This sermon explores Jesus' illustration of His mission and the nature of true discipleship, emphasizing the joy found in a life surrendered to Christ.
Good morning, dear friends. It is a joy to be with you in the house of the Lord today, a place where we come together as a family, united in our love for Christ and our desire to know Him more deeply. We gather here, not as strangers meeting by chance, but as brothers and sisters in Christ, bound together by His love and grace.
Today, we have the privilege of opening God's Word together, to listen to His voice and to allow His truth to shape our hearts and minds. We will be turning to the Gospel of John, chapter 12, verses 20-33. Allow me to read the passage: "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. Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name!' Then a voice came from heaven, 'I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.' The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him. Jesus said, 'This voice was for your benefit, not mine. Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.' He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die."
In this passage, we see Jesus giving us a profound illustration of His mission and the nature of true discipleship. He speaks of a seed falling to the ground and dying, and through that death, producing a plentiful harvest. This is a vivid picture of His own death and resurrection, and the abundant spiritual harvest that would result from it. But it also speaks to us, His followers, about the cost and reward of discipleship.
The Passover is a significant event in the history of God's people, a time when they remember God's deliverance from bondage in Egypt. This event is marked by the sacrifice of a lamb, whose blood was applied to the doorposts of the Israelites' homes, causing the angel of death to pass over them. This act of salvation foreshadows the ultimate act of deliverance that God would perform through His Son, Jesus Christ.
In the Gospel of John, Jesus is often referred to as the Lamb of God. Just as the blood of the Passover lamb spared the Israelites from death, so the blood of Jesus, shed on the cross, spares us from the eternal death that our sins deserve. This is the prophetic promise of the Passover, a promise that finds its fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ.
In the passage we read earlier, Jesus speaks about His impending death. He uses the metaphor of a seed falling to the ground and dying to illustrate the necessity of His sacrifice. Just as a seed must die in order to produce a harvest, so Jesus must die in order to bring about the salvation of the world. This is a clear reference to His role as the ultimate Passover Lamb, whose death would bring life to many.
But this promise is not just about salvation from death; it's also about the life that Jesus offers. When Jesus speaks of the seed producing many seeds, He's speaking about the abundant life that He offers to those who believe in Him. This life is not just eternal in quantity, but also in quality. It's a life marked by the presence and power of God, a life of love, joy, peace, and purpose.
This abundant life is available to all who believe in Jesus, but it comes with a cost. Jesus makes it clear that those who want to serve Him must be willing to follow Him, even if it means losing their life. This is a call to die to self, to let go of our own desires and ambitions, and to live for Christ. This is the cost of discipleship, but it's a cost that's worth paying, for the reward is eternal life.
In the heart of the Gospel of John, we find a parable that is as profound as it is simple ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO
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