John 12 Part 2

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.” Jn 12:24.

Jesus clarifies his mission here for his followers, that He MUST die to become the first fruit of faith. But he further illustrates to his followers that only in death to ourselves will we bear fruit. As he reminds us in verse 25, He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.” The seeds of faith are only planted through death to ourselves. Further, the fruit we bear is not just for this world but for the life to come. True faith and devotion to Christ go far beyond mere passive acceptance or simple prayers - they require a complete transformation of our lives and priorities. The metaphor of a grain of wheat falling to the ground and dying to produce fruit illustrates the fundamental principle that we must die to our old self and worldly desires to experience genuine spiritual life and bear fruit for God's kingdom. This death to self isn't about self-deprecation, but rather about reorienting our entire existence around Christ. Walking in the light involves actively pursuing truth through God's Word, living according to His commands, and making the most of our limited time on earth. God's unrestrained love, demonstrated through Christ's willingness to bear the full weight of human sin and the wrath of God, serves as our model for how we should love and serve others. This transformative love should impact every aspect of our lives, from our daily choices to our relationships with others.