Psalms 8:1 and 5:1-3
My Shepherd drew my attention to John 12:23-36; verse 24 triggered reflections that began in my heart as a child:
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.
The Mind of the Spirit stirred up the spirit of my mind at “it abideth alone.” The wheat seed is “alone” until it dies. My Shepherd called me back to this patch of His green pasture to feed this morning.
The end of Satan’s reign as “Prince of this world” had come (12:31). Jesus anticipated His glorification (12:23). The report prompted his comments regarding His glorification delivered to Him by Philip and Andrew that some Greeks at the Feast desired to see Him: “Sir, we would see Jesus” (12:20-22). The Jews had decided against Him, and the Greeks began to seek Him (12:19-21). The transition had begun. It was time!
Reflecting on His coming glorification, Jesus taught the lesson of the wheat seed (12:24-26). A wheat seed abides alone until it dies, then it will no longer be alone, for “it bringeth forth much fruit” (12:24). He applied it to Himself and to any who would follow Him: those who love his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world shall keep it to life eternal (12:25). He explained: all who will serve Him must follow His example, so that where He is they may be also, and all who serve Him will be honored by His Father (12:26).
Trouble seized Him: “Now is my soul troubled” (12:27). Here it began! This troubling of His soul increased from here until as He walked toward the crucible of the Cross, in the Garden called Gethsemane (Oil Press—see Zechariah 4:11-12—Selah), He would say to Peter, James, and John: “My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death” and would beg their company, “tarry ye here, and watch with me” (Matthew 25:38). Here He said, “And what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour” (12:27). He spoke of the hour He would drink the cup (Matthew 20:22-23). But in that Garden, He will say, “Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless, not my will, but thine be done” (Lue 22:42). He is consistent! For when He reflected on “the hour” that made Him tremble, and asked, “What shall I say, Father, save me from this hour,” He prophesied what He would say: “Father, glorify thy name,” and this He did. In the Garden He petitioned the Father to remove the cup, but concluded, “nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done” (Luke 22:42), and again: “O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt” (Matthew 26:39). And finally He resolved “O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done” (Matthew 26:42).
The Father responded to Jesus’ prayer: “I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again” (12:28b). Some thought it thundered, others said “an angel spake to him” (12:29).
Jesus explained the Father spoke for their sakes and not His (12:30). Then He declared how He would be crucified and die, and that by this the “prince of this world” would “be cast out” (12:31). And during the time the prince of this world would be cast out, and made “prince of the power of the air” He would draw all men to Himself (12:32). When Jesus is glorified, when that “wheat seed” died, it would no longer abide alone, for He said, He would “draw all men unto me” (12:32). And many have and will come to Him. He will not abide alone! (Matthew 26:29).
Along the still waters, I remembered the child who pondered God being alone, and, longing for a being like Himself, was moved to embark upon Creation. He magnificently glorified His name, crowning His creation with the first Adam, man, made in His image and likeness, showing His marvelous power and wisdom, infinite and eternal. Now He will “glorify it again,” in the death of His Son, to provide redemption for fallen man, in the Last Adam, perfect and complete, Who would die that He might not be alone.
In his simple ignorance, the child connected with something profound; His Creator desired company! He desired fellowship. The child now understands God was not moved by loneliness, but by love. Love must be loved. He knew from the start what love would require of Him: Christ, the Lamb of God slain from the foundation of the world (Revelation 13:8).
Into the valley Jesus led me, and there invited me to join Him, daily: “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23). The wheat seed abides alone until it dies, for when it dies, it brings forth much fruit! He made us in His image; like Him, we do not wish to abide alone. He died that you might dwell with Him forever. Let’s not pass on to heaven alone.
At the table, we discussed the profound contrasts: the eternal self-sufficiency of GOD, contrasted with the longing of Love to be loved; the perfect completeness of GOD, Who would not selfishly keep Himself to Himself. The glorious sovereignty of GOD, Who would subject His creature to vanity, and Himself to the inglorious death of the Cross in the hope of a creature like Him, who would gather at His table in fellowship sweet.
At His table, He anointed my head with His oil and filled my cup with His grace—it’s a very different cup He gave me from the one He drank for me! Goodness and mercy hurried over, and my Shepherd took me to His side and we walked together into the Harvest for the day!
Praying for revival! 🙏
Going live ASAP.
0 Comments