Live to Love Scripture Encouragement

John 12:36 While you have the Light, believe in the Light, so that you may become sons of Light." These things Jesus spoke, and He went away and hid Himself from them. With these powerful words Jesus ended this encounter with the crowd. All of a sudden, the Light disappeared. Lest we miss it, let's remember that the crowd thinks of themselves as sons of the Law and that the Law is the light. They asked about the Law in vs 34. Jesus was calling them to Himself, the true light. John made this point in the intro to his gospel when he wrote in John 1:9-13. “There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” Have you received the Light? Living to love with Jesus is to believe, receive, and walk in the true Light.

John 12:35 So Jesus said to them, "For a little while longer the Light is among you. Walk while you have the Light, so that darkness will not overtake you; he who walks in the darkness does not know where he goes." Jesus was to be among them for only a little while longer. He wants them to see where they are going and knows that once the light is gone from them, the darkness will overtake them and they won't be able to see where they are walking. The reason I say so often, live to love with Jesus is this: to live is to walk. To live to love with Jesus is to walk in the Light of His life. When you live or walk in the light of His love, you know where you are. You are in God's will, and you know where you are going. You are going to live with Him forever. You either live to love with Jesus or you stumble in the darkness. Can you see where you are going or are you stumbling around in the darkness trying to find your way in this world?

John 12:34 The crowd then answered Him, "We have heard out of the Law that the Christ is to remain forever; and how can You say, 'The Son of Man must be lifted up?' Who is this Son of Man?" The crowd must have understood that Jesus was identifying as the Christ. The disciples certainly knew it but had been told to tell no one. Matthew 16:20 “Then He warned the disciples that they should tell no one that He was the Christ.” The same crowd that said they heard thunder when God spoke, expressed confusion over how the Christ, the Son of Man, could be crucified. Their understanding was that He was to live forever. The disciples thought the same. So the question was and still is. How does one die, yet live forever? The answer: Jesus is the resurrection and the life. To live to love with Jesus we must be convinced that we must die to (we must hate) our lives in this world in order to experience Jesus' resurrection life which pours Himself out in love.

John 12:32-33. And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself." But He was saying this to indicate the kind of death by which He was to die. It's like Jesus had been sitting in the secret council chambers of the Pharisees. He knew their plans, but unbeknownst to them, He would accomplish the very thing they were trying to prevent, namely, the whole world going after Him (12:19). They would kill Jesus by crucifying Him, and He would literally draw all—Greeks and Jews alike—to Himself. Remember, this conversation was initiated when the Greeks wanted to see Jesus. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” Jesus we worship you and have been drawn to you because you were lifted up for us so we might know and express Your love. Glory be to God.

John 12:31 Now judgment is upon this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. Now that God has testified in this world and confirmed that Jesus is the resurrection and the life, God's judgment upon this world has come. The judgment is that this world hates God because its ruler is a murderer and an imposter. He and this world were judged, exposed, and condemned by Jesus' presence and God's word. Jesus prophesied regarding what His suffering would accomplish—the banishment of Satan from the throne of this world. Jesus now reigns as Lord of this world. When we live to love with Him we are testifying to the veracity of Jesus' statement and the power of His rule in this world.

John 12:30 Jesus answered and said, "This voice has not come for My sake, but for your sakes." Was it thunder or the voice of an angel that was heard? Jesus clearly stated what was heard: the voice of God. And He declared that God spoke for the sake of everyone who heard and not for His sake. He didn't need encouragement. He was resolute. He came to suffer for the glory of God and was confident God would honor His service. The voice of God responding to Jesus' cry for God to glorify His name was for those who have ears to hear—both then and ever since. Are you consciously, intentionally, sacrificially living for the glory of God? It is the testimony that Jesus has been glorified in you.

John 12:29 So the crowd of people who stood by and heard it were saying that it had thundered; others were saying, "An angel has spoken to Him." Some said they heard thunder, and others said they heard an angel speaking to Him. Probably those who were planning His death tried to explain it away by saying it was thunder—a natural occurrence. In contrast, those who were inclined to believe said they heard a distinguishable voice. The same thing happens. We can expect unbelievers to look for natural explanations for the supernatural testimonies of God. Those in whom God is working are looking for and expecting God to speak and testify to His presence. Have you considered that as you live to love with Jesus that you are a supernatural testimony—the voice of God per se—saying that He has and will glorify His name through the resurrected Jesus in you?

John 12:28 Father, glorify Your name." Then a voice came out of heaven: "I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again." What was the purpose for which Jesus came to His hour of suffering? He was consumed with glorifying His Father and making His name great. He cried out, “Father, glorify Your name.” Implied is, “Glorify Your name in My hour of suffering. Look how quickly the Father testified to those around Him. “Then a voice came out of heaven: ‘I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.'" It seems the context implies that the Father glorified His name in the resurrection of Lazarus and will do it again more powerfully in resurrecting Jesus to ultimately testify that Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life. We can count on the same promise that God will bear fruit “beyond our imaginations” if we serve Jesus with the same resolve and faith—the hope of His glory.

John 12:27 "Now My soul has become troubled; and what shall I say, 'Father, save Me from this hour?' But for this purpose I came to this hour. Jesus' death was in view, the divine grain of wheat must die. He knew the time was upon Him. Even in that moment, He contemplated the impact on those He loved— they too will serve Him by laying down their lives. To follow Him, they will have to despise the natural lust to be honored by men in this world. As He pondered His upcoming suffering, apparently the thought entered His mind that He might ask His Father to deliver Him from it. But No! He came to this hour for the purpose of suffering death in service to His Father and bear much fruit. He would serve His Father. He would follow Him. He would be where His Father is. He would do it to be honored by the Father with abundant fruitfulness. The question for us is this: Will we follow and serve Jesus by laying down our lives with His resolve?

John 12:26 If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him. Three truths about the one who serves Jesus. 1). He must follow His lead in all things. 2). He will be present where Jesus is present. 3). He will be honored by the Father. Imagine. The One who deserves all the honor, honors those who deserve no honor. When you live to love with Jesus, you are serving Him. Don't expect to be honored in this life—that is to love your life in this world. Expect to be honored with Him for eternity. You will be where He is!

John 12:25b He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal. Today we consider the second phrase of this verse. Whereas the one who loves his life will lose it, the one who hates his life in this world will keep his life to life eternal. What does he mean by hate in contrast to love? I think He means a person despises his self life, is dissatisfied by his own efforts, knowledge, worldly desires, and religiosity. The one who hates his life in this world does so because he knows Jesus hates his selfishness and worldliness. So his hatred of his worldly life has come because he has seen the deadness of his life and the glory of Jesus' eternal life. In comparison, he hates his life and love Jesus' life. This reveals that the life of Jesus has become his life and so he will keep it. One can't keep something he doesn't already have. He who hates his old life and loves His life in Jesus is free to live to love with Him. Have you seen that Jesus is the life?

John 12:25 He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal. Let's just focus on the first phrase. Jesus stated it as a fact: he who loves his life loses it. He surely means “loves his life in this world” since he contrasts it with “hates his life in this world”. What does He mean by love? I suggest love in this context means that one identifies with, is attracted to, and draws satisfaction from the things and people in this world. He who loves his life in this fallen world is certainly dead. For Jesus is life, and He hates this fallen world, and it hates Him. Anything that isn't of Him is dead. Again, Jesus alone is life. To love something that is dead is to reveal the lost state of the heart. When we live to love with Jesus we love what and who He loves. Loving life in this world is not what He loves. He loves His Father and the things above. In the Spirit, Paul wrote, “set your mind on things above and not on the things that are on the earth”. Do you have a love relationship with your life in this world? If so, Jesus said assuredly, you will lose it. There is a Hebrew word used at the end of an important statement in the Psalms. It's the word “Selah.” It means to pause and ponder what is said. Selah.

John 12:24 Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. How is the Son of Man to be glorified? Jesus stated it plainly so we would all know. And John recorded it faithfully. Jesus is glorified as He gives Himself over to be crucified. In doing so, He will bear much fruit. John is going to quote Jesus again later on in his gospel as He speaks to His disciples. John 15:5, 8. “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.” Let's connect some dots. Death, resurrection, life, the glory of God, and fruitfulness. Jesus laid down His life. God raised Him to life. Both God and Christ are glorified. The result is much fruit for His glory. As we live to love with Jesus, we die to ourselves. He raises us to life with Him. He loves through us and bears much fruit for the glory of the Father and the Son. Today, let us die to ourselves and live to Christ.

John 12:23 And Jesus answered them, saying, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified." This is not what I would have expected to hear from Jesus had I been Philip or Andrew. I would have expected something like, “Great! Bring them to me.” or “Where are they? Take me to them, I'd be happy to talk with them.” Does Jesus' answer surprise you? What is it about some Greeks wanting to see Him that signals that the hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified? I'll give my two cents worth. Jesus knew that all things come from His Father and He only did what the Father showed Him. From His worldview, it was the Father who brought the Greeks to see Him. It's a sign that God loves the world, the non-Jews, just as He does the Jews. It's the fulfillment of what Jesus told Nicodemus when He told him that the wind (the Spirit) was going to blow where it wishes and that Nicodemus couldn't know where it was coming from or where it was going. The Son of Man was to be glorified by laying down His life for believers from every tribe, tongue, people, or nation. God gathered representatives from all the nations of the world to witness the righteousness of God placarded for all to see and believe. The Greeks' arrival told Jesus what the Father was doing. The hour had come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Jesus is glorified as we seek Him as our Savior and Lord.

John 12:22 Philip came and told Andrew; Andrew and Philip came and told Jesus. Philip and Andrew became intercessors for the Greeks. An intercessor is one who negotiates or acts as a link between parties. A go-between if you will. We can be like Philip and Andrew as well when we go tell Jesus about those He has put in our lives to love with Him. There are people in our lives that God is in the process of bringing to Jesus. We have the privilege, since we have access to the Father, through Jesus, to lift them before the Father in prayer. Praying for others, bringing them to Jesus, telling Him about them, is one way of loving with Jesus. He ever lives to intercede for us (Heb. 7:25), so our interceding for others is an expression of His life dwelling within and evidence that our lives are one with Him. I hope you'll take a moment and tell Jesus about someone that you hope He will save.

John 12:20-21 Now there were some Greeks among those who were going up to worship at the feast; these then came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and began to ask him, saying, "Sir, we wish to see Jesus." How did the Greeks know to talk with Philip? How did they know they could gain access to Him through Philip? I'm not sure how. My guess is that they watched from a distance and could tell who Jesus' disciples were. There was an observable contrast between those who were there merely for the show and those who were dedicated followers of Jesus. These Greeks had heard of Jesus perhaps or they had just arrived at the temple and were curious about this man who received so much praise and adulation from the people. For whatever reason, they wanted to see Jesus, and they figured Philip was the man to go to for access to Him. If someone had heard about Jesus and wanted to see Him, would they know to come to you or to me? Would it be clear to them as they watched our lives that we could introduce them to Him? I think if we live to love with Jesus, we will have many opportunities to take people to Jesus.

John 12:19 So the Pharisees said to one another, "You see that you are not doing any good; look, the world has gone after Him." To the Pharisees, it looked like everyone had abandoned them and gone after Jesus. Oh, if that were the case! That same “world” was a fickle crowd, weren't they? Within a very short time, they had turned on Jesus and were crying out, “Crucify Him.” Not everyone who appears to be following Jesus (that is, says they are a Christian) is a true believer. The greatest protection from being a fickle follower is to live to love with Jesus every day. Keep your eyes on Him. Be devoted to Him, not to a worldly cause, spiritual experience, or personal happiness. As Oswald Chambers wrote in My Utmost for His Highest, “A man with a vision of God is not devoted to a cause or to any particular issue; he is devoted to God, Himself.” (Reading for May 2). Such a person will not praise one day, then blame another day. If you have had a true vision of God, then you know He is love and living to love with Him is a privilege and anchor.

John 12:18 For this reason also the people went and met Him, because they heard that He had performed this sign. The raising of Lazarus from the dead would certainly catch my attention. How about yours? John explained why the crowd met Jesus before His entry into Jerusalem. Remember when Jesus told Martha that she would see the glory of God as a result of Lazarus' death? Surely all of this was in view. The Father's testimony regarding His Son spread throughout Jerusalem and was the cause of the fulfillment of Scripture regarding His triumphal entry to the city of Zion. I am amazed at how God works. Aren't you? Today, as we live to love with Jesus and testify about His resurrection power and new life, let's hope and pray that people will want to go meet Jesus. Every believer is a sign, a miracle of resurrection power and life.

John 12:17 So the people, who were with Him when He called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead, continued to testify about Him. Even if they killed Jesus and Lazarus, how could they silence all the witnesses? They couldn't. And so it is today. We are witnesses of the truth that Jesus is the resurrection and the life. He lives in us. He loves through us. We once were dead, but now we live to love with Him. What were they testifying about Him? Here are my thoughts. Jesus told Martha that He was the resurrection and the life and that she would see the glory of God. After Lazarus was raised and the crowd saw the miracle, you know Martha had to remember what Jesus had said to her. Surely she was proclaiming something to this effect, “He said He was life. He has authority over death. This has to be the Messiah.” On top of that, the news of Mary's anointing of Jesus' feet at the dinner circulated. The testimony about Jesus continues today through us. As we live to love with Him, we echo the same truths testified to by Mary, Martha, Lazarus, and those who witnessed the miracle. Jesus is life everlasting.

John 12:16 These things His disciples did not understand at the first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written of Him, and that they had done these things to Him. So often this is the case. Things happen in our lives that we don't understand until we see Jesus glorified in and through them. Jesus mounting a donkey to ride into Jerusalem this one time, of all the times He had entered that city, didn't strike them as all that incredible. However, it was! Think about it. Because God had spoken it through Zechariah centuries before, the event was God's undeniable testimony glorifying His Son, Jesus Christ, as the anointed Messiah and promised King. John's words, “Fear not,” could not be more appropriate and accurate considering the context of Zachariah's prophecy where he promised to “camp around My house,” and “no oppressor will pass over them anymore,” and the “chariot” and “bow of war will be cut off.” Zechariah penned, “Rejoice greatly.” John wrote, “Fear not.” Are they not both sides of the same coin? Let us fear not and rejoice greatly, for now, we have seen Jesus glorified.

John 12:14-15 Jesus, finding a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written, "Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your King is coming, seated on a donkey's colt." Zechariah 9:9 “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; He is just and endowed with salvation, Humble, and mounted on a donkey, Even on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” Zachariah saw Jesus' entry into Jerusalem approximately 550 years prior to the event. Wow! Isn't that amazing? One of over 300 prophecies verified in the life of Christ. This one alone should be enough for the world to bow the knee, lay down the palm branches, and proclaim Jesus as Lord and King. What does it speak to your heart? As we live to love with Jesus, we can rest assured that we are a living miracle and testimony of the indwelling King of kings. Hallelujah, King Jesus!

John 12:12-13 On the next day the large crowd who had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took the branches of the palm trees and went out to meet Him, and began to shout, "Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel." This was a worthy praise and adoration of Jesus. He was and is the King of Israel who came in the name of the Lord. Apparently the crowd got word that Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem, and they met Him before He entered the city with these praises. We can join them in giving Jesus glory today. “Hosanna! Blessed are You, Jesus, who has come into my heart for the glory of Your name, even my King, Savior, and Lord. Thank you for another day of life to know and love You and to live to love with You. Anoint and fill us with the Holy Spirit, Your presence and power, so we can love and trust You and love all those You put in our paths today for Your glory. Amen.

John 12:10-11 But the chief priests planned to put Lazarus to death also; because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and were believing in Jesus. The Pharisees were creating a first century cancel culture—the ultimate cancel culture. Literally cancel the lives of those who threaten the way of life we have created for ourselves. Perhaps the apostle James best explains what lies at the heart of their evil scheme. “For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing” (James 3:16). Jealousy and selfish ambition existed in Satan's heart and Adam and Eve fell prey to the lie against the truth. The Pharisees not only planned to cancel Jesus' voice, but Lazarus' as well. We can expect the world to do the same with our testimonies of resurrection life. The more they try to cancel us, let us realize that God is simply setting the stage for a display of His power and love through us as we refuse to revile and hate in return. Instead may we show the wisdom of God as we love with Jesus.

John 12:9 The large crowd of the Jews then learned that He was there; and they came, not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might also see Lazarus, whom He raised from the dead. We died when Jesus died. That's our first death. We were raised from the dead when He was raised from the dead. What was the difference between Lazarus before he died and Lazarus after he was raised? People wanted to know—a large crowd of people. I wonder if our new resurrection life after our conversion shouldn't also draw a crowd. Not just for Jesus' sake, but because they want to know what happened to us. How is it that once we were dead to Jesus and lived to only love ourselves, but now we are alive to Jesus and live to love with Him? What was it like to take off the grave clothes and see Jesus and dine with Him? Can we describe that experience? Well, I was dead and my selfish life stunk. Then I heard Jesus speak, and His life filled my soul and body and I began to live to love with Him.

Living the Truth in 2026 “For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?” And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews and said to them, “I find no guilt in Him” (John 13:37-38).

John 12:7-8 Therefore Jesus said, "Let her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of My burial. For you always have the poor with you, but you do not always have Me." Certainly Jesus' reply to Judas caught them all off-guard. First, He gave clear direction for the use of the remaining perfume, and it wasn't to be sold to help the poor. Second, His reference to His burial. What? Couldn't the one who just raised Lazarus from the dead, also rebuke the grim reaper when he came for Jesus? Wasn't Jesus going to establish the forever kingdom of David? Third, “You do not always have Me.” Puzzling to them, but not to us. I am so glad that we live on this side of the cross and resurrection so we know exactly what Jesus meant. He came to die as our substitute so all our sins would be forgiven so that we might always have Him with us. It is precisely this confidence—His presence with us forever—that encourages us to live to love with Him today and everyday. Thank you, Jesus, for loving us and loving through and with us. We are so privileged and blessed!

John 12:6 Now he said this, not because he was concerned about the poor, but because he was a thief, and as he had the money box, he used to pilfer what was put into it. I wonder when John discovered Judas' hypocrisy and thievery. What strikes me is that it was necessary for Judas to have responsibility for the money box so that God's judgment would be just. Didn't Jesus know Judas' greedy heart when He gave him that job? Of course He did. Then why did He do it? We know why. Because His Father was doing it (John 5:19 “the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner”). God puts us in situations that bring out what He sees in us so that He may be glorified in His righteous judgment (in Judas' case) and in His love revealed (in Mary's case). In any situation, whatever we are filled with comes out. May we be filled with love for Jesus and others.

John 12:4-5 But Judas Iscariot, one of His disciples, who was intending to betray Him, said, "Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and given to poor people?" Not only was God's grace to Mary revealed as she anointed Jesus' feet, but Judas' heart was exposed as well. Every situation is an opportunity for sin or love to be expressed by those present. If Judas had been a true disciple, he would have watched his master's response to Mary and recognized that it pleased Him. He would have remained silent out of love and respect for both Jesus and Mary. When we live to love with Jesus we are less likely to jump to judgment and more careful about what we say that might be hurtful to others. Judas should have left the judgment to Jesus, and so should we. One expression of loving like Jesus is to leave the judgment of others to God and be gracious to those who don't do what we think they should. You may have an opportunity today to love in this way. Don't be a Judas.

John 12:3 Mary then took a pound of very costly perfume of pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. As John mentioned the perfume was costly. It was derived from a flower of the honeysuckle family found in the Himalaya mountains of China and India. This was no small display of love and honor to the one who brought such happiness and blessing into their lives thru the resurrection of Lazarus. It was extravagant. Have you ever considered that we all have the same opportunity Mary had to honor Jesus? He has come to abide (sit down and dine) with us. He has called us out of death into life through His resurrection power like He did Lazarus. We are at His footstool—His feet. This has helped me realize that I too can express my love, gratitude, and honor to Jesus. One aspect of living to love with Jesus is showering our love on Him. Let's do that today.

John 12:2 So they made Him a supper there, and Martha was serving; but Lazarus was one of those reclining at the table with Him. Imagine reclining at the table with Jesus, whose voice had called you out of the tomb. Maybe they were listening to Lazarus share his first thoughts upon re-entering his body in the tomb and hearing Jesus cry, “Lazarus, come forth!” Or maybe they were hearing him share about what he experienced while living outside his body. Or maybe they were listening to Jesus explain the significance of the miracle and its relevance to what was about to happen. Whatever it was moved Mary to honor Jesus in an expensive, extravagant, display of love. What about Jesus moves us to love like that?

John 12:1 Jesus, therefore, six days before the Passover, came to Bethany where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. We don't know how much time transpired between the miracle and Jesus' return to Bethany after meeting with His disciples in Ephraim. It was a 14 1/2 mile trek and He timed His arrival to six days before Passover. I can't help but see this as another expression of love for the family. It makes sense that He wanted to check on them following the exciting event. From what is about to occur, we also can deduce that the Father was setting the stage for another significant display of love and honor toward His Son. So it is with us today as we live to love with Jesus. God is setting the stage for us to love and honor Him.

John 11:57 Now the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that if anyone knew where He was, he was to report it so that they might seize Him. The dragnet tightened. Their evil scheme was in motion. They were determined to seize and eliminate Him. We should be amazed at the wisdom and glory of God to allow men to scheme and carry out evil against His anointed as the means by which He overcomes evil, sin, and death. In the end times, it will be the same with His people. Evil men will be allowed to carry out their schemes against His Holy ones, but they will display God's wisdom and glory as they trust in Him and lay down their lives in love for Christ and others. Jesus will prepare us for this time as He prepared Himself. Abide in Him today.

John 11:56 So they were seeking for Jesus, and were saying to one another as they stood in the temple, "What do you think; that He will not come to the feast at all?" Imagine the scene. Men straining their necks, searching the crowd for Jesus. They were wondering what He would do. Have you ever wondered what Jesus would do? Jesus did eventually come, but not when they expected it nor how they expected it. That's often the case in our lives. We look for Him in the natural, reasonable ways, but His ways are not ours. Jesus always moves in a redemptive, God-glorifying path. Look for Him there today.

John 11:55 Now the Passover of the Jews was near, and many went up to Jerusalem out of the country before the Passover to purify themselves. John lets us know the historical context surrounding the Passover celebration. Jerusalem's population swelled with committed worshippers preparing for Passover. John implied that Jesus was expected to show up and that He would be easy to find. But Jesus didn't need to purify Himself. He was perfectly pure. He was the Spotless Passover lamb. Remember the first Passover in Egypt? A lamb was slain so the death angel would pass over the home of the Hebrews. All who believe in Jesus will never die. His blood was shed that we might live to love with Him. Hallelujah!

John 11:54 Therefore Jesus no longer continued to walk publicly among the Jews, but went away from there to the country near the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim; and there He stayed with the disciples. Apparently Jesus knew of their plans and it wasn't the Father's timing so He avoided the conflict and spent time with His disciples. We can learn from this that there are times when we should avoid those whom we know cannot tolerate or handle the testimony of God in our lives. Love in this case stayed out of their path. It was best to love those who were yearning to learn and who responded to His love. He was making disciples. Who are we investing in who need to be loved by Him?

John 11:53 So from that day on they planned together to kill Him. The Pharisees made their evil plans as God established their steps. John wants his readers to understand that God accomplished His purposes through evil men who thought they were in control. God was working toward His greatest display of love and glory in the death and resurrection of His son. In the affairs of men it looked like darkness was prevailing, but in reality and truth, the stage was being set for the greatest revelation of God in all the history of mankind. May this encourage us that every situation is an opportunity to trust God and love with Jesus.

John 11:52 and not for the nation only, but in order that He might also gather together into one the children of God who are scattered abroad. As the Pharisees are meeting to plot Jesus' death, God is working to make all of His children throughout all of history into one nation for eternity. We are so limited in our view and judgment of the affairs of men. We know so little. “For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known” (1 Cor. 13:12). What a glorious day it will be when we see all of God's wisdom and glory in the affairs of men. This verse should encourage us to love and trust God in everything that happens in our lives.

John 11:51 Now he did not say this on his own initiative, but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus was going to die for the nation, God is in control of Caiaphas' prophetic statement. God's will is being done on earth as it is in heaven. He is working all things according to the counsel of His own will. This was true in this account as well as today in our lives. This gives us great confidence as we live to love with Jesus. We can rest assured that nothing occurs outside of His will and purpose to glorify Jesus in our lives.

John 11:49-50 But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, "You know nothing at all, nor do you take into account that it is expedient for you that one man die for the people, and that the whole nation not perish." Caiaphas got it but didn't. He rightly recognized that Jesus' death could be the means of salvation for the nation, but was totally blind to the salvation God would accomplish. That's how Satan's temptations work. Suggest that the evil planned is really good and advantageous. It tripped up Adam and Eve, and it worked with the Pharisees. Be on guard for a spirit that reasons it's a good thing to harm people for a greater collective good. Also be amazed at the wisdom and knowledge of God who uses Satan's lies to accomplish eternal redemption, reconciliation, and glorify His son.

John 11:48 "If we let Him go on like this, all men will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation." People who react to love feel threatened by it. In this case, their concern is their significance and position of authority. Implied perhaps is a jealousy of His success. Contrast that with what we want. We want all men to believe in Him. We want all the glory to go to Him. That's why we abide in Him so we can love with Him. Apart from Jesus, we can do nothing.

John 11:47 Therefore the chief priests and the Pharisees convened a council, and were saying, "What are we doing? For this man is performing many signs. The Lord has made everything for its own purpose, even the wicked for the day of evil (Prov. 16:4). Our salvation would not have happened without the chief priests and the Pharisees plotting Jesus' death. We already know from John 8 that they are doing the work of the devil. Their blindness and hostility to Jesus' miracles was stunningly, supernaturally evil. We are watching a similar blindness and hostility to truth today on the political stage. Let us remember that God is always at work to glorify His son as we love the truth and those He puts in our paths.

John 11:46 But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them the things which Jesus had done. Stunning darkness! They see God testify with such power and authority and still do not believe. Before we judge them, let's consider that if God had not given us ears to hear and hearts to believe, we would have done the same thing. How easy it is to give a bad or twisted report of someone we don't like to another person we want to impress and knew that they also didn't like them? We can also expect those who oppose the truth today to do to us what they did to Jesus. Let's not let that stop us from loving and testifying of Christ. It didn't stop Him. He knew this would happen.

John 11:45 Therefore many of the Jews who came to Mary, and saw what He had done, believed in Him. Many of those who came to comfort Mary saw God's testimony of glory regarding Jesus and believed. Believers are testimonies of God's grace and power for His glory. He is still testifying of His son through us as we love people and share the gospel. Be alert. Be ready for those God puts in your path.

John 11:44(2) The man who had died came forth, bound hand and foot with wrappings, and his face was wrapped around with a cloth. Jesus said to them, "Unbind him, and let him go." Before moving on to vs 45, another thought came to mind. A day is coming, and not too far away, when Jesus will say, “My bride, come forth!” In that moment, all who are His will come forth with Him as one and there will be no more death. Glory to God in the highest! The best way to prepare for that moment is to abide in Him and live to love with Him. Let's give ourselves to Him with no reservations.

John 11:44 The man who had died came forth, bound hand and foot with wrappings, and his face was wrapped around with a cloth. Jesus said to them, "Unbind him, and let him go." Jesus is the resurrection and the life. He has all authority over heaven and earth. He commanded Lazarus to come out of the tomb in his body, so Lazarus returned to his body and obeyed. The greater event however was the Father's testimony glorifying Jesus by raising Lazarus. When Lazarus came forth, the cry heard throughout heaven and earth was, “Jesus is my beloved son sent to give eternal life to all who believe!” He who has ears to hear, let him hear.

John 11:43 When He had said these things, He cried out with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come forth." So those standing around might believe, Jesus cried out with a loud voice to Lazarus. He wanted everyone there to witness God's testimony about Him when He speaks and God raises Lazarus. The miracle of a dead man coming back to life is sensational, but that's not the highlight of this event. The spotlight is on God doing what Jesus commands. HE is the resurrection and the life! God says He is, as He speaks and Lazarus rises and walks out of the tomb. Dear believing friends. We are walking testimonies that Jesus is the resurrection and the life. We once were dead in sin and selfishness, but we have been raised with Christ to love with Him in this world. There was a day in my life when Jesus said, “Norm, come forth.” and I was raised to life with Jesus. The same is true for all who believe. Glory be to God through Jesus Christ, His Son.

John 11:42 Then Jesus raised His eyes, and said, "Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. I knew that You always hear Me; but because of the people standing around I said it, so that they may believe that You sent Me." Here we have explicitly stated, the aim of the miracle God was about to do. It is to glorify the Son! It wasn't primarily for Lazarus or Martha or Mary that this miracle occurred. It was for them, but primarily it was so that those who came from Jerusalem to comfort them might believe that Jesus was sent by God. This gives us insight into how we might pray when we don't know what to do to love someone. We might pray, “Father, I know You hear me because I am asking in Jesus' name that You would do whatever is necessary for others to believe that You sent Jesus into this world to give us resurrection life.” When we live to love with Jesus, and Jesus loves through us, it shows that God has performed a miracle: we have been raised from death to life by the power of God through Jesus Christ, His Son, whom He sent for that specific, glorious purpose. Jesus said that it is through our union with Him that the world will know that God sent Him (John 17:20).

John 11:41b-42 Then Jesus raised His eyes, and said, "Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. I knew that You always hear Me; but because of the people standing around I said it, so that they may believe that You sent Me." What a blessing to have this expression of Jesus' heart for His Father in print! First, let's notice Jesus' heart of gratitude and confidence in His prayer. Second, this is not His first prayer with regard to Lazarus. He said, “You have heard me.” Perhaps He first started praying about it when He heard of Lazarus' sickness or when Martha remarked, “Even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You." His response then was, “Your brother will rise again.” It was as if He told her what He had asked for. Jesus knew then, when He prayed, that His Father always hears Him. We have this same confidence because Jesus told us so. He taught His disciples to pray to our Father who is in secret and know that He knows what we need before we ask Him. Heavenly Father, hallowed be Your name. Thank you for hearing us. It's not that we doubt it, we know you always hear us. We are Your children, and You love us. May You be magnified in our lives today as we live to love with Jesus those You put in our paths.

John 11:41 So they removed the stone. Then Jesus raised His eyes, and said, "Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. Upon considering the promise of seeing the glory of God, they believed and removed the stone. They gave Jesus access because they believed they would see the glory of God revealed in Jesus. And as soon as the stone was removed, Jesus continued His intercession for them. My heart takes courage and comfort from this. I hope yours does also. Let us give Jesus access to everything in our lives, knowing that He loves us and will take up our case before the Father.

John 11:40 Jesus said to her, "Did I not say to you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?" Do we believe that all things occur so God may glorify Himself through His Son, Jesus? Jesus had told Mary that she would see the glory of God if she believed. We have been told in God's word that for all of those who are His, He is at work for good and for His glory in this fallen world (Romans 8:20-21 “For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God). He loves us, and nothing can separate us from His love. He is for us! Who is against us? Neither death nor life. Tribulation, distress, persecution, nor anything to come can prevent God from glorifying Himself through Jesus in our lives. Let's not settle for anything less than seeing God glorify Himself in our lives. Let the Lord be magnified!

John 11:39 Jesus said, "Remove the stone." Martha, the sister of the deceased, said to Him, "Lord, by this time there will be a stench, for he has been dead four days." Are we ever afraid to go to a place where we've been hurt or disappointed with Jesus? Have you sealed that event or problem up like this cave was sealed with a stone? We're afraid to roll back the stone. It protects us from something that we think is dead and stinks. We can't see any benefit to letting Him have access to it. We've buried it and don't want to suffer more. Jesus could have spoken and moved that stone, and He could do the same with the stone we've placed to protect ourselves. But, He tells us to remove the stone just like He told them to remove the stone. To remove the stone is to give Jesus access to the dead thing in our lives that needs to be resurrected for the glory of God. Is Jesus telling us to remove the stone and give Him access to something that has been decaying and stinking in our lives?