March 29, 2009 Message

Hebrews 5:5-10; John 12:20-33
“The Seed”

The author of Hebrews, whether it is Paul or someone else, is writing toward the end of the first century to a group of Jewish-Christians who are “backsliding” so to speak in their faith. The writer offers the advantage of the New Testament Revelation by the Son over Old Testament Revelation by the prophets (Hebrews 1:1-4); the power of the New Covenant over the Old; and, the authority of the priesthood of Christ after the order of Melchisedech over the Levitical priesthood after the order of Aaron (5:1-10:18).

Hebrews is also clear about Jesus’ strong credentials – having been called Son by God’s self and receiving God’s personal endorsement. However for me, the key phrase in today’s reading is found in verse 8 when the author writes, “he (Jesus) became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.” In other words, we might say, “Jesus is the seed of eternal salvation – of life no longer bound by this world but life, as God intended, fulfilled. Jesus was appointed for this, he was designated by God to be the ‘seed’ for us all. And by his submission and obedience, we are able to grow to “new life”

In the gospel story today, six days before Jesus was going to die, he tells his disciples Andrew and Phillip, that he is to be ‘glorified.” He is in Jerusalem. There are thousands of people in the city for the celebration of Passover. And it is time for his standing and relationship with God will be made known. It’s time to hear, “this is my Son” once again. Earlier Jesus had gone into the Jordan to be baptized by John and to be called “my Son” by a voice from above. Then, much later, he went up a mountain and that same voice from heaven could be heard saying once again, “my Son,” as he stood in the dazzling light with Moses and Elijah. Jesus is to be claimed and lifted up yet again as God’s Son, not only figuratively but also literally. It was once again time to do what his Father required – and time to fulfill what God has promised. This is the one thing on his mind. He seems oblivious to those who gather around him, coming from all over to “see” him.

In verse 24 we hear what I think may be the most important part of today’s text – when Jesus tells Andrew and Phillip what is going to happen and why he must do what he is about to do. Jesus says, “Very truly, I tell you, unless a seed falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single seed; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” He is to be the seed.

We could leave it there, but there has to be more to understanding what Jesus is saying than to simply believe he is talking about his dying for us. He IS talking about that - what will be required of him - true, but he is also providing a clue into what may be required of us, his followers. In that light then, let’s look carefully at what Jesus says in verse 24.

“…unless a seed…” We have already said Jesus is the seed. But what if he is calling us to be the seed – what might that mean for us? Keep in mind a seed doesn’t originate from a packet of seeds, does it? It has to come from somewhere - like the fruit of a plant, right? Perhaps Jesus is suggesting his followers originate from him. They are what they are, because of him. They are what they are, for him. But unless they become a seed themselves, they cannot really follow.

“…unless a seed falls into the earth…,” Unless we do what a seed is suppose to do, we cannot really follow. A seed is meant to be planted in the soil, in the earth. That is where it is suppose to be, in the dirt. It doesn’t belong in a jar, or strung on a necklace, or glued into a mosaic. When the time is right, it belongs in the ground, covered with dirt and hidden from the sun so that it can germinate. A seed needs to lie dormant for a while; it needs to die.

“…unless a seed falls into the earth and dies,” Unless we die to ourselves we cannot really be transformed. When the seed “dies,” something happens - it begins to “live” in a different way. The seedling starts to sprout. It changes and transforms into something else. It grows from that small seed into a much larger plant – perhaps into a knee-high bean plant, or a head-high sunflower, or even a magnificent tree taller than a two-story house.

“…unless a seed falls into the earth and dies,” it remains just a single seed;” Unless we allow ourselves to be transformed we will stay pretty much stay the same as we are. There will be no change, no growth, and eventually, no life. There will be no future for us at all, only our unrealized potential. We will remain alone, disconnected from the past that once was and disengaged from a future that never will be. And then for us, sadly, the circle will be broken.

“but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” But if we do, watch out! If we become that seed, if we fall into the earth as we are meant to do, if we die to ourselves as we should, if our focus is no longer on “saving the seed” but instead upon the fruit, there will be a harvest beyond all imagination. From one tiny sunflower seed will produce a tall flowering plant producing about a thousand seeds per flower cluster. And from one small pink bean will grow a bushy plant producing dozens of string bean pods. What does God have in mind for all “the seeds” gathered here today? What are we yet to become?

We can easily forget the purpose of our life is to glorify God – not by going to church but by living a life pleasing to God. A martyr of the early Church, St. Irenaeus, wrote: "God is glorified when people are fully alive: but for a person to be fully alive is to see God." We believe Jesus was God revealed in man. Maybe what Irenaeus meant by our “seeing God” is our allowing Jesus to be central in our life, opening ourselves to the Father’s will, and preparing ourselves to be transformed by the Holy Spirit.

Jesus says eternal life is not about keeping but about losing, not about following but about being where Jesus is. And most importantly, he says our salvation is about serving him and in so doing, serving the Father. That is what is important, isn’t it? Serving God; and by God’s grace and the help of the Holy Spirit, being “the seed” God has created us all to be.

Let us pray.