Live to Love Scripture Encouragement

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

John 18:17 “Then the slave-girl who kept the door said to Peter, ‘You are not also one of this man's disciples, are you?’ He said, ‘I am not.’”
We can connect a few dots at this point. John was known by Annas, and apparently the slave-girl, who was the gatekeeper, also knew John. She knew that John was a follower of Jesus, so when John spoke to her about Peter and she let him in, she naturally assumed Peter also was a follower of Jesus. So probably as Peter entered with John, she questioned him about his connection to Jesus. One has to wonder if Peter was caught off guard at the question, because all of a sudden, it was as if a darkness enveloped him—love and courage were devoured. The prowling lion had pounced on him. He answered, “I am not.”
Have you ever had such an experience? One moment you are passionate about Jesus, and then something disillusions you, surprises you, or doesn’t go like you thought it was supposed to go, and the next moment you fall to a strong temptation that you thought wasn’t possible. Have you ever been asked a question that you didn’t expect and responded with a lie in order to protect yourself? You find yourself in a daze, a sense of disappointment with yourself swells within. To my shame, I have been there. The tide of conviction and shame can almost take your breath away, and you can’t think clearly. I can imagine what happened with Peter. Afterwards, Peter could see clearly what he should have done. Resist the devil!
It appeared as if Peter wanted to be with Jesus, perhaps just like we want to live to love with Jesus. This story reminds us that we can be following Jesus with good intentions, and in a weak moment be overtaken by temptation. Have you experienced something recently that you didn’t expect? Something that disillusioned you? Someone who disappointed you? That’s the devil’s first growl when he’s on the prowl. He tries to get your eyes off of Jesus and onto yourself. If you know what I’m talking about and you are hearing the growl of the devil, resist him now. Surrender yourself to Jesus and abide in Him with tenacity. We were saved to love Jesus and love with Him come hell or high-water.

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

John 18:15-16 “Simon Peter was following Jesus, and so was another disciple. Now that disciple was known to the high priest, and entered with Jesus into the court of the high priest, but Peter was standing at the door outside. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the doorkeeper, and brought Peter in.”
We have been invited by John into the relationship between Peter and Jesus. I’m impressed with the courage of both Peter and John, but especially Peter. He had been the one disciple to take up arms against all odds. He had severed an ear of a slave of the high priest, Caiaphas, and we see from this verse that instead of fleeing as the rest of the disciples, he followed Jesus. Although Annas was replaced as high priest by Caiaphas in 15 A.D., he still was referred to as the high priest. John lets us know that he was known by Annas and therefore was allowed into the courtyard with Jesus. Apparently, Peter however, wasn’t allowed into the courtyard until John spoke with the gatekeeper.
What is Peter thinking? I don’t know, but I am impressed with Peter’s courage at this point to follow Jesus into the lion’s den. Aren’t you? Giving it the best spin that I can, I think Peter is there because he loves his master. He had told Jesus he would not forsake Him, and if everyone else fled, he would not. He and John are like the president and vice-president of the disciples. They are the committed of the committed. They had been with Jesus in best of times. Why not stay with Him in the worst of times? In his mind, he was ready to die with Jesus.
We all know where this story goes, but at this point we can be encouraged by Peter’s and John’s love and courage. Perhaps they were thinking that Jesus would be given a fair trial and they would have an opportunity to testify on Jesus’ behalf. That makes me examine myself and ask if I am that ready, willing, loving, and courageous to testify on Jesus’ behalf today. Should the opportunity arise, will love for Jesus move me to live to love with Him by sharing about His love for me and for others? Let’s be ready today to follow Jesus anywhere, even into the lion’s den, to express His love and presence.

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