Live to Love Scripture Encouragement

John 19:41-42 “Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. Therefore because of the Jewish day of preparation, since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.”
Apparently Golgatha was not as stark and ugly as many may suppose. There was a garden in the same place and we have learned that Joseph of Arimathea owned it. Since time was of the essence, due to the observance of the Passover Sabbath, Joseph and Nicodemus made the decision to bury Jesus there. What captures my attention is that Jesus was crucified in a garden. Hm. He died in a garden because of choices made in another garden by Adam and Eve. Wouldn’t it be amazing if the garden in which Adam and Eve sinned was in the same location as the garden in which Jesus died and was buried? Wouldn’t it be stunning if the very dust at the foot of the cross was the same dust into which the serpent was thrust by God when he was cursed for tempting Adam and Eve? Even more thought-provoking is the idea that the tree upon which Jesus was hung was the tree of the knowledge of good and evil by which our first parents were tempted? And what if the garden in which Jesus crushed Satan’s head had the very same coordinates as the place where God said, “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, and you shall bruise him on the heel.”
Yes, this is all speculation, but it is not out of the realm of possibility. For the work accomplished by God in or near the garden where Jesus was buried could easily have been the garden of Eden. The flood would have completely reshaped the landscape. The garden of Eden would look nothing like the garden in Jerusalem. Wouldn’t it be like God to display the redemptive work of the seed of Eve in the same location where the image and blessing of God was lost?
The blood of the Passover lamb was prepared and now sacrificed. The carcass has been put out of sight. The Passover may begin that commemorates God delivering His people from slavery in Egypt. It is a shadow of what we have been reading about in John 19. In this garden where Jesus died and was buried, God has delivered His people from slavery to sin and death. Hallelujah! What a steadfast love! Please take a few moments today to visit the two gardens. Drink in the love of God poured out for all heaven and earth to see, be amazed, and be moved to love in reply.

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

John 19:39-40 “Nicodemus, who had first come to Him by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds weight. So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen wrappings with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews.”
Here we have another testimony of love. The Holy Spirit through John wants everyone to know the impact of the meeting between Jesus and Nicodemus recorded in John 3. At that point, Nick was THE teacher in Israel and a ruler of the Jews. He didn’t have an understanding of the work of the Holy Spirit in the kingdom of God or new birth. He knew Jesus had to be from God, but he didn’t know His purpose, His mission. In John 7:51, there’s evidence that Nick had become at least sympathetic to Jesus’ message and ministry. When the chief priests, Annas and Caiphas, and the Pharisees were discussing arresting Jesus, it was Nicodemus who said, “Our Law does not judge a man unless it first hears from him and knows what he is doing, does it?” By the way, that comment was totally ignored. In this verse, we learn the impact of Jesus on Nicodemus. He, like Joseph of Arimathea, overcame fear and risked his reputation and standing with the council of the Jews. So what was the cost to Nicodemus for the extravagant burial spices? Some say in today’s economy, it was $150,000 to $300,000. But the true value of Nick’s honor of Jesus is more realized by what he surely traded in helping bury Jesus, namely, his standing and position with the council. It was a calculated action with known consequences—costly indeed.
The amount of Nicodemus’ mixture of myrrh and aloes was shocking. From my research, the usual application of funeral spices was one pound. By the way, this was not for embalming because embalming required cutting of the body. These were spices typically used for healing and to ward off the smells of death and decay. However, we know Jesus was dead, and there was no decay. Ps. 16:10 prophetically stated, “For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol; nor will You allow Your Holy One to undergo decay.” So I don’t think Nick was thinking about overcoming the smells of a decaying body. Rather these spices were an expression of honor, love, and commitment. What can we do today to show honor, love, and commitment to Jesus? We have the body of Jesus available to us. As we care for those who are members of His body, we are displaying honor for Christ, love for His sacrifice, and commitment to Him. Let’s go all out to live to love with Jesus.

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

John 19:38 After these things Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but a secret one for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate granted permission. So he came and took away His body.
Here’s what we know about Joseph from the 4 gospels. He was from Arimathea, an unknown village. He was a wealthy council member who did not agree with condemning Jesus. He was a secret disciple of Jesus awaiting the establishment of the kingdom. He stayed at the cross until Jesus died. He owned a new tomb. He was willing to risk his reputation to provide for Jesus’ burial. He was willing to become ceremonially unclean by taking Jesus’ body down from the cross and burying it just prior to the Sabbath.
How willing are we to risk our reputation with our peers by identifying with Jesus’ death? At some point, living to love with Jesus will require dying to the approval of the world. When we do so we are identifying with Jesus’ death. We are risking all—out of love for Christ. No more hiding in secret. May we be as moved to love Jesus and honor Him as Joseph of Arimathea was on the day Jesus died for him and us.

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

John 19:36-37. “For these things came to pass to fulfill the Scripture, ‘Not a bone of Him shall be broken.’ And again another Scripture says, ‘They shall look on Him whom they pierced.’”
The Scripture was fulfilled because God loves us, and He wants us to know that every aspect of Jesus’ death was under His authority. He wants us also to have confidence to believe and trust in Jesus. These two details of Jesus’ crucifixion were prophesied by David (around 900 years before) and Zechariah (around 450-500 years before).
Let that sink in. When the Holy Spirit inspired those men to write what they did, God had all who are to believe in Jesus in view. In Jesus, no bones broken and pierced in His side, God glorified Himself and revealed His love.
Now let this sink in. Almost 2000 years ago God spoke in His Son and prophesied that those who believe in Him will be known by their love for one another. Living to love with Jesus is God fulfilling the Scriptures in and through us just like He did in Jesus so people will believe in Jesus and be saved.

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

John 19:35 “And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you also may believe.”
It is stunning to pause and recognize that we are reading the words of an eye witness to Jesus’ death. His testimony corresponds to the original. It is what
God saw, said, and did. It is the truth. Unfortunately, many today have no understanding of truth. They think it is whatever they want it to be. “It’s my truth,” they might say. John knew his account faithfully explained what is true, namely, that Jesus was the Word of God incarnate, Immanuel, who came to die as our substitute. He came to remove sins from all those who believe. As Ps. 103:12 promised, “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.” He suffered and died that He might bring all who believe to God.
There are many false witnesses today declaring that these things are not true. They assert that God crucifying His Son on the cross is cosmic child abuse and “their” God would never do that. They say Jesus died because He spoke truth to power. They do not believe atonement for sin was necessary because they do not believe in the original sin, but rather think man’s problem is shame that we can simply deny and cast off so we can become our true selves and be what we were meant to be. Furthermore, they think man has now progressed to have a better understanding of God and Jesus than John and those men who walked with Him.
Whose testimony shall we believe? Shall we believe the babbling of fools who were not there over an eye witness’s account? It would be foolish to do so. Don’t miss this. Those who believe John’s testimony and the testimony of the other eye witnesses, love Jesus and love with Him. It is the fruit of their lives. Those who do not believe, love themselves as God and cannot love others. If you believe in God, believe also in Jesus. He is the one and only God who has defined love by His death and resurrection life. Who do you believe?

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