“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.]

“On the next day a great crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. They took branches of palm trees, and went out to meet Him, and cried out: ‘Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! The King of Israel!’
“Then Jesus, having found a young donkey, sat on it. As it is written: ‘Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your King is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt.’
“His disciples did not understand these things at first. But when Jesus was glorified, they remembered that these things were written about Him and that they had done these things to Him.
“Now the crowd that was with Him when He called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead bore witness. The crowd went and met Him for this reason: They heard that He had performed this sign. So the Pharisees said among themselves, ‘See, you are gaining nothing! Look, the world has followed Him!’” John 12:12-19

Do you know what the triumphal entry and the events of that day are all about? Yes, you may know what happened that day — how Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey’s colt and was hailed King of the Jews, but why? What does it all mean?

If you don’t know, you’re not alone. Jesus’ own disciples didn’t understand these things until after Jesus had risen from the dead and was glorified. It was as John writes, “Then Jesus, having found a young donkey, sat on it. As it is written: ‘Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your King is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt.’”

What was written about Jesus? From the Book of Zechariah, we see the ancient prophecy: “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! And cry aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; he is righteous and able to deliver, he is humble and riding on a donkey, a colt, the offspring of a donkey” (Zech. 9:9). We see these very words fulfilled; the people shouted words of praise to Jesus as the Messiah and Savior of Israel. They hailed Him as their King. Jesus was riding upon a donkey’s colt, just as the prophecy said and similar to the way King Solomon was made known as the king of Israel (cf. 1 Kings 1:32ff.).

And what did they cry out? John tells us the multitude cried out: “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! The King of Israel!” In Matthew 21:9, we read: “The crowds that went before Him and that followed Him cried out: ‘Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!’” Compare that to the words of Psalm 118:19ff. Hosanna, which is a call to the LORD to save now, together with the references to the Son of David, King of Israel, and He who comes in the name of the LORD, is an acclamation that Jesus is the Messiah and promised Savior who would save His people and establish an everlasting kingdom (cf. 2 Sam. 7:16).

Thus, the events of that day when Jesus rode into Jerusalem were a declaration that Jesus was the long-promised Messiah, the Son of David and King of Israel, who would save His people and establish an eternal kingdom. The people were calling upon Him to save them as God had promised. He was the one who would “redeem Israel from all his iniquities” (Psalm 130:8). And this acclamation and these words of praise came just days before He was crucified and died for the sins of the world to provide that promised salvation!

We, too, cry out: “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! The King of Israel!” We pray that He would usher in the day of our salvation — the salvation he won for us upon Calvary’s cross. We long for Him to come again and enter into the gates of the New Jerusalem and establish His everlasting kingdom and be our God and King forevermore! Cf. Phil. 2:5ff.; Rev. 7:9ff.; 19:11ff.; 21:1ff.; 21:22ff.

Hosanna, Hosanna, Hosanna in the Highest! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! We praise You, Christ Jesus, our Savior, and pray that You would come and establish Your everlasting kingdom and reign over us as our God and King. Amen.

[Scripture is taken from The Holy Bible, Modern English Version, Copyright © 2024, 2017, 2014 by United Bible Association. Published and distributed by Charisma House. All rights reserved.]

“When many of the Jews learned that He was there, they came, not for Jesus’ sake only, but that they might also see Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead. So the chief priests planned to put Lazarus to death also, because on account of him many of the Jews went away and believed in Jesus.” John 12:9-11 (Read John 11:55 — 12:11)

The chief priests and the Pharisees were watching for Jesus at the Passover feast so they could arrest Him and put Him to death. In fact, they “had given orders that if anyone knew where He was, he should report it, that they might seize Him” (John 11:57).

Six days before the Passover, Jesus arrived in Bethany (about two miles east of Jerusalem), the village where He had raised Lazarus from the dead. There, a supper was prepared for Jesus. Lazarus joined Jesus at the supper, Martha served, and Mary anointed Jesus’ feet with costly ointment and wiped them with her hair.

Jerusalem was crowded with people coming for the Passover feast, with some coming early to purify themselves before the feast began. When they learned that Jesus was in nearby Bethany, many of the Jews came there to see Him, not only Jesus but also Lazarus, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.

The Gospel of John tells us: “So the chief priests planned to put Lazarus to death also, because on account of him many of the Jews went away and believed in Jesus” (John 12:10-11).

The chief priests and religious rulers of the Jews were so opposed to anyone believing in Jesus that they were excommunicating anyone who professed faith in Him (cf. John 9:22,34-35), and now they planned to put Lazarus to death, as well, because he was living and breathing proof, after being dead and in the grave four days, that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and has the power to raise the dead. They planned to kill Lazarus because he was a back-from-the-dead, living witness for Jesus and caused many to believe in Jesus as the Christ.

What happens when people reject Jesus and refuse to believe in Him? They become hardened in their unbelief and refuse to accept the obvious truth. After all, how could Jesus call forth the dead from their graves if He were not the Son of God? The chief priests and religious leaders of the people heard about and saw the mighty miracles of Jesus, and they knew the Scriptures that pointed to Jesus as the Messiah — who He is and what He would do! Yet, they clung so tightly to their religious system of rites and works that they refused to believe and planned to silence the truth by killing Jesus — and Lazarus — and excommunicating all who professed faith in Jesus as the Son of God and Savior.

And what of Lazarus? Do you think he was shaking in his sandals at the thought of being put to death for his witness to Jesus? He had already been dead once and Jesus raised him from the dead by calling him forth from the tomb, saying, “Lazarus, come out!” (John 11:43-44). Could death hold him and silence him? He had nothing to fear!

Jesus’ enemies were so blinded by their unbelief that they failed to consider Jesus’ power to raise the dead — to raise Lazarus again should they kill him and to rise from the dead Himself on the third day after being crucified! They failed to see that they were fighting against the truth — against God Himself — and would not prevail.

My question is: What about you? Do you believe that Jesus is the eternal Son of God who came into this world as a man to atone for your sins and provide a way for you to be pardoned, forgiven, and have eternal life in communion with God? Or are you so set against the truth that Jesus is God the Son and the only way of salvation that you fight against the truth and seek to silence it and keep it out of your life?

It’s not too smart to reject and oppose the one who will one day soon call forth all the dead from their graves and be our Judge (cf. John 5:28-29; Psalm 2). Not only did He raise from the dead the daughter of Jairus (Matt. 9:18-26; Mark 5:21-43; Luke 8:40-56), the young man of Nain (cf. Luke 7:11-17) and Lazarus of Bethany (John 11:1-44); He Himself rose from the dead after being crucified for our sins (Matt. 28; Mark 16; Luke 24; John 20-21)!

Dear Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God and Son of Man, grant that I not ignore or reject the truth of who You are and what You have done for me, but trust in You as my God and Savior and look to You and Your cross for pardon, forgiveness, and life everlasting in fellowship with You. Amen.

[Scripture is quoted from The Holy Bible, Modern English Version, Copyright © 2024, 2017, 2014 by United Bible Association. Published and distributed by Charisma House. All rights reserved.]

“Then Mary took a pint of very costly ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the ointment.” John 12:3 (Read John 12:1-9)

Not much is told to us in the Bible about Mary, the sister of Lazarus and Martha. We know that she sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His Word on one occasion when Martha was busy serving (Luke 10:38-42), and we know that she was present when Lazarus died and when Jesus came and raised him from the dead (John 11).

Just before Jesus entered Jerusalem to suffer and die on the cross for the sins of all mankind, Jesus was the honored guest at a supper in Bethany. Martha served, and Mary came and anointed the head and feet of Jesus with a very costly ointment (cf. Matt. 26:6-13), worth around 300 denarii (approximately 300 days wages).

The disciples, and especially Judas who kept the money box and stole from it, were upset and indignant over this extravagant act, but Jesus told them to leave Mary alone. She was anointing His body for burial, and this deed of hers would be remembered and spoken of wherever the Gospel was preached.

Mary acted in love for her Lord and Savior. She understood what Jesus’ disciples had not yet grasped: that Jesus was going to the cross to suffer and die for her sins and the sins of all.

Do you know the love of Jesus? Do you realize the tremendous love He has for you — love which moved Him to willingly lay down His life for your sins so that you might have forgiveness and life everlasting rather than the condemnation and eternal punishment of God you deserve? Have you taken the time to sit at Jesus’ feet and hear His Word? Through His Word, God desires to graciously bless you with an understanding of His love and mercy toward you for Jesus’ sake!

Consider God’s great love for us sinners: “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8); “In this is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins” (1 John 4:10); “Jesus Christ … loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood” (Rev. 1:5).

O dearest Jesus, thank You for loving me so much that You came into this world and willingly went to the cross to bear the punishment for my sins. Forgive me for all that I have done wrong and for my failure to love You and appreciate Your great gift of salvation. Give me the desire to sit at Your feet and read and study Your Word, and open up my heart and mind so that I might understand what You have done for me, trust in You, and follow You unto life everlasting. Amen.

[Scripture is quoted from The Holy Bible, Modern English Version, Copyright © 2024, 2017, 2014 by United Bible Association. Published and distributed by Charisma House. All rights reserved.]

“Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, yet shall he live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?’” John 11:25-26 (Read all of John 11.)

If only Jesus had been there, Lazarus would not have died! So thought both Martha and Mary, Lazarus’ sisters (John 11:21,32). We, too, may have had similar thoughts when we lost a loved one to death — if only Jesus would have been here!

Yet Lazarus’ death was for the glory of Jesus Christ, God the Son in human flesh (John 11:4). Jesus was going to raise him up from the dead. When those who have trusted in Christ are raised up again on the Last Day and given everlasting life in heaven, this too will bring glory to God the Son; for without His innocent sufferings and death in our stead and His glorious resurrection, we could only rise to the eternal torments of hell!

When Jesus told Martha that her brother would rise again, she said, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day” (John 11:24). It is then that Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, yet shall he live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26).

Jesus was telling Martha that not only would her brother rise again on the Last Day, but He (Jesus) is “the resurrection and the life”! Jesus is the one who will raise up all the dead on the Last Day, and Jesus is the one who gives life. He breathed life into Adam’s breathless body at creation (Gen. 2:7); He breathes spiritual life into us today (John 1:4; 5:21,24-26; 10:10); and He will raise up all the dead on the Last Day and give eternal life to all who have believed on Him (John 5:27-29)!

And so it is that the one who trusts in Jesus as his Savior, even if he dies, shall live again; for Jesus, who is the resurrection and the life, will raise him up at the Last Day. And whoever lives and trusts in Jesus shall in no way [a Greek double negative amplifying the negative] ever die, forever and ever into eternity; for even when their body dies, their soul goes to be with the Lord Jesus in heaven (Phil. 1:21-23; 2 Cor. 5:1-10; Rev. 7:9-17). Then, on the Last Day, when Jesus returns and raises the dead, their bodies will be raised up and reunited with their souls, and they will live forever with the Lord (1 Thess. 4:13-18; 1 Cor. 15)!

Do you believe this? Do you believe that Jesus is the Son of God and that it is He who will raise the dead and give everlasting life to all who believe in Him? Consider the evidence. Not only did He heal the sick and open the eyes of the blind, He raised the dead. When Jesus went to the tomb of Lazarus, who had already been dead for four days, He said, “Lazarus, come out!” (John 11:43); Lazarus walked from the tomb alive!

Not only this but after His own death on the cross for our sins, Jesus rose from the dead on the third day in victory so that we might trust in Him and be assured of forgiveness and everlasting life in His name!

O dearest Jesus, grant us faith to trust in You as our Savior and hold fast to You, even in death, that we might be raised up on the Last Day, at the sound of Your voice, unto life everlasting and to the glory of Your holy name. Amen.

[Scripture is quoted from The Holy Bible, Modern English Version, Copyright © 2024, 2017, 2014 by United Bible Association. Published and distributed by Charisma House. All rights reserved.]