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Jesus is our Kernel of Wheat

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I tell you the truth, 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.

(John 12:24)

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In Judah, where Jesus lived, there was an important season called the Passover.
During the Passover, many people from different regions came to Jerusalem and worshiped.

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This happened when Jesus stayed at Jerusalem with the disciples for the Passover. There were some Greeks who came for the Passover Feast and they asked Philip, who is one of the disciples, that they wanted to meet with Jesus Christ. "We want to meet with Jesus. Allow us to see Jesus."

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At that time meeting with Gentile people was not that common to Jewish people so Philip and Andrew went to Jesus to tell him.

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Jesus was so happy when the Greeks asked to meet him.
The reason why Jesus came to earth is to give salvation not only to the Jewish people but to the Gentiles as well. So the Greeks meeting with Jesus was a big deal!

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Jesus answered his disciples by saying this important parable,
" 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.
" But the disciples did not know the true meaning of what he said.

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The parable means: If the farmer planted a kernel of wheat but it did not rot but stayed the same because it did not want to die, then it would not change to anything. Therefore, making the kernel not to bear any fruit.

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To bear fruit, a kernel of wheat is planted and after it is planted the kernel rots.
Eventually, the kernel dies and is replaced by a fruit.

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Jesus was saying that he was like this one kernel.
Just like one kernel dies and bears much fruit, Jesus was talking about dying on the cross and rising again to save all the people in the world.

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If Jesus did not die on the cross and rise again then we could not have had a way to go to heaven. Because Jesus sacrificed himself like the kernel of wheat, we have received salvation.

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Jesus gave us a commission when he sacrificed himself like the one kernel of wheat. That is we as believers in Jesus should sacrifice ourselves, too.
All those people of faith from the Bible gave us great examples on how to be living sacrifices.

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For example, the Apostle Paul gave everything he had to lead the Gentiles to God.  The Apostle Paul is someone who lived for Jesus even though he had the opportunity to live a wealthy life.

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Because the Apostle Paul sacrificed himself like the kernel and traveled around to spread the gospel, many people believed in Jesus Christ. Thanks to the Apostle Paul`s sacrifice the basis for every person in the world to believe Jesus was made.

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Even nowadays there are many missionaries who go to other countries that have different languages and traditions. In difficult situations the missionaries sacrifice themselves to lead other people to Jesus.

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Since we are still young we can`t sacrifice like the Apostle Paul and other missionaries. However we can still lead our beloved friends to Jesus and we can be a good friend to them when they are having difficulties.

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Like this just by being friends with those who are having difficulties and sacrifice for them, others will like to believe in Jesus Christ. If our friends believe in Jesus Christ because they saw us sacrificing, we are following what Jesus told us to do. Let us do our best to lead others to Jesus Christ bearing in mind on the kernel of wheat.