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Truly,
truly i say unto you, unless a grain of wheat falls into
the earth and dies, it remains alone, but if it dies, it
bears much fruit. John 12:24.
This is one of the most robust statements that jesus
made about his earthly ministry. He was associating his
atonement sacrifice with a grain of wheat falling on the
ground and dying in order to give birth to a plant and
further producing many grains in the form of harvest.
The statement was made in such a time when people wanted
to make jesus christ their king. “on the next day the
large crowd who had come to the feast, when they heard
that jesus was coming to jerusalem, took the branches of
the palm trees and went out to meet him, and began to
shout, hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of
the lord, even the king of israel” (john 12:12-13). They
were shouting the word that was already spoken through
the mouth of david a prophecy of the coming of the
messiah (ps. 118:26). This was surely a resounding
recognition of who he is. Thousands gathered to accept
and honour him while he entered jerusalem triumphantly.
Any man in pursuit of leadership would consider it as a
milestone in his life.
Moreover, his popularity increased as the people who
witnessed lazarus’ resurrection began to testify about
him. “so the people, who were with him when he called
lazarus our of he tomb and raised him from the dead,
continue to testify about him.” (john 12:17) popularity
- fulfillment of the long time ambition of any leader.
People began to speak about him positively and the
number of followers increased.
Third, the greeks - who boasted about their philosophers
- wanted to meet him. The disciples of Jesus became very
much excited by seeing the greeks coming to Jesus. This
was more than what they expected. This can also be
considered as an achievement in their life. This was an
inter-national popularity any king or ruler would long
for. But the response from Jesus was astonishing; for he
denounced the earthly popularity and power and spoke
about pouring out his life as a ransom in order to save
many from the eternal damnation. Those who belong to
heaven are least bothered about the things they can grab
in this world. Moreover, the purpose behind Jesus’
coming to this world is not to become popular. The
purpose of coming of the messiah is neither confined to
becoming the king of Israel nor to showing some gimmicks
for the sake of popularity. Rather, he came to “fall
down on the earth and die” for mankind in order to
redeem them from eternal wrath of god. He came to die -
die for the sins of the world - and not to live. Thus he
became the savior of humankind irrespective of language,
religion and caste.
While talking to the disciples his emphasis was on the
grain falling on the ground and losing its identity and
dying to produce many grains like it.
The same words are applicable to us. We need to become
like him in pouring out our lives for the salvation of
many. It is not the methods and techniques that save
people but our sacrificial life that leads many to the
greater sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. Losing our
identity is a great deal for every human being. Jesus
said, “unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and
dies, it remains alone”.
Let me invite you to imagine like this. A basketful of
seed was kept in a barn. The day for sowing came. The
farmer got into the barn took the basket in his hands.
Looking at the seeds the farmer said, “I love you seeds.
You look great! You have golden color and a beautiful
shape. Listen, in a little while I am going to sow you
in my field. Not many days past you will lose your
identity. Your golden color and beautiful shape won’t
last. You will split and a bud will come out of you. No
more will you be called a seed but a plant. And you will
produce many grains, some thirty, some sixty and some
hundred. You will come back to my barn along with what
you produced”. One of the seeds said. “Oh! No. I am not
going to let this happen to me. I don’t want to lose my
identity. How can i afford to see me in another shape
and color? I am going to stay back”. As the farmer was
lifting the basket up to his head the seed jumped out of
the basket.
The farmer sowed the seed in his field. He poured water
and added fertilizer on time. He protected the plants
from enemies who could destroy them. Later, it was a
delight to see heads of grain waving in the wind. And
the harvest was ripe. As the harvest became ripe the
farmer put in his sickle and gathered the harvest.
Baskets full of grain were taken into the barn. Some
said, i went alone but came back with thirty. Another
came with sixty and still another shouted, we are a
hundred. And the one who didn’t want to lose his
identity was there alone. He said, “I am alone, without
any multi-plication.” Jesus said, “unless a grain of
wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone”.
No one is going see a great harvest unless he pours out
his life for others. Jesus Christ is at work to
transform the lives of many. The purpose behind
transforming our lives is to transform many through the
power we received. When we commit our lives to Jesus we
will never be alone.
God bless you.
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