Live to Love Scripture Encouragement

John 12:41 These things Isaiah said because he saw His glory, and he spoke of Him.
Jesus said God revealed to Isaiah that all of these events took place for the glory of God revealed din Jesus’ sacrificial death. Maybe He saw the glory of God revealed in us. We live to love with the risen Lord Jesus Christ. Wouldn’t that be amazing?! We would not know what love is: the sustained direction of the will toward our highest good no matter what the cost. Having experienced His love through His resurrected presence, we can love with Him for the glory of God—which Isaiah saw. Incredible! Glory to God.

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

John 12:39-40. For this reason they could not believe, for Isaiah said again, "He has blinded their eyes and He hardened their heart, so that they would not see with their eyes and perceive with their heart, and be converted and I heal them."
We believe there is one God from whom are all things, and He is love. Isaiah also recorded this stunning declaration of God to Cyrus 400 years before He was born.
Isaiah 45:6-7. “That men may know from the rising to the setting of the sun that there is no one besides Me. I am the Lord, and there is no other, the One forming light and creating darkness, causing well-being and creating calamity; I am the Lord who does all these.”
As we hear or read Jesus’ reference to Isaiah regarding Israel, we should recognize and acknowledge that there is no other God besides the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. All of this calamity was done in love so we could live to love with Jesus.

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

John 12:38 This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet which he spoke: "Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?"
John placed Jesus in the long line of prophets who testified to Israel, yet were not believed. The raising of Lazarus, as well as the healing of the blind and lame men, were displays of the strength (arm) of the Lord, yet there was no revelation given to Israel. Isn’t that amazing? Why not? So that they would do the greater will of the lord by crucifying Him for the fulfillment of prophecy and partner in the greatest display of love in the history of mankind. Check out Acts 4:26-28. “‘The kings of the earth took their stand, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord and against His Christ.’ For truly in this city there were gathered together against Your holy servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose predestined to occur.” May we be in awe of God’s love for us and let’s trust God’s wisdom as He gives revelation to whom He wishes as we live to love with Him.

John 12:37 But though He had performed so many signs before them, yet they were not believing in Him.
Seeing is not believing. The lame walked. The blind saw. The dead were raised. God’s work was displayed repeatedly. They saw, but did not believe. The darkness overtook them that quickly. The same is still true. Our churches can be crowded with unbelieving seers. They come and see God at work in their midst, yet walk out and continue walking in the dark. They live as children of darkness. They love their lives in this world. They live to find satisfaction and significance, to receive honor and glory from men rather than from God. I’ve been there and so have you. Maybe you are still there. In Jesus’ name I call you to turn to the Light, surrender and abandon your life and self-driven way to Jesus. Believe in Him and His love for you, and live for the purpose of loving with Him. You can find out more from my book, Live to Love, at livetolovewithjesus.com. His love is free and so is my book.

John 12:36 While you have the Light, believe in the Light, so that you may become sons of Light." These things Jesus spoke, and He went away and hid Himself from them.
With these powerful words Jesus ended this encounter with the crowd. All of a sudden, the Light disappeared. Lest we miss it, let’s remember that the crowd thinks of themselves as sons of the Law and that the Law is the light. They asked about the Law in vs 34. Jesus was calling them to Himself, the true light. John made this point in the intro to his gospel when he wrote in John 1:9-13. “There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” Have you received the Light? Living to love with Jesus is to believe, receive, and walk in the true Light.