Buried for life

I am telling you the truth: a grain of wheat remains no more than a single grain unless it is dropped into the ground and dies. If it does die, then it produces many grains. Those who love their own life will lose it; those who hate their own life in this world will keep it for life eternal. Whoever wants to serve me must follow me, so that my servant will be with me where I am. And my Father will honour anyone who serves me.’ (verses 24-26)

Read John 12:20-26

Seeds appear to be as dead as pebbles yet are mysterious bundles of stored life. Keeping a close and wondering eye on a seed does not reveal the life inside. The seed’s life only becomes evident when it has been effectively destroyed, given over to the elements, hidden in the soil. If the seed is to live, it must first die.

Life through death, gain through loss, keeping through giving away—these are major consistent themes of Jesus, aptly illustrated by his own life and death. He himself was the mysterious buried seed from which ‘the green blade rises’, as the hymn puts it.

Jesus does not ask his baptised children to treat the precious gift of their lives with contempt. He does want us to know that we only discover the true value of our lives when we see his life given for ours, on the cross. Then, as people in whom Christ now lives, we reveal to others the value of their lives, by our loving ‘giving away’ of our own, to serve them.

Help me to give my life away, Lord Jesus, so that, in the giving, someone else might discover the value of their own. Amen.

by Rev Aub Podlich, in ‘Assurance for each Day’ (LCA, Openbook, 2004)

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