Live to Love Scripture Encouragement

John 14:7 If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him." These are strange words. Do they confuse you? Let's keep them in context. What Jesus is showing and teaching them is pivotal. It's like a pivot point where you have been going one direction, but then you see something that catches your attention, and you stop, pivot, and go in the direction of a new objective. Up to that moment, the disciples had not known Jesus. I think He meant that they had not known what He came to do. They thought He came to establish an earthly kingdom free from Roman occupation, so they had missed what was happening before their very eyes. He came to reveal the Father! He said, “From now on”. In other words, what Jesus was saying to them from that moment on would reveal not only who Jesus is, but who the Father is. They would realize for the first time in their lives that they had been fellowshipping with and watching God the Father at work in His Son. This was a seismic shift of perspective and worldview that was to become the foundation of the kingdom of God and His church for the rest of history. Is it possible that many, like the disciples, have not known Jesus or the Father because they have the wrong idea of what Jesus came for? They think He came to give them a better life in this world. They love their lives in this world. They wake up each day with no real understanding of where they are going, so any ole way will do as long as it is happy and comfortable to their personal sensibilities. When Jesus reveals Himself, there is a pivot point, where the things of life in this world are replaced by one great and glorious object—the reality of the Father revealed in Jesus Christ. Their hearts are captured. They plant their lead foot, pivot, and change directions because now they know that Jesus and the Father are life indeed. Have you experienced the great pivot? Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com

John 14:4-6 And you know the way where I am going." Thomas said to Him, "Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?" Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. If you don't know where you are going, how can you know the way to where you are going? Sensible reasoning and question from Thomas. Jesus made it clear where He was going. He was going to the Father. This isn't news to us, but it was for the disciples. John told his readers that Jesus was going back to God in 13:3. Jesus knew it before He washed the disciples' feet. In fact, returning from this world to His Father was the goal of His life from the moment He left His throne in glory, humbled Himself, and entered into this dark, fallen, realm of death and destruction. He came to bring His people to the Father! Listen to the words from the man who just moments before had been told he would deny Jesus three times. “For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit” (1 Pet. 3:18). The way to the Father: revealed in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The truth about the Father: revealed in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Life of the Father: revealed in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This is what sinners like Peter—and like us—preach and place our confidence in. We know where we are going. To God, the Father. And we know the way where we are going. The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, given to us from God, the Father, that we might go to where He is—forever. That is love: the sustained will of God toward our highest good, that is union with Him, no matter what it cost Him. Abide in His love today. Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com

John 14:3 If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. What an amazing, incredible encouragement these words must have been to the disciples —and to us. He told them he was going someplace to which they could not go at that time, but He wasn't going to be apart from them for good. The place He was going to prepare made it possible for Jesus to come be with them again. And in coming to be with them, He would receive them (us) to Himself. Jesus even gave them the purpose for His going away. The place Jesus was going to prepare was going to make it possible for them to be present with Him wherever He was present. This reality is stunning. For the disciples, Jesus was speaking of something to be done and experienced in the future. But for us, this is a present ongoing reality and experience. Jesus has come to be with us! He is the resurrection and the Life. We have been received by Jesus because everything that could separate us from His love and prevent our union with Him was removed at the cross in His substitutionary death. Wherever Jesus wishes to go in this world to love for the glory God, we may go with Him. At any given moment in history, Jesus is loving people with and through each of His own. Jesus has begun to explain to His disciples and to us how it is possible that they can love one another even as He loves them. He comes into us. We become one with Him. We are as He is in this world. Now that's a great encouragement to believe in Jesus and not let your heart be troubled today. Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com

John 14:2 In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. Our Father has planned ahead! There are many places to abide, dwell, or live in our Father's household. In this verse, we learn where Jesus was going to which His disciples were not ready to go. Back in John 13:1 and 3, John's readers were told where Jesus was going, but it wasn't something that was told them at that point. Perhaps it was from this statement that John, with the Spirit's help, understood what was in Jesus' mind—it was time for Him to depart out of this world to the Father. He was going back to God to prepare a place for us. It is interesting that Jesus said there are many dwelling places, but He is preparing one place for all of us. Perhaps Jesus was thinking of preparing a place of right standing before God as Paul wrote of in Romans 5:2 “through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. Or maybe it's the place where God “raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenlyplaces in Christ Jesus” as Paul wrote to the Ephesians in chapter 2, verse 6. The point is that Jesus has gone to His Father and made a place with God for us to dwell or live forever. Out of that place, the love of God flows. Although it is true that God has prepared a place for us in heaven when we die, what we want to notice from the rest of the chapter is that the abiding place Jesus went to prepare in heaven becomes the fountain out of which our lives are sustained and supplied while we are on the earth. It makes it possible for Jesus to come again to us. His coming to us is the primary line of reason in this chapter, not our going to Him in heaven when we die. Today, be encouraged that Jesus has made a place for us in the presence of God that makes it possible for Jesus' presence to be with us while we live today on this earth. Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com

John 14:1 "Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. Today we are encouraged by the second commandment that Jesus gave to His disciples in preparation for His departure. The first commandment was to love one another as He loved them. The second commandment is to believe in Him as they believe in God. Faith in Jesus as God apparently is the antidote, the necessary condition of heart when facing confusion, disappointment, feelings of abandonment, and loss. If you believe in God as the source of your life then believe in Jesus. Faith in Jesus is foundational to living to love with Jesus. If we believe Jesus is God, then we know He is the source of life. That's exactly where Jesus is going in this discourse with His disciples. To believe in God, is to believe there is a God who is the source and the sustainer of all of life. I take Jesus to mean this: If you look to God as the source of life, then also look to me as the source of life. Today, let's look to our Father as the source of everything we need, knowing that He supplies what we need through His Son, Jesus Christ. Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com

John 13:38 Jesus answered, "Will you lay down your life for Me? Truly, truly, I say to you, a rooster will not crow until you deny Me three times. Again, Jesus told what was going to happen before it happened so that Peter would ultimately come to believe in, trust in, rely upon, and follow Him unto death. Jesus responded to Peter's boast that he would lay down his life for Him. Indeed, Peter would have to die to his own self-appraised grandeur before he could follow Jesus anywhere. Upon the rooster's crow, Peter's pride in his own self-significance and importance would lie dead in the Judean dust. He would be perhaps the greatest alright—the greatest failure of the disciples. However, as we know. God used Peter's failure and subsequent restoration as testimony of His love and an incredible source of encouragement. Will we lay down our lives for Jesus' namesake? I hope so. Let's be on the alert for any lurking pride, self-significance, and self-importance that would hinder the flow of the love of Jesus Christ into the world we live in. Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com

John 13:36-37 Simon Peter said to Him, "Lord, where are You going?" Jesus answered, "Where I go, you cannot follow Me now; but you will follow later. Peter said to Him, "Lord, why can I not follow You right now? I will lay down my life for You." In Luke's gospel account of the last supper, he recorded something John left out. Luke 22:22-24 “For indeed, the Son of Man is going as it has been determined; but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed!” And they began to discuss among themselves which one of them it might be who was going to do this thing. And there arose also a dispute among them as to which one of them was regarded to be greatest.” It is plausible that the spirit of that discussion has influenced Simon Peter. Deep within the recesses of his soul is the pride of life that thinks he is better than everyone else. With his “I'm great” filter on, he hears Jesus say he's going someplace others can't go, and he's thinking from an earthly perspective. “I'll follow Him anywhere at any cost.” The disciples had had this discussion only days earlier when they were trying to decide whether they were going to go with Jesus to Jerusalem upon hearing of Lazarus' death. In John 11:16 we read, “Therefore Thomas, who is called Didymus, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, so that we may die with Him.” So I conclude Peter and the rest of the disciples had already considered what they might have to go through if they followed Jesus to Bethany and then on to Jerusalem. Maybe Peter decided in his heart earlier that he was able to endure whatever befell them. Perhaps at this moment, Peter wanted to show how he was indeed the greatest of the disciples, so he began to see if this was the opportunity to prove himself. However, I think Jesus' response was puzzling to Peter. Basically Jesus told him, “You're not ready now to follow me where I'm going.” Whether Jesus was thinking of going to the cross or thinking of going to heaven; in both cases, Peter wasn't ready, but Peter thought he was. Why wasn't Peter ready for either place? I think it is because Peter thinks he is great without the Holy Spirit. Without the Holy Spirit, apart from the life of Jesus, Peter could do nothing. Nor can we. Is there any pride of life in us that thinks we can live our lives today without being filled with the Holy Spirit? Can we really lay down our lives for the glory of God if it is not the Spirit of the Son working in us? Without Jesus, we are nothing. With Him, we are ready to go anywhere He goes. Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com

John 13:35 By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." Disciples of Jesus are known by their love for one another. Of all the qualities that a man or woman can have, love—the sustained direction of the will toward the highest good of another no matter what the cost—is the beacon light of the presence of the life of Christ. This kind of supernatural love is the evidence that a person knows God and is a follower of Jesus. It seems highly probable that based on this statement, John wrote this to the “little children” who received his first epistle. 1 John 3:14. “We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death. 1 John 4:7-8. “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” If we know God, we know that Jesus is God in the flesh. If we know God is love, then we know Jesus' life defined God's love. He made it tangible, relevant, and real so He could continue loving His own to the very end through us. Today, He lives to love in us, His disciples. That love is the proof that we have His life dwelling in us and that we truly know Him—to the praise of His glorious grace and presence. Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com

John 13:34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. Little children, this is the direction that Jesus gave His disciples as He prepared them for His departure. It's not a suggestion, it's a commandment. He was sending them just like He was sent by the Father, and thus honoring and glorifying them as the Father had glorified Him. So first, let's realize that with the command, Jesus is loving us as the Father had loved Him. Second, let's be encouraged that in receiving the command like a little child receives a command from his father, Jesus has put us in the privileged position to bring Him glory as we obey. Knowing we glorify Him by our obedience is motivational. Third, Jesus knew that with the command, His disciples could be assured of future grace that He will supply for the mission to be fulfilled. Fourth, they (by experience) and we (by His Word and experience) know what He meant when He said love as I have loved you. As their Master and Teacher, Jesus had just emptied Himself and served them like a lowly servant because His Father loved them. Surely they understood they were to do the same to each other out of love for and obedience to Him. Have we received Jesus' commandment like a little child receives direction and instruction from his parents? Simply receive the work of God in your life today, receive this commandment from Jesus as a commandment from your heavenly Father, and obey with a simple trust His purposes for you. You, we, have been called as little children to live to love with Jesus for the rest of our lives. What a privilege and honor! Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com

I'm so glad you've joined me for today's Live to Love Scripture Encouragement from John 13:33 “Little children, I am with you a little while longer. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, now I also say to you, 'Where I am going, you cannot come.'” Why does Jesus call His disciples, “Little children” at this point? He hasn't referred to them as children at all since they met in the upper room. However, obviously in Jesus' mind it's necessary and an expression from His Father to them. Jesus had taught them about the quality of abiding that little children have in relationship with their parents. A little child simply receives his life from his parents without question. On two occasions they had heard Jesus say, “Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all” (Mark 10:15) and “Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3). He was telling them something that would be troubling if they didn't receive it like a little child. Remember at the first of Chapter 13 we were told that all that occurs in this chapter flows out of His knowledge that His hour had come to depart out of this world, that His Father had given all things into His hands, and that He was going to go back to God soon. So now in this verse, He told them what He knew was going to happen before it happened so they would believe in Him. Basically He told them He was leaving them, and He was going somewhere that they could not go to at this time. The only way to receive such news peacefully was for them to remember that they were to receive the Kingdom, the work of God, like a child receives direction from his parents. He was about to give them direction that would become the direction for the body of Christ for the rest of the history of mankind. We'll take that up tomorrow. For today, be encouraged to receive the kingdom of God, the work of God in your life like a child—with unquestioning trust and reliance upon God's wisdom and purposes. It's necessary to living to love with Jesus. Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com

Welcome to today's live to love scripture encouragement from John 13:32. We've been diving into the ocean of the glory of God revealed in Jesus Christ. After saying, “Now is the Son of Man glorified and God is glorified in Him,” Jesus said, “If God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself, and will glorify Him immediately.” We have been considering that the primary motivation for living to love with Jesus is the glory of God, because that was His primary motivation for loving with His Father. That motivation lives in us if Jesus lives in us! What moved Jesus to tell Judas to go betray Him? It was the deep desire to make much of His Father and to see Him glorified in His words and actions. Why do we live each day to love with Jesus? We do it because the greatest desire of the heart of the Son of God dwelling in us is for God to be glorified in Him. Because pronouns can be confusing, as we are all witnessing in this perverted generation, I want to remove them and put in Jesus' name. “If God is glorified in Jesus, the Son, God will also glorify Jesus, the Son, in Himself, and will glorify Jesus, the Son, immediately.” This helps us better understand what moves and empowers the love in Jesus. It's His unity with the Father. This unity is vital for us to understand because it is the driving reality behind the administration and flow of God's love in the world. When Jesus loved with His Father, He did so by abiding in His Father and His Father abiding in Him. If God is glorified as Jesus began the laying down of His life by telling Judas to betray Him, then God will glorify Jesus in Himself and do it immediately. In other words, from the initial act of the love of God revealed in Jesus, the glory of God immediately occurs. Perhaps what Jesus was referring to is that as all of heaven's hosts watch the Son of God obey His Father, they see their unity of heart, mission, words, and actions and erupt in glorious praise and honor, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.” If Jesus is glorified in us, He will glorify us in Himself and will do it immediately as we love with Him. Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com

Today's live to love scripture encouragement again comes from the last phrase in John 13:31 “Therefore when he had gone out, Jesus said, ‘Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in Him;' How was God glorified in Jesus when Jesus told Judas to go quickly and betray Him? We've considered how Jesus was glorified by the Father in that He was chosen and sent by Him to accomplish the work of redemption by God's grace. We also saw that Jesus was glorified by the Father for His obedience displayed in laying down His life willingly and intentionally to accomplish our salvation. Now we focus on Jesus' statement “Now…God is glorified in Him.” When the general achieves a victory on a mission for which he was sent by His Commander in Chief, who ultimately is recognized for the victory? It is not the general, it is the Commander in Chief. Seal Team 6 took out Osama bin Laden. Most people don't know any of the Seal Team 6 members' names, but we do know who was President and given credit for the mission: President Barak Obama. Seal Team 6 received glory and honor from President Obama in being chosen and sent. In their being glorified, President Obama was glorified in them. In the same way, because Jesus was operating in the name of God, the Father, it is the Father who ultimately receives the credit, the glory and honor, for every action taken in His name. Let's let that sink into our minds, hearts, and into the depths of our souls. When Jesus loves through us in the Father's name, God gets the glory in Him. When we love others in Jesus' name, Jesus gets the glory in us. The moment we die to ourselves, lay down our lives, and suffer so that others might see the glory of God in Jesus Christ who lives in us, in that moment God is glorified. Today, God will place people in your path for you to love through the life of Jesus dwelling inside you. And every time you die to yourself and love, you are glorifying God. Amazing love! Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com

I would like to encourage you to live to love with Jesus by spending a few moments again in John 13:31. Jesus had just told Satan/aka Judas to quickly do what he was going to do, which was betray Him. We read this yesterday and again today. “Therefore when he had gone out, Jesus said, ‘Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in Him;'” Yesterday we saw that the Son was glorified by the Father in being sent to accomplish the mission of redemption and then given the grace to successfully execute His command. How else is the Son of Man glorified? Earlier in this day, Jesus had said these words in the temple. 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.” In John 10:18, the apostle John recorded these words of Jesus that inform us as to the significance of Jesus telling Judas to go betray Him. “No one has taken it (my life) away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father.” Jesus should and does receive glory from God and from us in that He willingly, intentionally obeyed His Father's command. Glory be to Jesus, our Savior and Lord! Jesus loved us in obedience to His Father because His greatest desire in life is to glorify the Father and receive His glory. Jesus contrasted Himself with the Pharisees in John 5:44. “How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and you do not seek the glory that is from the one and only God? This is how those who live to love with Jesus are motivated to lay down their lives and love with Him. They live seeking glory from the one and only God. They receive His glory in that they have been chosen and sent on mission to love in His name and they receive glory from God as they obey His commandment to love one another as Jesus loved them. We'll look at this more carefully in a few days. Until now, let's seek the glory that comes from the one and only God by loving with Jesus. Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com

John 13:31 Therefore when he had gone out, Jesus said, "Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in Him; Let's visualize what we've been reading in John 13. Jesus fed Judas the morsel at the table. Immediately after that, Satan entered into Judas. Then Jesus said to Satan in Judas, “What you do, do quickly.” Immediately Judas left the upper room and Jesus declared upon Judas' departure the significance of Jesus telling him to go betray Him. “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in Him.” What did Jesus mean by this statement? How is Jesus glorified and God glorified in Jesus in authorizing His own death? Today I want to zero in on one reason Jesus is glorified by authorizing His own death. Jesus was sent by the Father for this very purpose: to lay down His life for those the Father gave to Him before the foundation of the world. To be chosen by the Father to serve His redemptive purpose is to be glorified by the Father. When the Commander in Chief chooses a general to accomplish a mission in a time of war and gives him the resources to be successful, the general is receiving glory from his superior. God glorified His Son by sending Him on this mission of redemption and in this historical account reveals how the Father has glorified His Son by giving Him the grace, the resources to carry out the mission. At the very moment that Jesus said, “What you do, do quickly,” the whole world is seeing God glorify Jesus Christ by giving Him the grace and power to do it. The writer of Hebrews speaks to this salient point about God's glory, the bestowing of His grace, and Jesus' death in chapter 2, verse 9. “But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.” Don't miss this. God has sent Jesus' disciples (that's all of us who have His life in us) into this world to lay down our lives for others in His name and His love. When we live to love with Jesus, the crown of glory and honor rests upon us as it did upon His Son when He lived to love with His Father. It is a privilege and honor to love others in His name. Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com

John 13:30 So after receiving the morsel he went out immediately; and it was night. Jesus fed Judas the morsel of bread dipped in the bowl. Then Jesus told Judas to go and do quickly what he planned to do. Then Judas went out into the darkness. Never to return to the Daylight. Maybe John wrote this warning in his first letter thinking of Judas. 1 John 2:11 “But the one who hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes.” Walking in darkness blinds a person's understanding of what they do. John also wrote, 1 John 2:10 “The one who loves his brother abides in the Light and there is no cause for stumbling in him.” Today and forever, may we love others with Jesus as we walk in His light. Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com

John 13:28-29. “Now no one of those reclining at the table knew for what purpose He had said this to him. For some were supposing, because Judas had the money box, that Jesus was saying to him, ‘Buy the things we have need of for the feast'; or else, that he should give something to the poor.” We learned in John 12:6 that Judas had a greed problem. I'm commenting on Judas' rebuke of Mary's extravagant gift to Jesus. “Now he said this, not because he was concerned for the poor, but because he was a thief, and as he had the money box, he used to pilfer what was put into it.” This makes me think greed can hinder the flow of love or make one susceptible to the devil's suggestions. May we be on the alert to greed for money, attention, significance, or pleasure that would lead us to betray the life of Jesus in us. Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com

John 13:27 After the morsel, Satan then entered into him. Therefore Jesus said to him, "What you do, do quickly." Satan had already put the thought in Judas' heart to betray Jesus before dinner that evening (13:2), and after eating, Judas gave Satan access to his body and soul to accomplish the evil deed. We can perhaps imagine a discussion in the heavenlies just prior to this between the Father and the devil—something similar to their discussion over Job. Gods targets Judas. Satan suggests a course of action that will entrap Judas. Judas will betray the Son of God and think he is doing something good. Then the Father grants the devil permission, and God's plan flies into motion with neither the devil or Judas knowing that they are instruments in God's hands to justify and love His own to His glory. With everything in place, Jesus authorized His own death in obedience to His Father's command to lay down His life for those God had given Him. He sent Judas to work out Satan's and His Father's plan with haste. This is not as some call it “cosmic child abuse.” This is love defined. The sustained direction of the will toward the highest good, no matter what the cost. He laid down His life for His friends. So should we. Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com

John 13:25-26 He, leaning back thus on Jesus' bosom, said to Him, "Lord, who is it?" Jesus then answered, "That is the one for whom I shall dip the morsel and give it to him." So when He had dipped the morsel, He took and gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. Not much time had passed since Jesus told His disciples, “From now on I am telling you before it comes to pass, so that when it does occur, you may believe that I am He.” In these verses, we see the fulfillment of that promise. The other gospel accounts tell us that many of the disciples along with Judas asked, “Surely, not I? John's query at Peter's encouragement probably occurred then. At that point the betrayer was identified as Jesus dipped the bread into the bowl and gave it to Judas. We know that Jesus never acted on His own initiative. He acted in perfect concert with His Father. Even as He fed Judas, Jesus trusted His Father. Love flows as we trust in Jesus. There is complete surrender to the Father. May we give Jesus unhindered access to our lives today to be His channels of love. Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com

John 13:24 So Simon Peter gestured to him, and said to him, "Tell us who it is of whom He is speaking." It makes sense for Peter to ask John to clarify Jesus' statement. If we know someone is close to Jesus, we assume that they know what is on Jesus' mind. When we are troubled or in need of counsel, we should be drawn to those who lean on Jesus. It makes sense that as we lean on Jesus and live to love with Him, that others will notice that closeness and ask us to clarify the words of Jesus. I hope that today, we who have been loved by Jesus will lean into Him, take comfort, and listen to His heart so that we can love well and faithfully represent Him to those who want to know Him better. Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com

If you don't love this, reconsider your path - Blog for April 2026 by Norm Wakefield

John 13:23 There was reclining on Jesus' bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved. John's personal testimony about his being loved by Jesus warms my heart. How about you? He reclined on Jesus' bosom at the dinner table. Obviously he was next to Jesus. That seems strange unless we consider the context. Jesus had just told them that one of them would betray him. Perhaps the thought of losing Jesus so overwhelmed him that he leaned over on Jesus as a show of compassion. Or more likely, he leaned on Jesus for comfort because John knew Jesus loved him. We don't know the reason why John was in that position, but we read that John knew he was loved. Isn't it true that when someone loves us, we are concerned for them because they are so special to us? And when we are troubled, do we not lean on Jesus for comfort because we know He loves us? Would we say the same? “I am one of Jesus' disciples whom He has loved.” We can't live to love with Jesus if we don't know that we are loved by Him. When we are confident that He loves us, we draw near to Him when facing troubling times. Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com

John 13:22 The disciples began looking at one another, at a loss to know of which one He was speaking. In many cases, it's not easy to detect a goat amongst the sheep or the tares from the wheat. Apparently Judas fit right in with the rest of the disciples. They had just been told by Jesus that one of them was a betrayer, and they had no idea who it might be. Of course, Judas knew at that moment that he was the one, but do you think he came into the relationship with Jesus with the intent to betray and harm Jesus? I doubt it. This is sobering and humbling. Living to love with Jesus requires watchfulness and humility which Judas lacked. The potential for evil was within Judas, but he didn't know it. He probably genuinely thought he was one of the bunch. In fact, maybe even greater than most because he was chosen to be responsible for the money box (13:29). The apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 10:12, “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall.” The reason it is so important to live to love with Jesus, is that living with His purpose protects us from being self-deceived and mislead by the devil's lies. Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com

John 13:21 When Jesus had said this, He became troubled in spirit, and testified and said, "Truly, truly, I say to you, that one of you will betray Me." Jesus told them ahead of time what was to occur, just like He promised. This was to bolster their faith in Him, which was a good thing. However, John noted that Jesus was troubled when He told them. We aren't told what troubled Jesus except the knowledge that Judas was going to betray Him, which was to reject the one who sent Him, namely His Father. I don't think this is because Jesus was concerned about His or His Father's feelings. It is never in the best interest of anyone to reject the Father or His Son. It is troubling in spirit to see anyone spurn the love of God because we know they are in darkness and in grave spiritual danger. If it troubled Jesus when His Father was rejected, we may detect His troubled spirit also when others reject His love through us. Not for our sakes but for theirs. To reject us is to reject Jesus when we are loving in His name. If we are being selfish and they reject us, that's understandable. When we live to love with Jesus, and that love is not received, let's take care that we are not troubled by their rejection of us, but by the consequences that will befall the one who rejects Him. Although we don't know this for sure, but it is most likely that Jesus washed Judas' feet along with the others. He loved His enemies and was kind to Judas. As we know, He even greeted Judas with a kiss when he brought the soldiers to arrest Jesus. May we love like Jesus loved—and even love those who betray us. Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com

John 13:20 Truly, truly, I say to you, he who receives whomever I send receives Me; and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me." Jesus was sent by God, His Father. When we receive Him as the way, the truth, and the life, we are receiving God. As we live to love with Jesus, we are sent by Jesus to love in His name. The one who receives our love receives Him. It is also encouraging to know that when we receive our fellow believers we are receiving Jesus. It takes humility to love with Jesus and to be loved by Jesus. The salient point is that love for Jesus, for His glory, is why we love and receive our brothers. It's not determined by how we feel about them. Let's keep our eyes on Jesus today. Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com

From now on I am telling you before it comes to pass, so that when it does occur, you may believe that I am He. Let's be watching for what Jesus told His disciples was going to happen. Who can foretell events before they happen but God? Surely that's what He meant when He said, “So…you may believe that I am He.” In a matter of minutes Jesus said it this way. “Do not let your heart be troubled. If you believe in God then believe also in Me” (John 14:1). If we believe Jesus is God, then we who believe in Jesus have the life of God dwelling inside of us! He who knows the end from the beginning and sustains everything by the power of His word lives to love in us! Let's give Him access to all that we are for His glory. Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com

John 13:18 I do not speak of all of you. I know the ones I have chosen; but it is that the Scripture may be fulfilled, 'He who eats My bread has lifted up his heel against Me.' Those who try to do these things—that is try to serve without Jesus are not blessed if they do them. He has Judas in mind, of course, when He said, “I do not speak of all of you.” This is a marvelous statement. Judas was chosen, not to live to love with Him, but to fulfill Psalms 41:9. “Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted up his heel against me.” Judas was necessary to the salvation work. There will be other Judases in the church who are necessary to God's sanctifying work in our lives. Was Jesus deceived when He trusted Judas? No. Was He misled when God lead Him to invite him to eat and walk with Him? No. He entrusted Himself to His Father in whose love He did abide. Like Jesus, we receive the Judases into our midst and trust our loving and wise Father's administration of our affairs. Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com

John 13:17 If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them. What are “these things” we know to do? That Jesus, our Master and Teacher has given us an example of love for each other: humble service to those who belong to Jesus. That if Jesus humbled Himself to serve us, we ought to follow His example. What is the blessing if we do what we know is right? We are blessed with a clear conscience. We are blessed as we experience Jesus' love for His own. We are blessed as we experience Jesus' joy in our obedience. We are blessed when we know Jesus' body is being cared for. We are blessed because the glory of God rests upon us. Can you think of some other blessings? Please write them in the comments. Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com

Welcome to today's live to love scripture encouragement from John 13:16. Jesus had just washed His disciples' feet and in this verse is continuing to explain what they are to deduce from it. “Truly, truly, I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him.” Jesus is our master and teacher. We are His friends who are sent to live to love with Him. If Jesus humbled Himself to serve His body and sent us out to do the same, then so should we humbly serve His body because we are not greater than He. Jesus was saying that He was sent by the Father and therefore it is logically assumed that He is not greater than the Father. In the same way, as we live to love in Jesus' name we are saying that Jesus sent us and that He is greater than we are. Let's make Jesus' name great today as we love with Him. Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com

It's a joy to encourage you with today's live to love scripture from John 13:14-15. If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you. Jesus had asked, “Do you know what I've done to you?” Now we have His explanation. As their only Lord and Teacher, He gave them an example so that they would do the same. Lest we miss it. They were to serve each other in love in His name. This was the direction and primary point of all that He taught them in His last hours with them. In perhaps less than 5-10 min He said, John 13:34-35 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." How had Jesus loved them? He had served a basic physical need by washing their feet. Moms, don't think it is an insignificant task to change a diaper, wash clothes, or fix a meal in Jesus' name. Dads, don't despise filling your wife's car with gas, fixing your child's broken bike, or holding the door for someone in Jesus' name. That's how Jesus loves His own to the end and taught us to love with Him. Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com

John 13:13 You call Me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am. Welcome to today's Live to Love Scripture Encouragement. Today's verse is John 13:13. “You call Me teacher and Lord; and you are right for so I am.” This verse makes me ask myself four questions. 1. What is Jesus to me? Which leads to 2. What is my relationship to Him? 3. Do I call Jesus Teacher and Lord? 4. Am I His student and servant? I'm thinking that the answers to these questions are related to my living to love with Jesus. Let's let these questions search us today. Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com

Welcome to today's Live to love scripture encouragement. I would like to revisit John 13:12 So when He had washed their feet, and taken His garments and reclined at the table again, He said to them, "Do you know what I have done to you? Do you remember what Jesus knew before He washed their feet? He was conscious of His relationship with His Father. John 13:3 “Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come forth from God and was going back to God.” What did Jesus do to them? He did what His Father was doing. In a most menial task He was conscious of His Father's heart, love, and will. This is important! Because in only a few minutes He is going to tell them that He abides in the Father and the Father abides in Him. To see Him is to see the Father. When we live to love with Jesus, that is what we are doing to them. We are showing them the life and love of the resurrected Jesus Christ. How Christ-conscious are we as we serve in His name? I hope today, we will abide in Jesus in the same way Jesus abided in His Father, regardless of how significant or insignificant the tasks are that we have to do for His glory. Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com

John 13:12 So when He had washed their feet, and taken His garments and reclined at the table again, He said to them, "Do you know what I have done to you? Let's put ourselves in the disciples shoes—well ok. They don't have their shoes on. They've just had their feet washed by their master who asks this question. Do you know what I've done to you? Why did he ask the question? Surely He wanted them to consider what just happened. I think He also wanted them to understand it's significance. Lastly, He wanted them to remember and replicate it. We probably should ask that question about everything God has done in our lives. He wants us to pay attention to Him. Today, when things happen in our lives, let's pause and ponder what good thing God is doing to us. He is love. We are His. Abide in His love. Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com

John 13:11 For He knew the one who was betraying Him; for this reason He said, "Not all of you are clean." In this verse we learn what Jesus knew when he said, “not all of you are clean”. Judas was not in Christ from all eternity. He was not cleansed by the washing of regeneration as Paul wrote to Titus. Titus 3:5 “He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit”. This reminds us that the reason people are hostile to Christ is that they are not clean—they have not been cleansed by the blood of Jesus. This being said, let's also remember that we were like them in that we were just as sinful and dirty and we needed to be cleansed by the blood of Jesus. It's not that the rest of the disciples were better than Judas. They weren't. What was the difference? They have been cleansed by the grace and mercy of God and Judas has not. Oh to grace, how great a debtor, daily I'm constrained to be. Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com

John 13:10 Jesus said to him, "He who has bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you. " Let's not miss what Jesus said. He told Peter that he and some of the others were completely clean. He didn't understand that then, but we do. If anyone is in Christ, then they were perfected by their union with His perfectly clean life and the washing of regeneration. Paul wrote to Timothy about God “who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity,” (2 Timothy 1:9). From all eternity Peter and all but Judas of the disciples (and us who believe in Him) have been completely clean before God. This is great news! This is why we live to love with Jesus. He has cleansed us for this purpose. Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com

John 13:9 Simon Peter said to Him, "Lord, then wash not only my feet, but also my hands and my head." You gotta live this response! When Jesus explained what was at stake in His washing Peter's feet, “If I do not wash you, you can have no part with me,” Peter's zeal kicks in. "Lord, then wash not only my feet, but also my hands and my head." Peter kind of gets it. His feet represent his walk in this world. So his hands represent his actions and his head represent his thought-life. Cleanse it all! Father, may we have a zeal for personal holiness like Peter did in that moment. May we have a part in living to love with You today. Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com

John 13:8. We've been looking at Jesus' loving service to His disciples in washing their feet. Peter offered some resistance. Peter said to Him, "Never shall You wash my feet!" Jesus answered him, "If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me." There's obviously much more to this foot-washing than meets the eye. Peter's rejection of Jesus' help at this point is tantamount to being an outcast. “If I do not wash you, you can have no part with me.” I think Jesus meant that Peter could have no part in living to love with Jesus. One can't live to love with Jesus as a part of His body if he hasn't experienced Jesus' cleansing power. How can we serve in His name if we don't know what His name is or what it means? He will say to them later, “Apart from me, you can do nothing.“So if we don't have a part with Jesus, we will be apart from Him. Therefore we cannot live to love with Him. May we experience Jesus' cleansing today of all that defiles us from holiness so we can participate in His loving service to His body. Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com

John 13:7 Jesus answered and said to him, "What I do you do not realize now, but you will understand hereafter." I'm pretty sure all of us have been clueless about something Jesus has done in our lives. At the time, it didn't make sense. We didn't understand what He was saying to us or doing to us. Simon Peter was experiencing something in Jesus' washing his feet that later he would understand. My guess is that the light didn't turn on for him until after the resurrection and the Holy Spirit came. Probably within the hour of Jesus' washing their feet, Jesus told His disciples, “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you” (John 14:26). At this point, however, Peter should have accepted that this foot washing was necessary, and that it was best that he trust Jesus and know that this foot-washing will make sense one day. Is there anything in your life like that? Is there something we don't understand right now? It doesn't make sense to us? If so, I encourage us that God is glorified as we wait upon Him and trust Him. He will give us understanding in time. Right now, like Peter, it is best for us to humbly receive what He is doing. The Holy Spirit will help us if we will wait and trust in Him. Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com

John 13:6 So He came to Simon Peter. He said to Him, "Lord, do You wash my feet?" We might think that Simon Peter knew better than to question anything Jesus did, but obviously not. Why did John refer to him as Simon Peter? Jesus had given Simon a new name after he confessed that Jesus was the son of God (Matt. 16:16-17). Simon was his flesh identifier, and Peter was his new kingdom identifier. Maybe it's because in this story, we see both identities surfacing. This response is a “Simon” response—looking at things from a fleshly self-conscious perspective. Is there some Simon in us? Of course there is. Do we think we don't deserve or need to be served by Jesus? Do we think our feet aren't dirty from walking in this world today? It not only took humility for Jesus to serve His disciples, it also took humility for them to receive His love. For a reason about which we can only speculate, Simon had a problem with Jesus' expression of love. Jesus, do You wash my feet? The correct response, it seems, would have been for Peter to say nothing and humbly receive Jesus' ministry to him. Jesus is still washing His disciples feet today as He lives to love in them. As His disciples, we need to humbly receive His love through our brothers and sisters in Christ and we have the privilege to humbly encourage those who are His on a daily basis. I hope that's what's happening this very moment as you listen or read this live to love with Jesus podcast. Jesus, do you wash my feet? Yes, please do! Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com

John 13:5 Then He poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. Imagine a days worth of dust on each foot. It was a daily task of perhaps the lowest servant in the average home. Apparently this task had been overlooked by the event planner, but it was the will of the Father for His Son to exemplify His love in a way that foreshadowed what He wanted them (and us) to do to one another—serve one another by loving with Him. In the same way their feet got covered with dirt as they walked in this world, so did their souls get dirtied each day by living in this world. The writer of Hebrews wrote, “Encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called ‘Today,' so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin (Heb. 3:13). Like Jesus, in humility, lowliness, gentleness, and passion for the glory of God, we can serve each other in love. It's one way Jesus will love His own to the very end. So put on His towel and be prepared today to serve—that is, encourage, forgive, and pray the blood of Jesus over whoever He puts in your path. Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com

John 13:3-4 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come forth from God and was going back to God, got up from supper, and laid aside His garments; and taking a towel, He girded Himself. Love humbled Himself to take the lowly role of a servant. The robe which would later belong to a Roman soldier was now exchanged for a towel. No pride. No vanity. No show. Before them stood the glorious creator and sustainer of the universe, the Lord God most high, the Almighty Father wrapped in a towel. What humility, lowliness, gentleness, and passion! This is Life, the light of men, shining in the darkness. This life and light lives in all who are His. He moves all who live to love with Him in the same way. Have we girded ourselves with His towel today? Humility. Lowliness. Gentleness. And Passion. Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com

John 13:3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come forth from God and was going back to God, From the previous verses we learned that Jesus knew His time to depart was at hand, He loved His own, and that intense suffering, grief, rejection, and shame was imminent. In this verse we learn that He also knew that all things necessary for Him to do the Father's will were at His disposal and that in a matter of hours He would behold the joyful, loving, glorious face of His Father in heaven. With these things in mind He wanted His disciples (and us) to see what the humility-born love of His Father looks like in sandals. The same knowledge that Jesus had (listen or read this carefully), we have to motivate us to live to love with Him. Our time is short. We expect to suffer. We have everything we need to do the Father's will. We will see our Father's glowing face soon. Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com

John 13:2 During supper, the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, to betray Him, In verse one, we learned that Jesus knew His time was short and was motivated by His enduring love for His own. In this verse we learn the setting: it was during supper and the betrayer, Judas, inspired by Satan, was primed and ready to act. Judas did not belong to Jesus. Can Judas say truthfully that the devil made him do it? No. The devil put the idea in his heart, and he chose to do it. Let's be careful that we don't blame others or the devil for our choices. Even so, this is the work of God and it is marvelous in our eyes! Judas was necessary for God's love to be revealed and known. Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com

John 13:1 Now before the Feast of the Passover, Jesus knowing that His hour had come that He would depart out of this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. In this verse and the next 2 verses John tells us what Jesus knew that motivated Him to wash His disciples feet. In this verse we learn that Jesus knew His time had come to depart from this world. It is interesting to me that John didn't write that Jesus knew it was time to die. He is the resurrection and the life. Even though He may die in this world, yet shall He live to God. So Jesus was thinking that He was in His last hours with them. We also learn that He was moved by His enduring love for them. This reminds us that our time with those we love is short and that we have the same love in us that Jesus had. So when we love with Him today we are sustaining His love for His own to the very end of time. What a mission! What purpose! What a privilege! What glory to God! Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com

John 12:50 “I know that His commandment is eternal life; therefore the things I speak, I speak just as the Father has told Me." The words God commanded Jesus to speak, namely, that He is Life and the Light of the world sent by God to save us from the darkness of thinking that merely breathing in our bodies and pursuing satisfaction in this world is life, are the words of eternal life. They reveal what eternal life is! To know the Father and to know the Son is to know by experience the Life of God. Do you recognize that if you believe in and receive Jesus as the one and only Life—the source of life—then you have eternal life living in you! And you know you have it because God commanded Jesus to give it to you. Jesus prayed to His Father recorded in John 17:1-3. “Father, the hour has come; glorify Your Son, that the Son may glorify You, even as You gave Him authority over all flesh, that to all whom You have given Him, He may give eternal life. This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” Have you believed God's testimony that Jesus is His Life sent into the world to deliver you from the darkness and death of the natural self-life in this world? It's actually easy to tell. You live to love with Jesus everyone He puts in your path for His glory. Listen to what John wrote in his first epistle. “We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death. Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer; and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren (1 John 3:14-16). Such is the judgment of God revealed in Jesus, whose love is the light of Life. Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com

John 12:49 “For I did not speak on My own initiative, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me a commandment as to what to say and what to speak.” The reasons these words that Jesus spoke will judge all men is that they were given Him by the Father. God commanded Jesus to say and speak these things. Therefore, to reject these words amounts to rejecting Jesus, which is the same thing as rejecting God, Himself. When Jesus said if you love your life in this world, you will lose it, and if you recognize that Jesus is Life and therefore hate your life in this world, your life will be saved from darkness, those words judge all men, because it is obvious what they believe. If they love their lives in this world, that is, think that expressing themselves to gain approval and significance in this world satisfies them, then they are dead and in darkness. If they love Jesus and think that gaining His approval and making Him significant by loving and loving with Him, then the judgment is that they have Life and walk in the Light just as He was in the Light. What is the judgment of these words about our lives? We are meant to ask that question because that was the question Jesus intended this crowd to ask themselves. We are being judged by these words everyday. There is no escape from them. They search us and declare the truth. Living to love with Jesus is the evidence that you believe the words which Jesus spoke on this day to the crowd, that they were from God. Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com

John 12:48 “He who rejects Me and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day.” We continue to be amazed at the sayings of Jesus which He cried out in the temple just before His last Passover and His greatest demonstration that He is Life. To reject these sayings—namely that Jesus is the Life and Light of God sent into this world to save us from our darkness—is to reject Jesus. In the next verse, which we'll take up tomorrow, Jesus explained what He meant when He said someone besides Him judges the world—that is judges those who are in darkness. The words we've considered the last few days are powerful to judge everyone. He said that He was Life and that He is the exact expression and representation of God, the Father. His life is the only life in this world. To believe in Jesus is to believe those words and act accordingly, which is to hate your life in this world, your all-consuming self-consciousness, self-importance, self-ambition, and self-approval and to love Him as the only source of Life in this world. Whoever rejects these words of Jesus, will be judged by them. Do we live our lives consumed with a consciousness of self, that is what we love, think, desire, and judge or with a consciousness of what Jesus loves, thinks, desires, and judges? These words are the foundation for living to love with Jesus. Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com

John 12:47 “If anyone hears My sayings and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world.” As we read this, let's still hear Jesus' voice raised to emphasize the importance of what He said. It is as if we hear Him almost yelling at us. What I am saying to you, namely, that I am the Life of God sent to be the light of the world so you can be saved from the darkness and death that you mistakenly think is life. He was saying to the rulers and the crowd (and to all men everywhere throughout all of history) that seeking approval and glory from men is living in darkness. To make it relevant, if we think life consists in collecting Facebook and Instagram followers, in having people who look up to us as a source of well-being and validation, in judging who is right and wrong, acceptable and unacceptable, toxic and honorable, we remain in darkness. If we heard what Jesus was saying in this discourse, we would recognize how dead and empty all of that is and we would hold on to these words of Jesus that He alone is Life and Light. There is no other. Therefore we would view Facebook and Instagram as only of use if we can highlight Jesus as Life and Light. We would believe in Jesus as Life and love with Him to shine His light. He came to save us from ourselves and from the death that we think is life in this world. How does He save us? By believing and living by the truth of what His Father gave Him to say about Himself. He is Life and His Life is the Light of the world. Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com

John 12:46 “I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me will not remain in darkness.” We've been considering the powerful words that Jesus cried out in the temple to the crowd just before Passover. He has told them about true saving faith, which focuses on the truth that Jesus is sent by God so we could see and believe that Jesus is the life and glory of God dwelling among us. I believe John wrote the following because of what Jesus declared in the temple on this day. He wrote, “In Him was life, and the life was the light of men” (1:4). “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth (1:14). Jesus' life is the light enabling us to see that He is life and everything else about life in this world is darkness and death. To think that your natural and physical life in this world is life is to remain in the darkness. We think that we have life if we are breathing. In truth, if we are breathing in our bodies, we are dead due to sin. Everything that is not Jesus is death and darkness. And we love it! That is, we love our lives in this world until we see the light—that Jesus is the life of God come into this world so we can see what light is—the Life of God in Jesus. Have you seen that Jesus is Life and that Life is the only light? Have you seen that the love of God revealed in Jesus is the light of Life? Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com

John 12:45. “He who sees Me sees the One who sent Me.” "Jesus is the author and finisher of faith," wrote the author of Hebrews. Saving faith fixes on Jesus and sees that He is the exact representation of God, Himself (Heb. 1:3). One who believes in Jesus believes He is sent by God so that he can see the life of God, and in seeing the Life, is enabled to see that his own life in this world is not to be loved, but hated. Remember what Jesus said only moments before this? 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.” Once we are enabled to see that Jesus is the life of God sent into this world by the Father, everything changes. Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com

John 12:44. And Jesus cried out and said, "He who believes in Me, does not believe in Me but in Him who sent Me.” Jesus cried out. I take this to mean that Jesus' statements before were made as commentary to the crowd in a normal voice. Then He raised His voice so all could hear and for emphasis. The next few days, we'll consider what Jesus said. It is powerful and absolutely foundational to living to love in this world. To believe in Jesus is to believe in God. It is to believe that Jesus is the life of God in a human body. Jesus is going to put this great truth in the form of a command (John 14:1) along with the command to love one another as He loves them (John 13:34). “Do not let your heart be troubled. If you believe in God, believe also in Me.” Jesus was sent by God into this world to bring His life into this world of darkness and death. He was declaring to the crowd that believing in Him because of the signs wasn't sufficient. That natural faith is still characteristic of death. Tomorrow we'll consider what saving faith enables one to see. Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com

John 12:42-43 Nevertheless many even of the rulers believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they were not confessing Him, for fear that they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the approval of men rather than the approval of God. This commentary by John about the rulers seems to have a contradiction in it. They “believed in Him, but.” John has said this before. There is a natural faith that is not saving faith. Natural faith believes because of what it sees. Like Nicodemus, one of the rulers of the Jews. “Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name, observing His signs which He was doing (John 2:23). “Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.” (John 3:2). And in John 10:41-42. “Many came to Him and were saying, ‘While John performed no sign, yet everything John said about this man was true. Many believed in Him there.'” To say that they loved the approval of men rather than the approval of God is to say that they loved their lives in this world. They didn't want to lose their position in the synagogue. They believed Jesus was a prophet and from God, but they didn't believe that He was God in the flesh, THE life, and only way to God. There are many today who are in a similar state. They have accepted Christ and are fine with Him if He will give them a better life in this world, but they don't believe that He alone is life. Consequently, they, like the rulers in Jesus' day, hold on to their lives in this world rather than lose their lives to find true Life. This should be a reality check for everyone who says they believe in Jesus. The only way to live to love with Jesus is to believe that He is the Life and surrender your life in this world to Him. Have we given Jesus full access to our lives to live His life and love through us? Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com