“Very truly I tell you, 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)

I’m thinking this morning about that seed that goes into the ground and dies, and what exactly that means. Dying, in spiritual terms, is a hard concept to grasp. What exactly did Jesus mean when He chose this metaphor? What does it mean to fall to the ground and die?

I’m not sure we can spell this out exactly. If it were a single dimensional, easily explainable concept, it wouldn’t have taken a metaphor to capture it. When God chooses a metaphor, it’s because He has built significant things into the process, all of which have some application to our lives. Perhaps we can get closer to understanding this death metaphor by identifying some things that most likely are included in this process.

A seed falling into the ground and dying must by nature include some form of each of the following:

Humility (or maybe humiliation is closer). Falling into the ground and dying doesn’t sound like a whole lot of fun. It must include a certain death to pride, prejudice and a good reputation. This would be the opposite of achievement and accomplishment. It would be more associated with failure and loss.

Submission (or perhaps a certain letting go is included). A seed going into the ground is rather helpless. It can’t do a whole lot except be there. It can’t start growing on its own. It has to submit itself to the natural processes built into all seeds. Which must of necessity include…

Patience. A seed in the ground has to wait for itself to grow. It can’t push real hard and produce roots and a stem whenever it wants to. It takes time and water to get the process going. A seed possesses all the elements for growth, it’s just not in charge of when or how fast it takes place. A seed is not helped by those who would dig it up periodically to see how it is doing.

Trust. Because of all this, a seed must trust in the process, the care of the farmer, the water to nourish it and the sun to warm the earth. It must be willing to disappear for a while, and even disappoint the expectations of those who have no patience with these things. But just you wait. Not just growth, but a transformation is coming. You will no longer recognize this seed as a seed. We’re not talking about a little seed growing into a bigger seed; we’re talking about a seed becoming something else entirely.

Thinking in terms of each of these things may help us identify some of God’s purposes in our lives that may already be taking place. And this list is by no means complete. I’m sure all of you can add to it. I can’t make any direct connections between these things and what might be going on in your life right now, but I bet you can. I’m sure that’s why Jesus left this for us to figure out.