Deuteronomy 25-27

Mark 14:27-53

“Very truly I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.” —John 12:24

When people come to Christ, they are looking for peace, joy, purpose and fulfilment. Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10). This is the invitation, but in John 12:25, He also said, “Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.” These two statements appear to be a paradox, but they are actually a means to an end. Here is the irony: the means to life is through death. The end is wholeness, but the means is brokenness. The end is victory, but the means is suffering. The end is resurrection, but the means is crucifixion.

In the opening verse of this devotion, Jesus is talking about a particular issue as well as a general principle. The particular issue refers to Himself. Just days before His crucifixion, Jesus said, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified” (John 12:23). Scripture speaks several times of “the hour that has come,” or “the hour which had yet to come.” This is the particular issue of Jesus’s crucifixion He speaks of.

Jesus then states the general principle: “Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life” (John 12:25). In other words, not only is Jesus willing to die in order to produce fruit, but so must we be willing to die. This is not a physical death, but rather dying to our own egos, desires and agendas to live for Christ’s agenda. Many people want what Christ offers—salvation and life to the full—but are not willing to pay the price of becoming a disciple, and living for Christ’s agenda. They remain a single seed that does not germinate, spring to life or bear fruit.

If a grain of wheat is going to reproduce itself, it first has to go into the ground and die. This is not about living in a dark hole, but about living in the light and fullness of Christ in order to release something far richer, better and fuller. Just as the seed in the ground germinates, comes to life and produces fruit, the seed of the gospel planted deeply within our hearts comes to life in the power of the resurrected life of Christ. The natural consequence of Christ indwelling our hearts is that it flows out into blessing for others, thereby planting more seeds in the hearts of others. For a disciple of Christ, nothing gives more joy than to plant the seed of the gospel, which the Holy Spirit will spring to life, and ultimately make more disciples for Him.

Lord Jesus, help me to be a fruitful disciple. Grant me many opportunities where I may plant the seed of the gospel into the hearts of others. Thank You, Lord.