Live to Love Scripture Encouragement

John 18:29 “Therefore Pilate went out to them and said, "What accusation do you bring against this Man?"
Pilate was a blood-thirsty tyrant. Josephus, a Jewish/Roman historian, recorded a time when Pilate ordered his army to attack unarmed demonstrators, killing and wounding many. He didn’t hesitate to use force to quell an uprising. As Pilate was meeting with Caiaphas and crew at the Praetorium, reviewing the case against Jesus, God set up a test for him which became a surprising turn of events. God gave his wife, Claudia a dream. Matthew records what happened. Matthew 27:19 ‘While he (that’s Pilate) was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent him a message, saying, ‘Have nothing to do with that righteous Man; for last night I suffered greatly in a dream because of Him.’” Pilate began the farce by asking what the accusation was against Jesus. That would have been a typical line of investigation. However, it is probable that the message from Claudia came at this point, because the rest of the exchange between Pilate and the Jewish rulers didn’t go as planned. As we will see, Pilate began to look for a way out, but ultimately he caved to the pressure of Caiaphas and the crowd. However, consider the love of God for Pilate that He would give him a warning and an opportunity to do good. We will see in the coming days that it was an opportunity missed by Pilate.
Speaking of opportunities missed and a test of character. Perhaps it is good to ask ourselves if we have missed opportunities to love and do good. I know I have. I regret those times when God tested my character and I failed the test due to fear of man or self-protection. How about you? Now that I have a greater understanding of my purpose in life—namely to love and bring glory to God by living to love with Jesus, I don’t want to miss any opportunity to love and do good—even to my enemies. As we come to the end of 2022, let’s take this opportunity to thank God for His steadfast love and forgiveness for all of the opportunities to love with Him that we missed. If any specifics come to mind, I encourage you to confess them, roll them over to Christ, and worship Him. As we look into 2023, will you join me purposing anew to live to love with Jesus? I invite you to visit www.livetolovewithjesus.com and write down the “Live to Love Prayer”. If you want to grow in loving God and loving others, I hope you’ll make that prayer, or one you write from your own heart, a prayer to launch every day of 2023. If you haven’t taken advantage of the free resources on the website, I also invite you to get Live to Love: Experience Freedom and Joy in Relationships in either print, ebook, or audiobook formats. You’ll get the most out of it if you read it with the study guide and with friends so you can experience Jesus’ love and discipleship. If you are committed to live to love with Jesus, I’m sure you will have a happy new year.

Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com

John 18:28 “Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas into the Praetorium, and it was early; and they themselves did not enter into the Praetorium so that they would not be defiled, but might eat the Passover.”
John left out the mock trial at Caiaphas’ house where the Sanhedrin, the High Priest, Scribes, and Pharisees could not even find two witnesses who could agree to their trumped up charges against Jesus. John was primarily concerned with a Gentile audience, so he wanted to highlight the role of the Romans in Jesus’ death. The Praetorium was the Antonia Fortress built by Herod, the Great in 35 B.C. and named after his friend Marc Antony. It was home to the cohort of soldiers that were present at Jesus’ arrest. John was showing that this conspiracy against Jesus was both Jewish and Roman.
The Jewish officials could not enter the Praetorium and follow the laws of cleanliness to observe the Passover. Did you notice that it was early? Claudia, Pilate’s wife had a dream about Jesus the night before the trial. That’s Thursday night. This means that Caiaphas, the only Jewish official who had access to Pilate, had privately met with Pilate after meeting with Judas, to get Pilate’s cooperation in condemning Jesus in a mock trial early the next morning. So the Jews had to apprehend Jesus on Thursday night, try Him and find Him guilty of the death penalty (with Roman cooperation and contrary to Jewish law). Then the prearranged plan was to bring Him to Pilate. There they would stage another mock trial and get Him condemned, sentenced, and killed as quickly as possible on Friday before Passover. For Claudia to have the dream, she had to know of the scheme against Jesus on Thursday night, which is why she warned Pilate to have nothing to do with this innocent man. Pilate’s agreement to meet them in the Praetorium was a very unusual, out-of-character concession. Typically, a preliminary investigation would take place in his palace, and then the case would be passed on to an appointed judex or judge to formally hear and prosecute the case. Pilate agreed to forego the law and due process in order to accommodate the Jew’s need for urgency. Furthermore, there was no way the Jews would have known Pilate would hear their case at 6:00 in the morning if it had not already been arranged. On Thursday night, Pilate was a willing accomplice to the plot. This was no trial. Pilate was the hit man selected by Caiaphas.
From the time of Jesus’ arrest, He knew what was going to happen. He knew He would not get a fair trial. He knew Caiaphas and the Romans had conspired against Him. He knew He was going to be turned over to the Romans and become our redeemer and savior. As we read about the trial, sentencing, and execution of Jesus, let us remember, we are witnessing the supreme expression of divine love revealed in the history of mankind. This was necessary so we might be forgiven of all of our sins. And having experienced total forgiveness, we might love much. Our living to love with Jesus, for the glory of God, is what is in God’s view as the Father allows Satan to have his way with every participant in the story—from Judas to Peter, Annas, Caiaphas, the Sanhedrin, Pilate, Herod, and the Roman soldiers—and you and me. Behold how God has loved us!

Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com

John 18:24-27. “So Annas sent Him bound to Caiaphas the high priest. Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. So they said to him, ‘You are not also one of His disciples, are you?’ He denied it, and said, ‘I am not.’ One of the slaves of the high priest, being a relative of the one whose ear Peter cut off, said, ‘Did I not see you in the garden with Him?’ Peter then denied it again, and immediately a rooster crowed.
The last two of the three denials occurred while Annas was questioning Jesus. Apparently the initial inquiry by Annas took place in his courtyard in close proximity to each other. For Luke recorded that when Peter denied Him the third time and they both heard the rooster crow, Jesus turned and looked at Peter and remember the word of the Lord, how He had told him that he would deny Him 3 times before a rooster crowed today. (Luke 22:61). At that moment Luke said that Peter went out of the courtyard and wept bitterly.
It’s difficult to imagine how ashamed Peter must have felt. In an honor/shame culture such as they lived in, the weight of guilt must have been unbearable. Have you ever been there? Have you felt like you have committed an evil deed that completely disqualifies you from ever being loved or used by God? We know the end of Peter’s story, but he didn’t at that point. We know that Peter was forgiven, transformed, and empowered by the love of Christ. I think that was where John was going with Peter’s story. He knew that in a matter of minutes his readers would be reading of Jesus’ encounter with Peter on the beach of the Sea of Galilee. We will get to those verses in 2023. For now, we can know that God has allowed our own failures to occur for our highest good. He knows what He is going to do with us, and He know His love will bring redemption, restoration, and transformation in our lives. So let us be sober-minded and on the alert for the prowling lion. Let us continue living to love with Jesus without fear.

Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com

John 18:22-23 “When He had said this, one of the officers standing nearby struck Jesus, saying, ‘Is that the way You answer the high priest?’ Jesus answered him, ‘If I have spoken wrongly, testify of the wrong; but if rightly, why do you strike Me?’”
Under the greatest pressure one can imagine, Jesus remains righteous. He could not speak wrongly. In fact, Jesus had spoken rightly. In line with the Jewish Mishnah, He asked Annas, “Why do you question Me? Question those who have heard what I spoke to them; they know what I said.” That was exactly how a just trial was to proceed. The council brings in at least two witnesses who agree to the material events or actions of the accused. They are not to question the accused, but simply be an unbiased judiciary listening to the testimonies of those who were there.
Again, notice, how Jesus loved the officer. He led him to examine his conscience in light of the law, which Jesus knew that the officer understood. The officer had no answer to Jesus’ question because he knew Jesus had spoken rightly. This is helpful for us when we are in difficult relationships. It is humble and loving to ask, “Where have I spoken or acted wrongly? Please show me. And if you cannot testify to the wrong, why are you treating me this way?” Because God is love, we can rightly assume that all of Jesus’ remarks are motivated in love. Doesn’t this amaze you? It does me. Jesus didn’t say what He said because He thought it would actually “work” with the officer. That wasn’t His goal. He is a God of justice and truth. It isn’t love to allow someone to abuse and use you without caring for the truth and for the offender. I want to learn from Jesus how to love like He did. May God give us His wisdom in difficult situations and relationships.

Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com

John 18:19-21 “The high priest then questioned Jesus about His disciples, and about His teaching. Jesus answered him, ‘I have spoken openly to the world; I always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all the Jews come together; and I spoke nothing in secret. Why do you question Me? Question those who have heard what I spoke to them; they know what I said.’”
I had a friend in South Africa, the late Judge Neels Claassen, who wrote a book entitled, “The Last Passover of Jesus on Earth: A judicial perspective of His trials, crucifixion, and resurrection.” He outlined the Jewish requirements for a fair trial from the Jewish Mishnah, the oldest authoritative codification of Jewish laws compiled over a period of two centuries. “This jurisdiction was vested in the Jewish Council or Sanhedrin comprising the High Priest, elders, and scribes, a total of 71. There were exceptionally strict regulations for trials.
1. The complainants had to apprehend the accused during daylight hours and then bring the prisoner to court.
2. A capital crime had to be heard during daylight hours.
3. The bench was not allowed to interrogate the accused.
4. Judgment had to be reserved until the next day, and in the event of conviction, the sentence had to also be delayed until the following day.
5. A conviction could only be imposed based on the evidence of at least two reliable and independent witnesses.
The first two regulations were ignored as they arrested Jesus during darkness and they were intent on a capital crime. The third regulation was mocked as the high priest questioned Jesus. Even though Annas was not the acting High Priest, Jesus answered Annas according to the law. Basically, He reminded Annas of what was required by law. Jesus had spoken openly and thus there were plenty of opportunities for witnesses to be summoned and to testify. So Jesus asked, “Why do you question Me?”
This is an amazing act of love in the midst of confrontation. He was actually speaking for Annas’ highest good, even though He knew it would cost Him. He knew His fate was already determined. Even yet, without making any accusations against him, he lovingly reminded Annas and the rest of the court of what was right.
Sometimes that is the only way to love in a situation when someone is out to get you and hates you. You can simply state the truth without accusing them. It was Peter who described Jesus’ attitude and actions before this council. May we love like this. 1 Peter 2:21-23. “For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, WHO COMMITTED NO SIN, NOR WAS ANY DECEIT FOUND IN HIS MOUTH; and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously.”

Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com