing that adoration (paraphrased).
Ecclesiastes 3:11 tells us that, “[God] has planted eternity in the human heart.” We long for something to save us, something to give us life, something to make us whole. Whatever that is for each of us as individuals, that is what we will worship.
So, what does it mean to worship God? The flow of worship follows the familiar Head-Heart-Hands model.
Head
In order to worship God, I must know about God. I must know that He is the best there is. Better than my job, my 401(k), my hobbies, even my family. I must know He is bigger than my stress, my fear, my happiness, and my securities in this world. I must know He loves me. I must know He wants the best for me. Somedays these truths feel hard to believe, but true worship is not possible without accepting them.
During the triumphal entry, the people of Jerusalem welcomed Jesus with open arms and praises. Less than a week later, they were calling for his death. Or at best, not opposing it. At risk of passing unfair judgement, they were exhibiting what Jesus, quoting the prophet Isaiah, warned about in Matthew 15:8-9 – honoring God with our lips, but not our hearts.
Heart
In addition to correct knowledge, worship is about value. How valuable is this deity, supernatural power, or object of esteem to me? How does its value compare to other things in my life? When truths about God really begin to seep into my head and thoughts, they can then begin the migration to my heart. In my heart is where I appreciate the full value of God. This value is obviously infinite, but do I actually worship like I believe it? If I don’t understand and appreciate the value, I can’t possibly worship appropriately.
Hands
Worship the verb takes many forms. I can proclaim God’s saving acts (Psalm 40), pray (Psalm 88), bow down or kneel (Psalm 95), serve and sing (Psalm 100), thank and praise (Psalm 109), or anything else that expresses my adoration of God. I can also serve others in God’s name, thereby showing others how valuable He is to me. The people of Jerusalem participated in worship by cutting and waving palm branches and spreading their cloaks on the road for Jesus’s donkey to walk across.
Worship of God is how we know God, how we express our appreciation and admiration for Him, and how we show others about Him. This worship can, unfortunately, be diverted to other things when we are not focused on God and His true worth to us. This Easter season, examine your life to evaluate what or who it is that you value above everything else. Hopefully, we will each be able to have our whole lives, the outer and inner parts, working to show or express our desire to elevate God above all else in our lives.
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