Live to Love Scripture Encouragement

John 12:4-5 But Judas Iscariot, one of His disciples, who was intending to betray Him, said, "Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and given to poor people?"
Not only was God’s grace to Mary revealed as she anointed Jesus’ feet, but Judas’ heart was exposed as well. Every situation is an opportunity for sin or love to be expressed by those present. If Judas had been a true disciple, he would have watched his master’s response to Mary and recognized that it pleased Him. He would have remained silent out of love and respect for both Jesus and Mary. When we live to love with Jesus we are less likely to jump to judgment and more careful about what we say that might be hurtful to others. Judas should have left the judgment to Jesus, and so should we. One expression of loving like Jesus is to leave the judgment of others to God and be gracious to those who don’t do what we think they should. You may have an opportunity today to love in this way. Don’t be a Judas.

John 12:3 Mary then took a pound of very costly perfume of pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
As John mentioned the perfume was costly. It was derived from a flower of the honeysuckle family found in the Himalaya mountains of China and India. This was no small display of love and honor to the one who brought such happiness and blessing into their lives thru the resurrection of Lazarus. It was extravagant. Have you ever considered that we all have the same opportunity Mary had to honor Jesus? He has come to abide (sit down and dine) with us. He has called us out of death into life through His resurrection power like He did Lazarus. We are at His footstool—His feet. This has helped me realize that I too can express my love, gratitude, and honor to Jesus. One aspect of living to love with Jesus is showering our love on Him. Let’s do that today.

John 12:2 So they made Him a supper there, and Martha was serving; but Lazarus was one of those reclining at the table with Him.
Imagine reclining at the table with Jesus, whose voice had called you out of the tomb. Maybe they were listening to Lazarus share his first thoughts upon re-entering his body in the tomb and hearing Jesus cry, “Lazarus, come forth!” Or maybe they were hearing him share about what he experienced while living outside his body. Or maybe they were listening to Jesus explain the significance of the miracle and its relevance to what was about to happen. Whatever it was moved Mary to honor Jesus in an expensive, extravagant, display of love. What about Jesus moves us to love like that?

John 12:1 Jesus, therefore, six days before the Passover, came to Bethany where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.
We don’t know how much time transpired between the miracle and Jesus’ return to Bethany after meeting with His disciples in Ephraim. It was a 14 1/2 mile trek and He timed His arrival to six days before Passover. I can’t help but see this as another expression of love for the family. It makes sense that He wanted to check on them following the exciting event. From what is about to occur, we also can deduce that the Father was setting the stage for another significant display of love and honor toward His Son. So it is with us today as we live to love with Jesus. God is setting the stage for us to love and honor Him.

John 11:57 Now the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that if anyone knew where He was, he was to report it so that they might seize Him.
The dragnet tightened. Their evil scheme was in motion. They were determined to seize and eliminate Him. We should be amazed at the wisdom and glory of God to allow men to scheme and carry out evil against His anointed as the means by which He overcomes evil, sin, and death. In the end times, it will be the same with His people. Evil men will be allowed to carry out their schemes against His Holy ones, but they will display God’s wisdom and glory as they trust in Him and lay down their lives in love for Christ and others. Jesus will prepare us for this time as He prepared Himself. Abide in Him today.