John 12:24-26

Die to Do

v.24-26 shows how glorification of son of man accomplished. How fuller life of Christ reached
through his death. It tells about disciple must follow his ways through self-sacrifice and self-
surrender.
1) Die to be Fruitful:
V24. Christ compares his death with sowing seed, which leads to destruction and through that
destruction there will be abundant increase. Here we can see “double verily.” It stress the important
of truth what Jesus want to say. He used illustrations to be easily understood by people.
Everybody knows that the seed which is kept in shelf will not grow. First we must allow to fall
into the ground and die. It conveys the truth that Jesus had to die. World depends upon his death
for salvation.
As long as He stay among humans in a body of flesh, though He is sinless, perfect, holy, those
attributes could not save human. Those attributes help us to show how unholy and ungodly we are.
His death on cross was only way a harvest of souls could be reaped. His death, burial and
resurrection would bring forth much fruit.
If we look into structure of wheat, it composed of three parts. Barn/Coat followed by Endosperm
underneath it there will be Germ.
Germ is the main part which produces the plant. In order to produce plant, first two layers coat and
endosperm must die. Until and unless those two layers die, seed will not be productive.
As a minister we too are covered by many layers. Most of the times we are covered by pride and
pleasure as wheat is covered by coat and endosperm. In v.24, the usage of word ‘except’ or
‘unless’ was very strong word. It shows there is no other choice. It had to die.
Unless corn of wheat fall into ground, unless corn of wheat die, there can be no harvest.
To do fruitful ministry, to get fruitful harvest a minister must become godly. To become godly,
minister must die. Need to face various afflictions, hard pressed by different situations, may be
suffer hunger, nakedness etc… it seem every moment to be almost swallowed up by death. These
will lead us to yield fruit.

2) Die to Gain:

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v.25, Christ adding exhortation to his teaching. This statement was recorded frequently 6 times.
Meaning is so clear. One who loves his/her life, one who thinks more of life in this world than the
life to come, shall lose it. On the other hand who cares little for the life in this world will gain it.
The person who thinks life as dressing room for life to come will prepare for it and gain eternal
glory.
This verse shows the contrast between love and hatred life.
Love life: A person who is under influence of desire and cannot leave the world.
Hate life: A person who denies his life and advances courageously to death is said to be that the
person hates life.
Not that we should the completely, but we should lay down cheerfully when it becomes obstacle
or hinders our access to Christ. If we love anything more than God it becomes an obstacle for
access to God.
We all go under such situation where we give priority to something more than God.
To gain the whole world is to lose our own soul.
Everyone are anxious about their safety and family safety. So we concentrate on this worldly life.
We think about our own ministry rather than God’s ministry.
In order to gain eternal life our desire life should die.

3) Die to be Honored:
v.26, speaking to those who want to become His followers. Who wishes to serve Christ, must
follow Him, walk in his steps, share His life by carrying cross. We much not look for earthly riches,
houses, lands, crowns, honors. To follow Jesus is to deny self and worldly ambitions.
If we deny Him, He will deny us. If we are faithful stewards we will receive a full reward, a reward
which is promised. This promise is divine honor. God heavenly Father will give us which world
has never seen. Promise which he gave was for faithful stewardship will be, we will be honored
and glorified. It is a divine honor. John14:2 says he will give us mansions.
In order to be honored, our worldly ambitions should die.
Die to Harvest
Die to Gain
Die to be Honored
Let us think
Do I love myself or surrendered to world?

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Am I selfish or self-centered?
Am I living for the world?
Am I developing God’s kingdom or my own kingdom?
We need to be so courageous to die or sacrifice our lives to God who loved us. In order to have
fruitful harvest, eternal life and glorified honor, we must die. Die to Do.

Is. 29:18-22
Acts 16:9-15
Jn. 8:31-36