Live to Love Scripture Encouragement

John 13:27 After the morsel, Satan then entered into him. Therefore Jesus said to him, "What you do, do quickly."
Satan had already put the thought in Judas’ heart to betray Jesus before dinner that evening (13:2), and after eating, Judas gave Satan access to his body and soul to accomplish the evil deed. We can perhaps imagine a discussion in the heavenlies just prior to this between the Father and the devil—something similar to their discussion over Job. Gods targets Judas. Satan suggests a course of action that will entrap Judas. Judas will betray the Son of God and think he is doing something good. Then the Father grants the devil permission, and God’s plan flies into motion with neither the devil or Judas knowing that they are instruments in God’s hands to justify and love His own to His glory. With everything in place, Jesus authorized His own death in obedience to His Father’s command to lay down His life for those God had given Him. He sent Judas to work out Satan’s and His Father’s plan with haste. This is not as some call it “cosmic child abuse.” This is love defined. The sustained direction of the will toward the highest good, no matter what the cost. He laid down His life for His friends. So should we.

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

John 13:25-26 He, leaning back thus on Jesus' bosom, said to Him, "Lord, who is it?" Jesus then answered, "That is the one for whom I shall dip the morsel and give it to him." So when He had dipped the morsel, He took and gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot.
Not much time had passed since Jesus told His disciples, “From now on I am telling you before it comes to pass, so that when it does occur, you may believe that I am He.” In these verses, we see the fulfillment of that promise. The other gospel accounts tell us that many of the disciples along with Judas asked, “Surely, not I? John’s query at Peter’s encouragement probably occurred then. At that point the betrayer was identified as Jesus dipped the bread into the bowl and gave it to Judas.
We know that Jesus never acted on His own initiative. He acted in perfect concert with His Father. Even as He fed Judas, Jesus trusted His Father. Love flows as we trust in Jesus. There is complete surrender to the Father. May we give Jesus unhindered access to our lives today to be His channels of love.

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

John 13:24 So Simon Peter gestured to him, and said to him, "Tell us who it is of whom He is speaking."
It makes sense for Peter to ask John to clarify Jesus’ statement. If we know someone is close to Jesus, we assume that they know what is on Jesus’ mind. When we are troubled or in need of counsel, we should be drawn to those who lean on Jesus. It makes sense that as we lean on Jesus and live to love with Him, that others will notice that closeness and ask us to clarify the words of Jesus. I hope that today, we who have been loved by Jesus will lean into Him, take comfort, and listen to His heart so that we can love well and faithfully represent Him to those who want to know Him better.

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

John 13:23 There was reclining on Jesus' bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved.
John’s personal testimony about his being loved by Jesus warms my heart. How about you? He reclined on Jesus’ bosom at the dinner table. Obviously he was next to Jesus. That seems strange unless we consider the context. Jesus had just told them that one of them would betray him. Perhaps the thought of losing Jesus so overwhelmed him that he leaned over on Jesus as a show of compassion. Or more likely, he leaned on Jesus for comfort because John knew Jesus loved him. We don’t know the reason why John was in that position, but we read that John knew he was loved. Isn’t it true that when someone loves us, we are concerned for them because they are so special to us? And when we are troubled, do we not lean on Jesus for comfort because we know He loves us? Would we say the same? “I am one of Jesus’ disciples whom He has loved.” We can’t live to love with Jesus if we don’t know that we are loved by Him. When we are confident that He loves us, we draw near to Him when facing troubling times.

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

If you don't love this, reconsider your path - Blog for April 2026 by Norm Wakefield