The LORD God is the Creator of the ends of the earth. He has established laws in nature which govern all the processes of life–planting, growth, cultivation and harvest. These principles give us insight on how to conduct our lives, families, churches, and societies (to continue reading this essay, click on image above).
But If It Dies, John 12.12-36
In John 12.12-36, Jesus approaches the climactic moment of his ministry as he enters Jerusalem to face his death. Following his triumphal entry, Jesus declares that “the hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified” and uses the metaphor of a grain of wheat that must die to produce fruit, illustrating how his death will bring forth abundant life. Jesus acknowledges his troubled soul but affirms his commitment to the Father’s purpose, prompting a voice from heaven that confirms God’s plan to glorify his name. Jesus then interprets his imminent crucifixion as judgment on the world, the defeat of Satan, and the means by which he will draw all people to himself. As opposition and confusion persist among the crowds, Jesus urges them to walk in the light while they still can, emphasizing that belief in him is belief in the Father who sent him. Throughout this passage, Jesus consistently frames his approaching death not as defeat but as the necessary fulfillment of God’s redemptive plan—a sacrificial act that will gather a community of believers who become the fruit of his sacrifice.
Invocation
Sovereign Lord, I acknowledge today that your ways both transcend and often confound our human understanding. You have chosen for your Son and for us the path of sacrifice rather than dominance to accomplish your redemptive purpose. Open our eyes to see how Jesus’ willing submission to death has become the very means of our salvation and the pattern for our own lives. Grant us the courage to embrace the wisdom of the grain of wheat—the divine paradox that life emerges from death, fruit from sacrifice, and transformation from surrender. Amen.
Gloria Patri
Glory be to the Father,
And to the Son and to the Holy Spirit:
As it was in the beginning,
Is now, and ever shall be,
World without end. Amen, amen.
Chronological Scripture Readings for Today
These Scriptures allow us to read through the entire Bible in one year in chronological order.
Tuesday: Pss. 144-145; 88-89
Lectionary Readings for Today
Our readings from the Psalms, the Old Testament, the Gospels and the Epistles are taken from the Revised Common Lectionary for this Feast Day.
Psalm: Psalm 71.1-14
Old Testament (or Acts [during Eastertide]): Isaiah 49:1-7
Gospel: John 12.20-36
New Testament: 1 Corinthians 1.18-31
Click here for all of this week’s Scripture readings
Chronological Holy Week Readings for Today
Each year we read through the Holy Week Scriptures chronologically, tracking the events of Jesus’ final week leading up to death, burial and resurrection.
Tuesday: Matt. 21.20-26.13; Mark 11.20-13.37; Luke 20-21
Psalms and Proverb for Today
These Scriptures allow us to read through the Psalms and Proverbs each month.
Tuesday: Psalm 15, 45, 75, 105, 135 and Proverbs 15
But if it dies: gathering the fruit of sacrifice.
Jesus describes his impending death not as a defeat but as the necessary fulfillment of God’s redemptive plan and the sacrificial act that will produce abundant fruit of harvest to glorify his Father, John 12.12-36.
Reflection
Jesus understands his death as the necessary means of fulfilling God’s redemptive plan, challenging us to embrace similar self-sacrifice in our own discipleship. Just as a grain of wheat must fall to the ground and die to produce many seeds, Jesus shows that genuine fruitfulness in God’s Kingdom always comes through surrender and sacrifice rather than self-preservation. The voice from heaven confirms that Jesus’ approaching death, rather than being a tragedy or defeat, accomplishes God’s purpose of drawing people to himself and overcoming the powers of darkness. When we face difficult choices between comfort and calling, this passage invites us to follow Jesus’ example by choosing the path that glorifies God and produces spiritual fruit, even when that path involves suffering or sacrifice.
Engaging God’s Word Today
In what specific areas of your life might God be calling you to “fall to the ground and die” like a grain of wheat—surrendering your own plans, comfort, or control—so that his purposes might be fulfilled and greater spiritual fruit might emerge?
Nicene Creed
We believe in one God, The Father Almighty,
Maker of heaven and earth and of all things visible and invisible.
We believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only Begotten Son of God,
Begotten of the Father before all ages,
God from God, Light from Light, True God from True God,
Begotten not created, of the same essence as the Father,
through Whom all things were made.
Who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven
and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary and became human.
Who for us too, was crucified under Pontius Pilate, suffered and was buried.
The third day He rose again according to the Scriptures, ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and His kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and life-giver,
Who proceeds from the Father and the Son.
Who together with the Father and Son is worshiped and glorified.
Who spoke by the prophets.
We believe in one holy, catholic, and apostolic church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sin,
and we look for the resurrection of the dead
and the life of the age to come. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory for ever. Amen.
Doxology
Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him all creatures here below;
Praise Him above ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen.
Benediction
Eternal Father, the God who glorified his name through Christ’s sacrifice, empower us to surrender those things that must die in our own lives so that your purposes might bear abundant fruit through us. Teach us to walk confidently in the light while we have it, allowing Christ’s radiance to illuminate our paths and transform us into fruit-bearing plants for you. And when the choice between self-preservation and sacrificial love confronts us, give us the strength to follow the example of our Savior, who drew all people to himself not through power but through the willing gift of his life. Amen.
Scripture Memory for this season
John 15.1-5 (ESV):
1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”
Scripture Engagement
As disciples of Jesus, the Churches of Christ the King strongly seek to engage the Scriptures to discover the centrality of Christ and his Kingdom in the prophetic and apostolic writings. You will find a rich treasure of resources on engaging Scripture at the Center for Scripture Engagement of Taylor University.
Book Reading and Reflection
The implicit assumption behind any goal is this: “Once I reach my goal, then I’ll be happy.” The problem with a goals-first mentality is that you’re continually putting happiness off until the next milestone. I’ve slipped into this trap so many times I’ve lost count. For years, happiness was always something for my future self to enjoy. I promised myself that once I gained twenty pounds of muscle or after my business was featured in the New York Times, then I could finally relax. Furthermore, goals create an “either-or” conflict: either you achieve your goal and are successful or you fail and you are a disappointment. You mentally box yourself into a narrow version of happiness.
This is misguided. It is unlikely that your actual path through life will match the exact journey you had in mind when you set out. It makes no sense to restrict your satisfaction to one scenario when there are many paths to success. A systems-first mentality provides the antidote. When you fall in love with the process rather than the product, you don’t have to wait to give yourself permission to be happy. You can be satisfied anytime your system is running. And a system can be successful in many different forms, not just the one you first envision.
~Clear, James, Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones. Random House Business, London SW1V 2SA, 2018. Location 376.
Seedling Focus for the Season: The Vine and the Branches
Description: Pruning is a necessary part of growth, both in plans and in our spiritual lives. God’s discipline may seem painful, but it produces greater fruitfulness, John 15.1-5.
On Eagles Wings Prayer Focus: A Long Time Comin‘
But If It Dies: Die to bear fruit, John 12.20-36.
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