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

John 13:22 The disciples began looking at one another, at a loss to know of which one He was speaking.

In many cases, it’s not easy to detect a goat amongst the sheep or the tares from the wheat. Apparently Judas fit right in with the rest of the disciples. They had just been told by Jesus that one of them was a betrayer, and they had no idea who it might be. Of course, Judas knew at that moment that he was the one, but do you think he came into the relationship with Jesus with the intent to betray and harm Jesus? I doubt it. This is sobering and humbling. Living to love with Jesus requires watchfulness and humility which Judas lacked. The potential for evil was within Judas, but he didn’t know it. He probably genuinely thought he was one of the bunch. In fact, maybe even greater than most because he was chosen to be responsible for the money box (13:29). The apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 10:12, “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall.” The reason it is so important to live to love with Jesus, is that living with His purpose protects us from being self-deceived and mislead by the devil’s lies.

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

John 13:21 When Jesus had said this, He became troubled in spirit, and testified and said, "Truly, truly, I say to you, that one of you will betray Me."

Jesus told them ahead of time what was to occur, just like He promised. This was to bolster their faith in Him, which was a good thing. However, John noted that Jesus was troubled when He told them. We aren’t told what troubled Jesus except the knowledge that Judas was going to betray Him, which was to reject the one who sent Him, namely His Father. I don’t think this is because Jesus was concerned about His or His Father’s feelings. It is never in the best interest of anyone to reject the Father or His Son. It is troubling in spirit to see anyone spurn the love of God because we know they are in darkness and in grave spiritual danger.

If it troubled Jesus when His Father was rejected, we may detect His troubled spirit also when others reject His love through us. Not for our sakes but for theirs. To reject us is to reject Jesus when we are loving in His name. If we are being selfish and they reject us, that’s understandable. When we live to love with Jesus, and that love is not received, let’s take care that we are not troubled by their rejection of us, but by the consequences that will befall the one who rejects Him. Although we don’t know this for sure, but it is most likely that Jesus washed Judas’ feet along with the others. He loved His enemies and was kind to Judas. As we know, He even greeted Judas with a kiss when he brought the soldiers to arrest Jesus. May we love like Jesus loved—and even love those who betray us.

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

John 13:20 Truly, truly, I say to you, he who receives whomever I send receives Me; and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me."

Jesus was sent by God, His Father. When we receive Him as the way, the truth, and the life, we are receiving God. As we live to love with Jesus, we are sent by Jesus to love in His name. The one who receives our love receives Him. It is also encouraging to know that when we receive our fellow believers we are receiving Jesus. It takes humility to love with Jesus and to be loved by Jesus. The salient point is that love for Jesus, for His glory, is why we love and receive our brothers. It’s not determined by how we feel about them. Let’s keep our eyes on Jesus today.

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

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.

Let’s be watching for what Jesus told His disciples was going to happen. Who can foretell events before they happen but God? Surely that’s what He meant when He said, “So…you may believe that I am He.” In a matter of minutes Jesus said it this way. “Do not let your heart be troubled. If you believe in God then believe also in Me” (John 14:1). If we believe Jesus is God, then we who believe in Jesus have the life of God dwelling inside of us! He who knows the end from the beginning and sustains everything by the power of His word lives to love in us! Let’s give Him access to all that we are for His glory.

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

John 13:18 I do not speak of all of you. I know the ones I have chosen; but it is that the Scripture may be fulfilled, 'He who eats My bread has lifted up his heel against Me.'

Those who try to do these things—that is try to serve without Jesus are not blessed if they do them. He has Judas in mind, of course, when He said, “I do not speak of all of you.” This is a marvelous statement. Judas was chosen, not to live to love with Him, but to fulfill Psalms 41:9. “Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted up his heel against me.” Judas was necessary to the salvation work. There will be other Judases in the church who are necessary to God’s sanctifying work in our lives. Was Jesus deceived when He trusted Judas? No. Was He misled when God lead Him to invite him to eat and walk with Him? No. He entrusted Himself to His Father in whose love He did abide. Like Jesus, we receive the Judases into our midst and trust our loving and wise Father’s administration of our affairs.

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

John 13:17 If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.

What are “these things” we know to do? That Jesus, our Master and Teacher has given us an example of love for each other: humble service to those who belong to Jesus. That if Jesus humbled Himself to serve us, we ought to follow His example.

What is the blessing if we do what we know is right? We are blessed with a clear conscience. We are blessed as we experience Jesus’ love for His own. We are blessed as we experience Jesus’ joy in our obedience. We are blessed when we know Jesus’ body is being cared for. We are blessed because the glory of God rests upon us. Can you think of some other blessings? Please write them in the comments.

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

Welcome to today’s live to love scripture encouragement from John 13:16. Jesus had just washed His disciples’ feet and in this verse is continuing to explain what they are to deduce from it. “Truly, truly, I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him.”

Jesus is our master and teacher. We are His friends who are sent to live to love with Him. If Jesus humbled Himself to serve His body and sent us out to do the same, then so should we humbly serve His body because we are not greater than He. Jesus was saying that He was sent by the Father and therefore it is logically assumed that He is not greater than the Father. In the same way, as we live to love in Jesus’ name we are saying that Jesus sent us and that He is greater than we are. Let’s make Jesus’ name great today as we love with Him.

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

It’s a joy to encourage you with today’s live to love scripture from John 13:14-15. If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you.

Jesus had asked, “Do you know what I’ve done to you?” Now we have His explanation. As their only Lord and Teacher, He gave them an example so that they would do the same. Lest we miss it. They were to serve each other in love in His name. This was the direction and primary point of all that He taught them in His last hours with them. In perhaps less than 5-10 min He said, John 13:34-35 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." How had Jesus loved them? He had served a basic physical need by washing their feet. Moms, don’t think it is an insignificant task to change a diaper, wash clothes, or fix a meal in Jesus’ name. Dads, don’t despise filling your wife’s car with gas, fixing your child’s broken bike, or holding the door for someone in Jesus’ name. That’s how Jesus loves His own to the end and taught us to love with Him.

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

John 13:13 You call Me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am.

Welcome to today’s Live to Love Scripture Encouragement. Today’s verse is John 13:13. “You call Me teacher and Lord; and you are right for so I am.” This verse makes me ask myself four questions. 1. What is Jesus to me? Which leads to 2. What is my relationship to Him? 3. Do I call Jesus Teacher and Lord? 4. Am I His student and servant? I’m thinking that the answers to these questions are related to my living to love with Jesus. Let’s let these questions search us today.

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