John 12:23-24, ‘But Jesus answered them, saying, “...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.” ‘
According to science, after a seed has fallen into the ground and is covered with dirt, it dies and begins germination (Germination is the process of seeds developing into new plants). The process is simple. The seed’s hard protective shell around falls away in deterioration. The cotyledons are empowered by favourable factors like water availability, and temperature. This can only take place after the outer shells open up completely. The (inner)seed becomes filled with water in a process called imbibition. This water activates special proteins, called enzymes, that begin the process of seed growth. First the seed grows a root to access water underground. Next, the shoots, or growth above ground, begin to appear. The seed sends a shoot towards the surface, where it will grow leaves to harvest energy from the sun. The leaves continue to grow towards the LIGHT source in a process called photomorphogenesis.
That's science, you may say.
But Christ Jesus wasn't wrong in John 12:24.
Let's look at the mystery behind Jesus speech.
"As long as a grain of wheat keeps on being a kernel in the head of a stalk of wheat, it remains just that: a lone kernel of wheat among many such kernels. Only when it is detached from the head and buried into the ground by a farmer does it have a chance of producing more grain."
In like manner, Jesus is saying,
The grain of wheat is a LIFE. Its your life and mine too. Also, Jesus was referring to His life too (bible scholars shouldn't get me wrong).
The grain that wants to be productive and fulfilled must be ready to go deep into the soil and dies.
That takes place when a life - that's you - truly come to know Jesus as his/her Lord and Saviour. The seed is planted.
Romans 6:3-4,”...We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.”
Just been planted is not all. The grain of wheat has to give up its shells, its outer husk and die.
You have to die to yourself. The outer shells of your life has be taken off. Self and flesh must be put to death so that growth can commence. Colossians 3:5-7,”Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry… You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived.”
When can there be any type of metamorphosis without there first being a death and a falling away of the outer husk, which represents the sin in our lives, or our harden hearts or our attitude or nature? Romans 8:13,”For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.”
All I'm saying is that when you completely loose sight of yourself and sell out to God's nature, His will, His desire and His ways you no longer represent the you that your family had but, old things pass away and all things become new. Your cotyledon (SPIRIT MAN) becomes filled and charged with the WATER of LIFE and the HEAT of the holy Spirit respectively. Your entire spirit man becomes empowered for germination and growth. At this juncture, your spirit is modified - the shoot and roots grow. Romans 8:15-16,”...the spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.”
At that point, you have taken on the nature and mind of God and become His beloved. Now that's a beautiful death. Colossians 3:3,”For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.”
And that's also a beautiful ressurection and rebirth because all things have become new. That is the mystery of the born again experience, 1 Corinthians 15:44, “it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.”
That is not all.
You becomes a living epistle written and read of men because what remains is a raised spiritual body that begets others!
1 Corinthians 15:44-45, ‘it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body… So it is written: “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit.’
Now can you understand except the grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies it remains alone and unproductive. And, Christ said a life that cannot produce fruits shall be cut off and counted as useless.
If you want to be productive in God's kingdom, you must die to yourself. Only when you do that will you have the opportunity to be fruitful in His kingdom. Moreover, you have Jesus as an example. Philippians 2:6-11,”In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:...”
Though He was equal to God, but He did not count His equality something to be grasped and held onto; rather, He emptied - died to - Himself by taking the form of a bond-servant and being made in the likeness of men. In other words, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the Father, even though by doing so I was writing His own death sentence.
In conclusion, what Jesus was saying to his audience in John 12 was that only when you die to yourself, refusing to live life autonomously but in service to me and others, will you be amply rewarded in eternity.
Are you dead to self?
Are you alive in Christ?
Who rules your spirit man, flesh or the spirit of God?
If its ruled by the Spirit of God, how far can you go for the Gospel of Christ?
How far can you go for the sake of others?
Do you want to produce fruits?
Or you want to fold your hands, watch others perish and be alone - in the state of unproductiveness?
Remember,
If you are saved you are good. But if you win a soul, you are wise!
Irrespective of that reason of yours, The only reason why you are not winning souls is because you can't preach what you don't practise!
You can't teach what you don't have!
In other words ( rather in a nutshell) it implies you are not dead!
Watch it because whatever hinders you here, will hinder you in eternity.
Mark 8:38, “If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”
So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord. If you are dead to flesh, you will be willing to give up your life for it. Mark 8:34-35, “...Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it.”
Join in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God.
For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you. For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.
And He save you to lead others!
Apostle Julius Ikhide-Iyke Etaifo
Nation Of Grace Ministries
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