CREDIT: Curt Dennison, Osborn & Barr Communications
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
As Spring gets going many of us love the color and life that comes with it. The flowers seem to wake up from their winter’s nap and bring all kinds of beauty to God’s creation. Some of them even last through Summer and into Fall. But eventually, this life fades. But that’s part of the cycle of life God has instituted in His creation.
The great thing about a cycle is this … it comes back again. The purpose of a flower is to make seeds. When the flower dies, the seeds drop into the soil. Then, when the warmer days and rains of Spring come, the many seeds from the one flower begin growing to create new flowers.
This fact of God’s creation is the basis for Jesus’ short parable in John 8. Shortly after Jesus enters Jerusalem to the joyous “Hosannas” of the crowds, He says, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” (John 8:24)
Jesus uses this familiar example to teach the reality of what awaits Him later in the week. He knows He will be “lifted up” - that is crucified. He is one perfect, sinless man. He will die. He will be buried in the earth. But the result of His death and burial will be “much fruit” for His Father’s kingdom in heaven.
As a result of His suffering and death, Jesus will enable all mankind - separated from His Father by their sin - to be cleansed of that sin. Then, through His resurrection from the dead, all who believe in Him will also receive eternal life with Him. By His lonely death on the cross. By His lonely burial in the earth. By His resurrection, all mankind … billions and billions of people from across the ages of history and from all nations, tribes, and languages live again. Without it, God’s kingdom would be an empty place indeed.
In the Peace of God,
Pastor Jim