Wednesday 24th March

John 12 vs 20 - 27
 
20 Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the festival. 21 They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. ‘Sir,’ they said, ‘we would like to see Jesus.’ 22 Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus. 23 Jesus replied, ‘The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Very truly I tell you, unless a grain 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 honour 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. 
 
This is the time of year that we sow seeds in the anticipation of a colourful garden in the summer months or of a harvest in the autumn and if we understand that, we know the principle behind what Jesus said.  Yes he could have saved his life by avoiding the cross but that would not have brought the harvest of life that was the very reason for his coming. “... it was for this very reason I came to this hour.” His life was the seed which once sown guaranteed a harvest of life in those who put their trust in him.
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There is another way of course to treat seeds. That is to leave them in the packet and not sow them. That way you will still have them but there are two things to bear in mind. First you will have no harvest and second that sooner or later the seeds will perish.In both ways you have lost out, now when you could have enjoyed a harvest and finally when the seeds perish and the opportunity for any harvest is lost completely. It’s an illustration really of what Jesus said when he spoke on this occasion. If we withhold our life from him now there will be no life in eternity, and in the long run we will lose even that life we have now. Put like that it’s obvious what is sensible, maybe all that’s lacking is the courage to step out in faith. So, if you see the logic in Jesus words, will you take that step today?