Live to Love Scripture Encouragement

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

John 12:41 These things Isaiah said because he saw His glory, and he spoke of Him. Jesus said God revealed to Isaiah that all of these events took place for the glory of God revealed din Jesus' sacrificial death. Maybe He saw the glory of God revealed in us. We live to love with the risen Lord Jesus Christ. Wouldn't that be amazing?! We would not know what love is: the sustained direction of the will toward our highest good no matter what the cost. Having experienced His love through His resurrected presence, we can love with Him for the glory of God—which Isaiah saw. Incredible! Glory to God. Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com

John 12:39-40. For this reason they could not believe, for Isaiah said again, "He has blinded their eyes and He hardened their heart, so that they would not see with their eyes and perceive with their heart, and be converted and I heal them." We believe there is one God from whom are all things, and He is love. Isaiah also recorded this stunning declaration of God to Cyrus 400 years before He was born. Isaiah 45:6-7. “That men may know from the rising to the setting of the sun that there is no one besides Me. I am the Lord, and there is no other, the One forming light and creating darkness, causing well-being and creating calamity; I am the Lord who does all these.” As we hear or read Jesus' reference to Isaiah regarding Israel, we should recognize and acknowledge that there is no other God besides the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. All of this calamity was done in love so we could live to love with Jesus. Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com

John 12:38 This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet which he spoke: "Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?" John placed Jesus in the long line of prophets who testified to Israel, yet were not believed. The raising of Lazarus, as well as the healing of the blind and lame men, were displays of the strength (arm) of the Lord, yet there was no revelation given to Israel. Isn't that amazing? Why not? So that they would do the greater will of the lord by crucifying Him for the fulfillment of prophecy and partner in the greatest display of love in the history of mankind. Check out Acts 4:26-28. “‘The kings of the earth took their stand, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord and against His Christ.' For truly in this city there were gathered together against Your holy servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose predestined to occur.” May we be in awe of God's love for us and let's trust God's wisdom as He gives revelation to whom He wishes as we live to love with Him.

John 12:37 But though He had performed so many signs before them, yet they were not believing in Him. Seeing is not believing. The lame walked. The blind saw. The dead were raised. God's work was displayed repeatedly. They saw, but did not believe. The darkness overtook them that quickly. The same is still true. Our churches can be crowded with unbelieving seers. They come and see God at work in their midst, yet walk out and continue walking in the dark. They live as children of darkness. They love their lives in this world. They live to find satisfaction and significance, to receive honor and glory from men rather than from God. I've been there and so have you. Maybe you are still there. In Jesus' name I call you to turn to the Light, surrender and abandon your life and self-driven way to Jesus. Believe in Him and His love for you, and live for the purpose of loving with Him. You can find out more from my book, Live to Love, at livetolovewithjesus.com. His love is free and so is my book.

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.