John 12:24-25
‘Jesus answered…: “Verily, verily, I say to you — except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and dies, it remains alone. But if it dies, it brings forth much fruit!”‘ John 12:23-24.
Calvin comments: “‘Except a grain of wheat shall die or putrefy,’ it remains dry and sterile. But the death of the seed quickens it — so that it bears fruit! So, Christ compares His death — to sowing.” This “seems to lead to the destruction of the wheat; but is nevertheless the cause of an abundant increase….
“Now although this admonition was especially necessary then, it is of continual use in the Church. And first, we ought to begin at the Head. That dreadful appearance of ignominy and malediction which is seen in the death of Christ, not only obscures His glory. But removes it altogether from our sight. We must not then hold to His death alone, but must also consider the fruit which His resurrection bears. In this way, nothing will prevent His glory from shining everywhere.
“From Him, we must then come to His members. For not only do we think that in death we perish, but even our life is a sort of continual death (Colossians 3:3). It is all up with us, then! Unless that consolation which Paul sets up, helps us: ‘If our outward man is decaying, yet our inward man is renewed day by day’ (Second Corinthians 4:16).
“The godly are pressed down by various afflictions. They are held tight in hard straits. They suffer hunger or nakedness or disease. They are worried by reproaches. They seem every moment to be almost swallowed up by death. Let this then be their continual meditation!… It is a sowing, which will yield fruit in its season!
“‘He that loves his soul, loses it’ …. If, to bring forth fruit, we must die — we should patiently permit God to mortify us…. He who despises this life and advances courageously to death…, is justly reckoned among the highest of God’s blessings. But believers ought to lay it down cheerfully, when it hinders their access to Christ…. The true way to love life, is when we remain in it as long as God pleases — and are prepared to change our home as soon as He tells us…. Whoever is overaddicted to the present life, loses his life…. He casts it to everlasting ruin….
“He who does not look to Heaven, has not yet learned how life is to be saved…. For if we are overwhelmed by the love of the world so that it is not easy to forget it, it is impossible for us to advance to Heaven!… He leads the way before us, to encounter death. The bitterness of death is therefore moderated and made sweet, when we undergo it in common with the Son of God…. He demands that His servants should not refuse to submit to death…. Christ had promised to those who were not unwilling to die with Him, that they should be partakers of His resurrection…. The Father will not leave Christ’s servants unrewarded, when they have been His inseparable companions in life and death!”
For, if a seed falls into the ground and dies — it brings forth much fruit! You too?
