“But if it Dies”

“Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much fruit. He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.” John 12:24-25.

If it dies! That is the big question. How people insist on their own way! How they defend themselves! How they seek to save their life and make it appear to be better than it is—but to their own eternal loss! Almost everyone believes that it is extremely important to defend themselves, protecting their interests as well as possible, and using all their abilities, strength, talents, and knowledge to this end. They believe that gaining as much worldly success as possible is the important thing in their life—trying to get to the top. They don’t even have the slightest idea that it is the exact opposite that really pays.

In the verses prior to the above-quoted scripture we read of the occasion that caused Jesus to speak about the grain of wheat. It was the answer Jesus gave when He heard that there were some Greeks who wanted to see Him. Jesus perceived clearly that the motive behind their thoughts was wrong. They thought they would see someone extra great, someone very impressive and striking, someone like others they had already seen, but even greater!

What was Jesus? He was the Master in going the other way—in going down. He was meek and lowly of heart and had no form or comeliness, and no beauty that we should desire Him. Isa. 53:2. Now He was almost at the end of the way, about to be nailed to a cross outside the city at the place called The Skull with a criminal on either side of Him, despised and rejected by men, and finally forsaken even by God Himself!

Dear reader, if you will give up your entire self-life in all its many forms and go into the ground as a grain of wheat while you still live, and die there, then you will not have lived in vain in this world. Then you will bear much fruit—the same kind that Jesus bore.

What abundant fruit His life (His death) has borne!