Jn.12:23-33, The passion and glory of a wheat grain.

Jn.12:23-33, The passion and glory of a wheat grain.

12:23-33,
23 Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.
24 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.
25 Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
26 Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.
27 “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.
28 Father, glorify your name! ”Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.”
29 The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him.
30 Jesus said, “This voice was for your benefit, not mine.
31 Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out.
32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”
33 He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.

<Summary of Sermon>
  The death of Jesus on the cross is truly tragic and painful. But Jesus calls it glory. Verse 23, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.” It is a paradox that sees death as a glory. This is explained by the parable of the grain of wheat. Verse 24, “…if a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it bears much fruit.” The Lord will die like a grain of wheat and receive the glory of saving countless souls. Rev. 5:12 praises this glory. “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” Jesus' death is the way to life. Verse 25, “Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.”
There are two types of people in the world: those who love life and those who live according to their own desires. The former gains life (Jesus), the latter loses life. Gal. 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” To serve Jesus, we must follow Him. Verse 26, “Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.
  He must go to the place of bearing the cross, so that he becomes a servant of the Lord. The Christian life is the way of the cross. But the cross is a great pain. Even the Lord suffers before the cross. Verse 27, “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.” He was forsaken by the Father (Matt.27:46). But he is glorified. Verse 28, “Father, glorify your name! ”Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.”
Obedience is the life of a saint. By his own death, the world was judged and Jesus overcame the devil (Col. 2:15). Now the Lord reigns forever. Rev. 11:15, “The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will reign for ever and ever.”
  Jesus saves and leads many people by dying on the cross. Verse 32, “And I, when I am lifted up‡‡from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”
whether we reach eternal life or eternal death depends on whether we believe in Jesus as our Savior. The cross of Jesus is the way to glory. Like a grain of wheat, the Lord gave His life to save sinners. As disciples of the Lord, we follow Him on this way of the cross to receive life and glory (24). The cross of Jesus is the place where death and resurrection, suffering and glory, judgment and salvation meet.
The Lyrics of Hymn #487 show this truth,
“1) After darkness comes light, Gain after loss, Strength after weakness, Crown after cross; Sweet after bitter, Hope after fears, Home after wandering, Praise after tears.
2) Sheaves after sowing, Sun after rain, Sight after mystery, Peace after pain;
 Joy after sorrow, Calm after blast, Rest after weariness, Sweet rest at last.
3) Near after distant, Gleam after gloom, Love after loneliness, Life after tomb
 After long agony, Rapture of bliss, Right was the pathway, Leading to this.
4) Bliss after agony, Gain after loss,Home after wandering, Grown after cross.
 After breath's failure, Life evermore. Such ways are truth, Blessed and sure!“

 Let's face the Holy Week, believe in the suffering and death of Jesus, receive salvation and eternal life, and live as precious children of the Lord who preach the gospel of salvation. Amen.