Live to Love Scripture Encouragement John 10.22-23
John 10:22-23. At that time, the feast of the dedication took place at Jerusalem. It was Winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple and the Portico of Solomon. In 165 BC, when Judah Maccabee recaptured the temple, after it had been desecrated by a Syrian king, he ordered it to be cleansed, a new alter to be built and new holy vessels to be made. After these steps, the temple was rededicated to the Lord. However, unadulterated, undefiled, pure olive oil from the seal of the high priest was needed for the menorah, or the lamp stand, in the temple, which was required to burn throughout the night, every night. Unfortunately, only one flask was found with only enough oil to burn for one day.
Yet when the Jews poured in the oil, and lit the menorah, it burned for eight days. Well, of course, eight days is the time needed to prepare a fresh supply of kosher oil for the menorah. It is this miracle that is commemorated during the feast of dedication. It's also called the festival of lights or Hanukkah.
Jesus went to the temple to celebrate this wonderful work of God. That's what love for God does. Plus He is the light of the world. Jesus has recaptured our temple that has been defiled and desecrated by the world. Let's celebrate the work of God today that restored His temple so that it could be a holy place of worship to God. We celebrate that by living to love with Jesus.
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Live to Love Scripture Encouragements, John 10.21
John 10:21. In verse 20, there were some, many in fact, said, "He has a demon and is insane. Why do you listen to him?" Then John says, "Others were saying, 'These are not the sayings of one demon possessed. A demon cannot open the eyes of the blind can he?'"
Although many are afraid of Jesus, there are others who cannot deny what Jesus has done and who He is in spite of what we don't understand about Him, we believe and follow Him. Don't let what we don't know or understand hinder us from responding to what we do see, know, and understand. Jesus is the light of the world, and that light is His love.
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Live to Love Scripture Encouragement, John 10.20
Live to Love Scripture Encouragement, John 10.20. John 10:20 Many of them were saying, “He has a demon and is insane. Why do you listen to Him?”
Hm. Why did people listen to Jesus? Let’s see. In the last 24 hrs, God testified about Him by healing a lame man and a blind man. He claimed that God was His Father and that He is the Light of life, the door to safety and peace, and the good shepherd. No one ever spoke with authority like Jesus. This being said, there are many people today who will think we are insane to listen to Jesus and love with Him. Let’s not be distracted or discouraged. Love on with Him!
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Live to Love Scripture Encouragement, John 10.19
Welcome to today's Live to Love Scripture Encouragement. John 10:19 A division occurred again among the Jews because of these words.
The words of Jesus often cause division. They bring out what’s in the hearts of people. If there’s a good heart, humility gives Jesus access to their lives. If pride, His words are toxic to them and they find ways to dismiss, change, or censor them. Sometimes, when we love people, we must speak the truth, the words of Jesus (there are times when it’s loving to remain silent). But when we speak the truth, we should expect divisions to occur among those who think they know better than Jesus. The divisions are necessary to that we might demonstrate the love of Jesus through patience, forgiveness, empathy, or whatever expression of love He wishes to show for His glory.
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Live to Love Scripture Encouragement John 10.18
John 10:18 “No one has taken it 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.”
On the front side of the cross, you can see why the Pharisees were constantly scratching their heads as they listened to Jesus. However, from our post-cross perspective, our heads explode with wonder and awe. We know exactly what He was saying. The Father commanded Him to lay down His life and take it up again. So if the Father commanded it, then He has authority to do it. His death won’t be because He is a victim of men’s hatred and plotting. He put Himself into their hands (probably the very hands of the Pharisees to whom He was talking) to be killed of His own initiative in obedience to His Father. He knew they were trying to kill Him (Jo. 7:19; 8:37, 40). He wanted them to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that He and the Father were in complete control.
As we live to love with Jesus, let’s remember that we are never victims. We are in the hands of our Father, who loves us through our good Shepherd, who is with us. We lay our lives down by confronting sin, speaking the truth, forgiving, and loving those who who hate us and wish us harm.
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