Live to Love Scripture Encouragement John 18.12-14

John 18:12-14 “So the Roman cohort and the commander and the officers of the Jews, arrested Jesus and bound Him, and led Him to Annas first; for he was father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. Now Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it was expedient for one man to die on behalf of the people.” I hope you remember from yesterday’s encouragement that when Peter had cut off the slave’s ear, Jesus rebuked Peter. Matthew recorded the rebuke, “How then will the Scriptures be fulfilled, which say that it must happen this way” (26:54). Besides fulfilling the Scriptures from Is. 53 and many others, Jesus also was fulfilling what had been prophesied and would eventually become Scripture. As John wrote this account, he connected Jesus’ words to Peter about fulfilling Scripture to Caiaphas’ prophecy in chapter 11:49-52. “But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, ‘You know nothing at all, nor do you take into account that it is expedient for you that one man die for the people, and that the whole nation not perish.’ Now he did not say this on his own initiative, but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus was going to die for the nation, and not for the nation only, but in order that He might also gather together into one the children of God who are scattered abroad.” What is our take away here? Jesus’ willing and intentional sacrifice was expedient not only to fulfill Scriptures, but to unite all believers into one body. As we read through John 18 and 19, let’s be sure to keep this in view. We are reading the story of redemption—divine love—planned and poured out from before the foundation of the earth. You and I, if we are children of God, have been loved from eternity. It was the Father’s will to gather us together into Jesus’ body to redeem and justify us according to His great love. For this reason, namely, that we are the beloved of God, do we celebrate the birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We express our love for God by living to love with Jesus, who dwells within our hearts. Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com