In the same way, anyone who holds on to life just as it is destroys that life. But if you let it go, reckless in your love, you’ll have it forever, real and eternal. – John 12
I like the transition from winter to spring where I live. It’s a time when the snow melts, the birds come back, and there is an anticipation of new life everywhere. The sun seems to shine brighter, the weather gets warmer, and the light lasts longer.
It’s when I can walk around my yard and see all of the green sprouts in the ground. They are the new growth of all the bushes, flowers, and greens throughout my yard. A time when everything that died over the winter is exploding back through the ground to start all over again. Like a miracle of growth. A miracle of new life.
A Grain of Wheat Must Die in John Chapter 12 is an excellent reminder of why Jesus came here. His purpose to live on earth and die for each of us, so we can all experience eternal life. Amazing miracle of growth in our faith. Amazing miracle of new life for each of us. All we need to do is let go of the grip that we hold so tightly to on this earth and it’s earthly ways. We need to lay it down for Jesus as he did for us that day on the cross.
…”Listen carefully: Unless a grain of wheat is buried in the ground, dead to the world, it is never any more than a grain of wheat. But if it is buried, it sprouts and reproduces itself many times over. In the same way, anyone who holds on to life just as it is destroys that life. But if you let it go, reckless in your love, you’ll have it forever, real and eternal.
“If any of you wants to serve me, then follow me. Then you’ll be where I am, ready to serve at a moment’s notice. The Father will honor and reward anyone who serves me.
“Right now I am storm-tossed. And what am I going to say? ‘Father, get me out of this’? No, this is why I came in the first place. I’ll say, ‘Father, put your glory on display.’ “
A voice came out of the sky: “I have glorified it, and I’ll glorify it again.”
The listening crowd said “Thunder!”
Others said, “An angel spoke to him!”
Jesus said, “The voice didn’t come for me but for you. At this moment the world is in crisis. Now Satan, the ruler of this world, will be thrown out. And I, as I am lifted up from the earth, will attract everyone to me and gather them around me.” He put it this way to show how he was going to be put to death…
…Jesus said, “For a brief time still, the light is among you. Walk by the light you have so darkness doesn’t destroy you. If you walk in darkness, you don’t know where you’re going. As you have the light, believe in the light. Then the light will be within you, and shining through your lives. You’ll be children of light.”
Right now our world is in a moment of crisis as it was in our reading for today. Lets not let Satan win today. Let’s throw him out of the picture by gathering yourself and your family to sing God’s praises. Let’s be the light amongst the darkness. Take a day to just be the light to others. Walk away from the news, walk away from your phones, walk away from social media – and just be. Just be present in the life of your loved ones. Be a child of the light. Be new life to the death that permeates around you. Smile because Jesus loves you!
Simply. Honestly. Emily. 