Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 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.” John 12:23-24 NIV
Jesus spoke these words less than a week before the cross, making it clear that He realized the importance of enduring what was about to take place. He referred to a kernel of wheat as He gave Andrew and Philip a way to understand that by His death, He would impact far more people than He could in His short lifetime on earth. There’s no way they understood what He was saying at that moment, but I imagine they thought back on His words when they were mourning His death and found comfort in His love for people and His resolve to bear the cross for their good.
“Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.” John 12:25 NIV
He goes on to give them this simple but paradoxical truth; to save your life you must lay it down. This makes no sense unless you understand that the eternal is far more important and permanent than the temporal life we live now. That’s the understanding Jesus had when He endured the cross. I don’t believe He is encouraging us to literally hate our lives, but comparatively speaking, we must live for something far greater than the 70 or 80 years we have in this world or we will suffer great loss! What gives you the strength to do what’s right when your human nature and desires pull you in a different direction? If you are motivated by a desire to please God above all else, you’ll be able to deny your human nature. That’s what it means to hate your life in this world and keep it for eternal life. But if you love your life and thus cater to the desires of your human nature, in the end you will lose.
“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 12:26 NIV
I am challenged by these words of Jesus! If I desire to serve Him, I must follow the example He set for me when He laid down His life and picked up the cross! I must value the eternal above the temporary life I now live! In all my decisions, I must consider what pleases the Father and I must factor into my thoughts the impact my decision will have on others. When Jesus went to the cross, He relinquished all His rights. If I am to serve Him, I must do the same. That’s not an easy way to live, but it’s the only way, if you desire to be where Jesus is and to receive from the Father the honor He reserves for the servants of Christ.
“Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name!” John 12:27-28 NIV
I’m grateful these statements are recorded in God’s Word. In my struggle, it helps to know that Jesus struggled too. His soul was troubled! Nonetheless, His resolve to obey the Father and His love for us never wavered! He knew what He had to do and He was determined to stay strong! Father, may we share that same resolve and lay our lives down for you!