The Planting
"The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain, but if it dies it bears much fruit. Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honor.” (John 12:23-26)
Apart from eating, planting is always my kids’ favorite part of our summer garden. After the garden is prepped, they get to measure out and dig shallow holes, place a few seeds in each hole, cover them, and water them. I always make them wear bathing suits for this because even though arithmetic is not my strong suit, even I can solve this equation: 2 kids + garden hose = water fight.
Planting is a powerful metaphor for the Christian life, especially in light of Easter. When we plant a garden, we don’t demand immediate results. We place something small and seemingly lifeless into the soil and trust that growth will come in time. The connection between this and the resurrection of Jesus are clear enough that commentary is unnecessary, but it is also a wonderful metaphor for the slow progress of discipleship. Acts of mercy, forgiveness, prayer, courage, generosity, and witness can often feel very small. At times they may even be costly, as though we are giving something away rather than gaining anything. But in the upside-down world of the gospel, Jesus teaches that the way of fruitfulness is often the way of surrender. Lives poured out in love are not lives diminished, but lives made fruitful in God’s hands. The resurrection assures us that faithful labor is never in vain because God is always able to bring life from what has been given over to him.
John 12 speaks to this hope. Jesus is not simply offering a pleasant nature image; he is speaking of his own coming death. Anytime the gospel of John speaks of Jesus’ “hour”, it is talking about his loving sacrifice for our sakes. Christ’s love is fully revealed through the cross. So the “seed” that he speaks of is not only a symbol of natural growth, but of costly obedience. Christ is the seed who falls into the earth and dies, and because he does, he bears much fruit. The church exists because his life was given. Hope is not optimism or wishful thinking, it’s not an empty platitude on a Hallmark card. Our hope is confidence rooted in the crucified and risen Christ. We plant in hope because he first gave himself for the life of the world. Our hopeful labor is always a response to his self-giving love.
“Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.” This is a hard teaching. Clinging tightly to life on our own terms leads to barrenness. A seed that refuses burial remains only itself. A disciple who refuses self-giving may be able to keep themselves comfortable for a time, but it comes at a greater cost. For that comfort they exchange the deeper fruitfulness of a life lived in ever-deepening relation with our Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer. Planting is an act and an image of trustful cooperation. We place our time, our ambitions, our resources, and even our wounds into the hands of Christ, trusting that he can bring forth something more than we can imagine. Resurrection faith teaches us not to clutch life defensively, but to offer it faithfully.
Rev. Ryan Young
