Introduction

Welcome, beloved family of God. It's a joy to gather together in this sacred space, a sanctuary where we come to meet with the Almighty, to seek His face, to hear His voice, and to be transformed by His Word.

We stand on the cusp of a profound exploration of God's Word today, an exploration that will take us into the depths of despair and onto the heights of hope. Our passage today is a rich tapestry of prophetic utterances and redemptive promises, a testament to God's unfailing love for us.

We turn our hearts to the Gospel of John, chapter 12, verses 20 to 36: "Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the festival. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. 'Sir,' they said, 'we would like to see Jesus.' Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus. Jesus replied, 'The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.'"

And then we find ourselves in the comforting words of the prophet Jeremiah, chapter 31, verses 31 to 34: '"The days are coming,' declares the Lord, 'when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah. It will not be like the covenant I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke my covenant, though I was a husband to them,' declares the Lord. 'This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time,' declares the Lord. 'I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.'"

Hope in the Midst of Death

In the heart of the Gospel of John, we find a profound truth. Jesus, speaking to His disciples, uses a simple yet powerful metaphor. He speaks of a kernel of wheat falling to the ground and dying. At first glance, this may seem like a bleak image. But let's pause for a moment and consider what happens when a seed falls to the ground.

When a seed is planted in the soil, it's enveloped in darkness. It's isolated, buried, and seemingly forgotten. But it's in this very place of darkness and death that the seed begins to transform. It's here that it begins to sprout and grow, eventually breaking through the soil into the light, bearing fruit for the world to enjoy.

This is the picture Jesus paints for us. He is the kernel of wheat that falls to the ground and dies. His death, as tragic and heartbreaking as it was, was necessary for new life to spring forth. In the midst of our own trials and tribulations, we can find hope in this truth. When we face hardships, when we feel like we're buried in the darkness, we can remember that it's often in these very places that new life begins to sprout. We can remember that Jesus, our Savior, went through the ultimate trial and tribulation.

Now, let's look at this from another angle. Jesus didn't just speak of His own death. He also spoke of our need to die to ourselves. He said, "Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life." This is a challenging statement, isn't it? It goes against our natural instincts. We cling to our lives. We cling to our comfort, our security, our plans, our dreams. But Jesus calls us to let go. He calls us to die to ourselves, to our own desires and ambitions.

But why? Why would He ask this of us? Because He knows that it's only when we let go of our lives that we can truly find them. It's only when we die to ourselves that we can truly live. This is the paradox of the Christian life. In death, we find life. In surrender, we find victory. In losing ourselves, we find ourselves in Him.

This requires a willingness to let go of our control and trust in His. But the reward is worth it. The reward is a life of true freedom, true joy, and true peace. The reward is a life that is rooted and grounded in His love, a love that is stronger than death itself.

And this leads us to another important aspect of our passage. Jesus didn't just speak of His death and our need to die to ourselves. He also spoke of the fruit that comes from death. He said, "But if it dies, it produces many seeds." This is the promise of the Gospel. This is the promise of the cross. Jesus' death wasn't in vain. It wasn't a tragic end. And so it is with us. When we die to ourselves, when we surrender our lives to Him, we too can bear fruit.

Harvesting the Fruits of Christ's Sacrifice

As we reflect on the words of Jesus in John 12, we find ourselves drawn to the image of a kernel of wheat ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO