The Lord taught the woman at the well three significant things that would mark the change from the old order of worship in the old dispensation to the new order of worship in Christianity. This would result from believers having "the living water" of the Spirit of God dwelling in them (the "fountain") as the power for the new worship (vss. 10, 14). Fountain water (geyser) has energy in it and is a picture of the power of the Spirit in the believer.
Firstly, there would be a new place of worship that was neither in “this mountain” (Gerizim), nor in “Jerusalem.” Hebrews 8:1-2; 9:11, 23-24; and 10:19-22 indicate that the new place of worship is in the heavenly sanctuary in the immediate presence of God. Hence, there would be a cessation of an earthly geographical center for worship as there was in Judaism.
Secondly, there was a new revelation in connection with the Person worshipped. In Judaism, God was known as Jehovah and Israel worshipped Him as such, but now in Christianity He is worshipped as “the Father” of our Lord Jesus Christ. This is a nearer and more intimate relationship with God.
Thirdly, there would be a new character of worship. The worship in Judaism was of an earthly order and was aided by mechanical instruments of music, and carried out through a system of rituals and ceremonies. But the new order of worship in Christianity would be purely a spiritual thing. Believers would worship the Father in “spirit” (spiritually – chap. 6:63) and according to the new revelation of “truth” that would accompany the new dispensation. In Christianity, we offer up “spiritual sacrifices,” aided by the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit (1 Peter 2:5; Phil. 3:3) in contrast to the “carnal ordinances” in the Judaic order (Heb. 9:10). This is done in the immediate presence of God (Heb. 10:19), which is a privilege that Israel didn’t have. Since Christians worship “in spirit and in truth,” they can sit quietly in a chair and there could be produced in their souls and spirits true worship of God the Father by the Holy Spirit, without the need of those outward forms that mark earthly religion. This is true heavenly worship.
Jewish worship of the old dispensation appeals to the human senses because it is an earthly and sensual means of approaching God. It is stimulated by:
• Sight—i.e. the grandeur of the temple (1 Kings 10:4-5; Mark 13:1; Luke 21:5).
• Smell—i.e. the burning incense that made a compelling atmosphere (Ex. 30:34-38).
• Taste—i.e. eating the sacrifices (Deut. 14:26).
• Hearing—i.e. beautiful music produced by the orchestra and accompaniment of the choir (1 Chron. 25:1, 3, 6-7).
• Touch—i.e. participating in the offerings in a physical way, i.e. dancing and lifting up hands (2 Sam. 6:13-14; 1 Kings 8:22).
It is significant that we do not find anywhere in the book of the Acts, or in the epistles, that Christians worshipped the Lord using rituals or musical instruments. In Scripture, the only two instruments that Christians are found using in worship are their “hearts” (Col. 3:16; Eph. 5:19) and their “lips” (Hebrews 13:15).