A Seed Planted

PASSAGE FOR THE DAY:
John 12 (click the link)


KEY VERSES:
23 Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 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. 25 Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me. (John 12:23-26, NIV)


REFLECTIONS:
It’s crazy when you think about the fact that a seed planted in the ground actually dies.  Every living “green” thing that I can think about comes from a planted seed.  Fruits, vegetables, trees, everything!

So I think it’s pretty obvious what this passage is talking about, right?  We have to lose our lives in order to gain eternal life. We’re supposed to throw ourselves in front a bus, literally.  I’m just kidding of course.  But does it mean that figuratively as well?  I honestly think it depends.  And please understand that what follows is purely my own opinion.

The text says “If you love your life, you’ll lose it.  If you hate your life in this world, you’ll keep it for eternal life” (verse 25).  Does this mean if you find joy and happiness in your life you’re supposed to stop being happy?  Does it mean our lives on earth are supposed to be miserable and unfulfilling?  No!  I truly believe that we are supposed to live life to the fullest, to love our lives as they are on earth.  We’re supposed to find joy in what we do, in our loved ones, in everything.  

But wait, am I contradicting what Jesus said? I don't think so. Here’s what I think Jesus meant: when the things of earth get in our way of ministry, or a “heavenly” or “Jesus-like” mindset we have a problem.  When our money, our desires, our love for anything in this world is distracting us from ministering to others, loving the people surrounding our lives, or walking in the way that Jesus did, then we are living our lives too much… and that's a problem, according to Jesus.  

So what does it look like for us to "hate" our lives while we are in this world?  Well, for everyone it is different.  For some of us, it might mean getting rid of our TV or Internet. If those things are distracting us from whole-heartedly following Jesus, then they are a problem! For others, it might have to do with money or possessions (a.k.a. “keeping up with the Joneses”). If our love for money or possessions or the popularity that those things bring to us outweighs our love for Jesus, then that's a problem! For others, it might have to do with fear or a desire for safety or a love of comfort. Jesus sometimes asks us to do big, costly, dangerous, faith-stretching things, and if we can't do those things because of our fear, our lack of faith, or our desire to hold onto a safe and easy life, then that's a problem! For others, it may have to do with a deeply-ingrained selfishness. Jesus asks us to give our lives away in loving service to others, and if we are too focused upon ourselves or our own wants and desires to sacrifice for the good of others, then that's a problem!

Jesus is the ultimate example of dying to oneself.  Aside from living his whole life in poverty, not having an actual “home” (at least during his ministry years), and ministering to the “untouchables,” he embraced the suffering of the cross on our behalf.  The cross was the worst form of death imaginable to those in the first century (and maybe still to this day). It was slow and painful.  It was public. It was humiliating.  

Jesus died to himself in every way, and finally in the most ultimate way imaginable.  He did so to literally become the Tree of Life, just as a seed dies underground and grows into a tree.  He did so, so that we wouldn’t have to.  He died to take on our sins, so our sins wouldn’t bring us death.  This isn’t just Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice but God’s as well.  I love the way N.T. Wright phrases this “[It will be a] triumph of God’s self-giving love, the love that looks death itself in the face and defeats it by meeting it voluntarily, on behalf not just of Israel but of the whole world.”

Jesus paid the ultimate sacrifice.  He asks us to sacrifice as well.  For some of us it will literally mean we will lose our lives.  For most of us it is probably more like the things I mentioned at the beginning of my reflection.  For each one of us it looks totally different.  But each one of us is being asked to plant our seed deep in the ground, to let it die, and let God cultivate it to grow.  

So where will you plant yours?


WHO AM I?
My name is Kate Sansom and when I was 19 years old I had the privilege of seeing where Jesus’ walked firsthand.  Seeing Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Jericho, Gethsemane, and so many other biblical places was a life changing experience.  This picture was taken on top of the wall that surrounds “Old Jerusalem.”  What an amazing place.  I highly recommend that if you ever have the chance to go to Israel that you go.  I hope that I get to go again someday.