“But Jesus answered them, saying, ‘The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified. 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 grain. He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.’” John 12:23-26

If a kernel of wheat is safely preserved and stored, it remains just a single kernel of wheat. If, however, it is planted in the ground and dies, so to speak, it will produce much more wheat.

With the time of His sufferings and death at hand, Jesus used this farming illustration to point out that if He preserved His life and were unwilling to suffer and die for the world’s sins, He would remain alone and save no one but Himself. But by laying down His life and dying on the cross for the sins of all mankind and being buried in the tomb, He would produce much fruit. He would provide salvation for all, and those who place their faith in Him would be pardoned and spared from the coming wrath of God upon sin.

Jesus did not try to preserve his earthly life and avoid suffering the just punishment for our sins. He obeyed God’s Law perfectly in our stead and then willingly laid down His life for us sinners. The Bible tells us in 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 that “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures …”

Like the grain of wheat that must sacrifice itself to produce more wheat, Jesus Christ sacrificed Himself to save mankind from sin and its eternal punishment. He died so that sinful men might receive forgiveness of sins and become children of God through faith in Him. His resurrection on the third day proves that His holy sacrifice was acceptable to God as full payment for all sins (cf. Rom. 4:23-25).

This little illustration of the kernel of wheat can also be applied to our lives. We cannot save ourselves or anyone else from sin and hell by our death, but since Christ has redeemed us by His innocent sufferings and death, we are to live our lives for Him. The Bible tells us of Christ Jesus: “He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again” (2 Cor. 5:15).

If we live for ourselves in this life and seek to preserve our lives, goals, and ambitions in this world and are unwilling to trust in the Lord Jesus Christ and walk with Him in accord with His Word – if we are not willing to deny ourselves, take up the cross of suffering which we must bear as faithful Christians, and follow Jesus Christ – we will end up losing our lives forever!

But if we trust in Jesus Christ as our Savior and set our hope upon eternal life with Him in heaven, we will then lay down the worldly goals and the pleasures of this life and live our lives for Him who has redeemed us from sin and eternal damnation and has given us a place in His eternal kingdom.

And the result of trusting in Jesus and His cross, sacrificing ourselves, and living our lives for Jesus in accord with His Word? Life. Life now in communion with God, and life eternal in His kingdom. We, too, will bear fruit for Christ Jesus and bring glory to our God and Savior (cf. Matt. 5:16; John 15:1-8).

“Grant that I only Thee may love and seek those things which are above till I behold Thee face to face, O Light eternal, through Thy grace. Amen.” (“Renew Me, O Eternal Light,” Translator: August Crull; Author: Johann Friedrich Ruopp,1714)

[Scripture is quoted from The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.]