Live to Love Scripture Encouragement

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

John 18:18 “Now the slaves and the officers were standing there, having made a charcoal fire, for it was cold and they were warming themselves; and Peter was also with them, standing and warming himself.”
Satan was after Peter. When you look at all of the gospel accounts of this time in the courtyard of the high priests, you discover that all of the denials of Peter occurred around the fire. It was cold and therefore a fire had been started in the courtyard. The slaves and the officers of the high priest, who were no doubt members of the arrest squad, with John and Peter, were warming themselves around the fire. The first to recognize him and question him was the slave-girl who was also the gate-keeper. Luke wrote, “a servant-girl, seeing him as he sat in the firelight and looking intently at him, said, ‘This man was with Him too.’” Although John’s version of her question differs, there’s no reason not to believe she said both. One a question and another a statement. At some point Peter was standing with them, but perhaps feeling the stares of some of the slaves, must have stepped back and sat down.
Yes the fire was a source of warmth for Peter and the rest, but one can’t help wondering if Peter didn’t feel an internal heat from the temptations and the spirit of the prowling lion from hell. His love was certainly being tested by fire. We can expect the same in our daily walk with Jesus. As we follow Him, there will be times when He puts people in our paths that know that we are Christians and consider us to be threats to their world. We need to be ready with a well thought-out answer when someone questions or mocks us for following Jesus. Perhaps if Peter had prepared himself for such questioning, he would not have denied Jesus. As we love with Jesus, not everyone will receive us with open arms. After you finish listening to this live to love encouragement, I hope you’ll take a few minutes and think about what you would say if someone today confronted you with a negative attitude toward your faith and lifestyle. What would you say to express the love of Jesus? What will you say when the heat is on?

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

Hebrews 2:14-15 “Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.”
These verses may be the best summary of Jesus’ life in the Scriptures. They cover His life from birth to death. They reveal why He came to earth which means we are given the meaning of Jesus’ birth. He was born to die. He could not come to earth as God and render Satan powerless by defeating death. He had to become one of us—share in flesh and blood—so that through His death He might make the devil, who had the power of death, powerless.
On this Christmas eve, I encourage us all to not forget the reason for the season. “There has been born for you a savior, who is Christ the Lord!” Christmas is more about the Savior than it is about a baby born in Bethlehem. Jesus came to free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives. When someone is afraid of dying, they live in fear. Few things hinder the flow of love more than fear. In contrast, when we live to love with Jesus, there is no fear of death, because we know we have passed out of death into life. The apostle John wrote, “We know we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death” (1 Jo. 3:14). He also wrote in 4:18, “There is no fear in love; but perfect (completed) love casts out fear.”
The best way to celebrate Christmas is to pour out the love of Jesus on those He puts in your path. That’s why He was born. He was born to die to set us free to love with Him for the glory of God. Have a lovely Christmas!

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