death & resurrection

John 12:24

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit."

We are asking what it means to glorify GOD. The Westminster Shorter Catechism says it's our whole purpose for being alive! When we look at a modern definition of "GLORY" it says "Great honor, praise, or distinction accorded by common consent; renown."

In yesterday's verse, Jesus said "The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified." Jesus is on His way to the cross. Where He is tortured and killed. The death and resurrection is the reason Jesus became incarnate. How is this brutality Glorifying God? Is this what GOD means?

If we keep reading, in today's verse we get another piece of the puzzle. "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit." What Jesus is saying here is VERY important. He indicates this with attention getting “Verily, verily.” Verily means "truly." It is used to emphasize a statement or opinion. And, to say it TWICE is to add EXTRA emphasis.

With even basic life experience, we know that a seed or grain of wheat has life in it. But, for that life to be released and grow, the seed must be buried. And, the seed itself "dies" so that the new plant may grow. New roots form, then a blade. Which becomes a stalk and a full plant. That will in due time develop a head of seeds that will produce their own plants. In successive generations, the wheat plant multiplies and fills the whole field, providing an abundant harvest! This natural order of reproduction and growth tells us something about life and the way GOD intends our world to work.