And Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.
John 20:23-26
The hour has not yet come, over and over. It shifts here. The hour has come. For what? For the Son of Man to be glorified. But he tells a parable–a parable about death.
If a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it bears much fruit. Think about the enclosure of a seed. If it doesn’t rupture, if it doesn’t die, it does not give life. If it dies to itself, it bears fruit. The life that is latent inside of it is activated when the seed ruptures. This leads to a spiritual teaching.
Whoever loves his life will lose it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
This is significant. Jesus does not mean we should walk through life miserable and sour, hating what we do, who we’re with, and everything about our lives. No, we are commanded to rejoice; we should be joyful people who love others and live meaningful lives. But there is foundational stuff here we must not lose. The spiritual life is not about betterment in this world. It’s not primarily therapeutic. That means it’s not about making our lives more comfortable, pleasant, presentable.
This is important for our American context. I don’t think the most popular religion in America is Christianity. I think it’s what we might call “moral therapeutic deism.” This is not an original insight. Let’s talk about those terms:
- Moral: Religion functions to give people a moral compass. Don’t kill, be nice, do good, etc.
- Therapeutic: It makes me feel better.
- Deism: There is a god; he is powerful, and he just kind of makes things work. He’s the “big man upstairs.”
Jesus says, though, that if you love your life in this world, you will lose it. But if your experience of this world is like a seed going into the ground and dying, then in the life to come, you will reap a harvest of life.
This is really good news for everyone whose life is hard. Christianity, as many have noted, comforts the afflicted, and afflicts the comforted.
I think there’s a word about church life here. Church life Is hard. But It prepares us for the good life–the eternal life. Here we learn to die to self.
Jesus goes on: If you serve me, you must follow me, and where I am, they’re my servant will be also. If we will claim the name of Christ, we must follow Christ. We must go where he goes. The disciple of Jesus must be with Jesus. We commune with him spiritually. We go where he calls us. Jesus speaks of proximity.
The glorification that awaits Jesus awaits his disciples. But that glorification, initially, doesn’t seem like glorification. Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father save me from this hour?’ But for this purpose, I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name.
The Father’s voice thunders from heaven, affirming this prayer from the Son, and Jesus, speaking of his death, says, “Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out. and I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”
Jesus will be lifted up to die, and from his death will come life.