Dear Ones:
The “word pictures,” or illustrations, that the Lord used in instructing His disciples, are remarkable in that He takes real world facts and truths, and applies them in such a way that we can easily grasp them. Such is the case of “the corn of wheat” that falls into the ground and dies. (John 12:24) The application and main point is this: “…If it (the corn of wheat) die, it bringeth forth MUCH FRUIT. We find this concept of “much fruit” mentioned again in John 15, when it is a question of abiding in the Lord Jesus, and Him, abiding in us. But in order to get to “much fruit,” we must first look at the condition(s) that must be met. What does it mean for the corn of wheat falling into the ground and dying?
In all of our interpretation of Scripture, we always find our application of the truth revealed to us and applied in the life of the Lord Jesus on this earth. He is the “expression,” the “declaration” of the truth, of reality. The corn of wheat speaks of His life…which is not His own, but given, yielded to the Father. When it falls into the ground and dies, it most certainly speaks of His death. But where did that concept of His death begin? I venture to say that the day Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist in the Jordan, He accepted the sentence of death upon His life. But what does this mean, for He did not physically die that day?
In John 15:13, the Lord Jesus says, “Greater love hath no man that this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye DO whatsoever I command you.” When Jesus speaks of dying, He most certainly means dying to ourselves to live for Him. The man or woman who has died to his, or her, life in this world, has chosen to live FOR Him, according to “His commands.” It is a life laid down to live for Another.
Note that there is an “act” of dying, followed by an “attitude.” There is the initial denying to oneself, and the taking up of one’s cross to follow Christ. But this is followed by an attitude, of “daily” doing so. It must be noted equally that when we die to ourselves, not only do we yield to the will of Another, but we leave behind the “resources” of the self-oriented life in the grave. There becomes available to us, all that is IN Jesus Christ to enable us to follow Him. It is very important to see that dying is only a gateway to Life, and the appropriation of Christ’s life for every need.
The act of the corn of wheat falling into the ground and dying, is followed by a process of learning God’s ways, and knowing increasingly the reality of Christ’s indwelling by His Spirit. J.C. Lavater put it very well: “O Jesus Christ, grow Thou in me, and all things else recede: My heart be daily nearer Thee, From sin be daily freed.”
Dear Lord, grant that today this shall be so.
Love, Dad