John 12:20-36
Jesus Will Be Glorified on the Cross
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 kernel 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 honor 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.28 Father, glorify your name!”
Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” 29 The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him.
30 Jesus said, “This voice was for your benefit, not mine. 31 Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. 32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” 33 He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.
34 The crowd spoke up, “We have heard from the Law that the Messiah will remain forever, so how can you say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this ‘Son of Man’?”
35 Then Jesus told them, “You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going. 36 Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light.” When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them.
Luke 8:11-15
God's Word is a Seed
11 “This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. 12 Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. 13 Those on the rocky ground are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. 14 The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. 15 But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.
Mark 4:30-32
Mustard Seed Faith
30 Again he said, “What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? 31 It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds on earth. 32 Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds can perch in its shade.”
Romans 5:1-5
Peace and Hope and the Holy Spirit
1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
The Holy Spirit is a mysterious Spiritual Being...The seeds of the Holy Spirit are indwelt in our hearts...And the hope of our belief in God does not put us to shame, because God's LOVE has been poured out and put into our hearts through this Holy Spirit...These seeds of the Holy Spirit help our faith...And a seed can be small but still produce great faith...These seed of the Holy Spirit contain Spiritual Life...God's Word is a seed...These seeds of the holy Spirit guide us to the Truth...
Sometimes, I believe, it takes pain and suffering for these seeds to show growth and produce and be fruitful...First a seed needs to be planted...An unplanted seed produces nothing...And then seeds need nourishment...And then the seeds takes some time to grow...A seed does not immediately or over night reach its full potential...God's Word nourishes and helps the seeds grow...
When Philip and Andrew approached Jesus about the Greeks wanting to talk to Him, He reveals to them that the time is quickly coming for Him to die...He will die suffering on the cross...The believing Greeks and all believers will have a prepared place by Him when we believe...But suffering first must take place so that Jesus can be glorified...A Grand Seed will fall and die and a great crop will be produced...Sometimes a seed does look lifeless and dead...But seeds have life and give life...A great number of followers will happen from the seeds Jesus planted...But first He must suffer on the cross and die...This is the Way of the Cross...The symbol that we follow is a Suffering One...The symbol of the Cross is both a sad, yet a very happy symbol...