Live to Love Scripture Encouragement John 18.11

John 18:11 “So Jesus said to Peter, ‘Put the sword into the sheath; the cup which the Father has given Me, shall I not drink it?’” John didn’t record the healing of Malchus’ ear. Luke revealed that detail in his gospel. For John’s purposes, Jesus’ words to Peter were more important. John wanted his readers to know that Jesus’ death was intentional and sacrificial. Jesus willingly gave up His life for our highest good—the salvation of our souls. Furthermore He wanted it to be crystal clear: Jesus’ death was the Father’s will for the salvation of sinners. John recorded a part of Jesus’ prayer time that Matthew didn’t record, and vice versa. In Jesus’ prayer, John focused Jesus’ desire to do the Father’s will, love those given to Him, and the glory of God shared with them, revealing the divinity of Christ. Matthew told about Jesus’ grief and internal struggle, revealing the humanity of Christ. John hadn’t mentioned the cup that Jesus mentioned in this moment after healing Malchus’ ear, but Matthew did. Matthew 26:39 “And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, ‘My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.’” This verse shows us clearly that Jesus had gotten up from that prayer time determined that it was the Father’s will for Him to drink the cup of suffering and wrath, performed by Satan’s hands, to satisfy justice on behalf of all whom the Father gave Him. And this is how we know what God’s love is. It is the sustained direction of the will toward the highest good of another, no matter what the cost. From the “Amen” of Jesus’ prayer until the “It is finished,” Jesus never wavered. He would, He did, drink the cup which the Father gave Him to reveal the love of God to save sinners. It is for this reason that I say that our purpose in life is to live to love with Jesus—to lay down our lives for the highest good of others no matter what the cost. It is the cup the Father has given us to drink. Shall we not drink it? Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com