Live to Love Scripture Encouragement

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?