August 4, 2023
From Death To Life
“Truly, truly, I say to 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 (NASB)
Several years ago, I decided to put bird feeders in our yard. For weeks we did not have any birds. Then it seemed that all at once, we had numerous birds. Many different types such as; mourning doves, cardinals, nuthatch, and small sparrows. Then the squirrels arrived. They plagued our feeders. Every time they arrived, they scraped all the feed on the ground, or hung upside down gorging themselves. One even chewed a hole through the bottom of the feeder. Previously, the squirrels fed out of the dumpsters less than two hundred yards from the house at our church. Lately, the price of bird feed has become expensive, and wasted by the squirrels dumping the feed on the ground. Some birds ate it off the ground, but for the most part wasted. Some of the feed remained on the ground. After a few weeks I noticed, ground seeds beginning to sprout new growth. I never would have imagined the seed would produce anything else, but it did. It produced new life. Little spouts appeared below the feeders.
“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” There are so many illustrations to wheat and how it produces life like: “What happens to a seed when it goes into the ground? Germination occurs when a seed is planted in the ground; it is the process by which a seed transforms from a dormant state (just a seed) to a growing, living plant. A seed contains a tiny plant embryo as well as all of the nutrients that an emerging plant requires to start its growth cycle. What happens to wheat if it is not harvested? Wheat harvesting is postponed, putting the crop at risk of disease, lodging, sprouting, and harvest loss. Why does a seed have to die before it can live? In order to regenerate the dying seed, the endosperm must die and give up its contents in order to support life; if the endosperm refuses to give up its contents and support the developing embryo, there will be no new life springing up from the dying seed.”[1] The truths Jesus shared were profound, but also practical. He knew most people understood how wheat grew, but there was a deeper truth He shared. He was the grain of wheat. Unless He experienced physical death and conquered the power death had over every individual, none could come to Him in His heaven. When He died, His death would bring forth life eternal to those who recognized and accepted His forgiveness. His gift of dying for humanity would bring forth life, and it would “bear much fruit.” Many would come to Him in the future for salvation.
The answers to the questions above are profound: The germination process for Jesus is simple. He is life. Nothing can kill God. He has the power of death, and the ability to pick up life again (just as in the resurrection). The seed has embryo carrying nutrients that are needed to begin its life cycle. This is also profound, but a part of God’s attributes. God has everything He will ever need. He is not dependent upon anyone or anything. He is. The last question is even more interesting. The seed must die. The seed must give up its life, in order to support life. Jesus had to give up His life so we also may have life. Without it, there will be no new life springing up from the dying seed (Jesus). Jesus died for all humanity. He offers this freely, but at a great cost. It is available to all, but many today would rather do without the seed’s gift of life…
[1] https://wheatinquestions.com/faq/when-a-grain-of-wheat-falls-to-the-ground.html.