Unless a Grain of Wheat Falls

John 12: 20-26

Wanting to see Jesus

•     “Now among those who went up to worship at the feast were some Greeks.  So these came to Philip, who was from Beth-sa’ida in Galilee, and said to him, ‘Sir, we wish to see Jesus.’ ”

•    From beginning to end the Gospel of John is an invitation to “come and see.”

•    John 1:39, 46, 50, and 51

•    John 20:29

•    It taps into our deepest yearning to see God.

•    Where have you seen Jesus?  Where would you like to see Jesus?

•     Jesus’ obvious and historical answer to the Greeks also has clues to our resurrection living.

•     Jesus’ not so obvious answer has something to do with our “falling”.

Fallen-ness

•     “Lest a grain of wheat fall . . .”

•     The times when we fall in life bear the greatest potential for seeing Jesus.

Falling and dying in order to see Jesus

•     Sometimes the fallen-ness just happens.

•     Sometimes the fallen-ness is the result of poor choices.

•     Sometimes we choose to enter into the pain of the world.

•     Sometimes we risk letting the Self (as we know it) die.

Following Jesus

•     Those wanting to see Jesus are called to follow Jesus; following the pattern of a grain of wheat falling; following and not just admiring Jesus.