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When Wheat Dies

This time of year I can't take a step in our driveway without crushing about a hundred acorns. We are surrounded by oak trees, so the acorns are innumerable. I like the sound of the crunching under my feet, and I also like that the sight of dead acorns reminds me of the words of Jesus.

When speaking to His disciples in John 12, Jesus didn't mention acorns, but rather grains of wheat. In the 24th verse Jesus said, "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." 

This was spoken in response to a group of people who requested an audience with Jesus. Surprisingly, Jesus turned down this request, telling Philip and Andrew "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified (v.23)." 

We would expect Jesus to drop what He was doing and speak to the people who wanted to see Him, but for the first time in His ministry, He announced that the hour had come. Jesus was making His way to the cross. 

In the analogy He was the grain of wheat that was going to fall to the earth and die. Jesus prophesied of His imminent death. But it was going to be a beneficial death. We understand that the death of things like fruit actually brings about new life as their seeds make their way into the dirt and can eventually spring forth as a whole new plant, capable of yielding even more fruit. 

Jesus' death was going to result in a harvest, where all who trust in Him will die to themselves and be resurrected to a new life. 

Author Tara-Leigh Cobble paraphrased Jesus words this way: "I'm busy right now. It's time for me to die. But don't worry--this will bear much fruit. And pretty soon you'll be following in My footsteps." 

Jesus wasn't being rude to the ones who wanted to see Him. They didn't need to follow Him then since He hadn't gone to the cross yet. But now, after His resurrection, we all can follow Jesus into new life. So if you can't avoid stepping on the acorns, at least let them serve as a reminder that Jesus' death brings about life. 

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