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Verily,
verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it
abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. (Gospel of Saint John 12:24)
The
matter of the promised Seed of Abraham is vitally important for us to
understand if we will not go down with our lights darkened and alone at the
coming long sleep of death. I can think of no greater sorrow than to die alone
and without a Friend beyond Jordan Waters upon whom we may hang our hopes as
did Israel on the willows by the rivers of Babylon. (Psalm 137:1-2) The context of today's leading verse is
found in the verses which embrace it:
21 The
same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired
him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus. 22 Philip
cometh and telleth Andrew: and again Andrew and Philip tell Jesus. 23 And Jesus
answered them, saying, The hour is come, that
the Son of man should be glorified. 24 Verily,
verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it
abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. 25 He
that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world
shall keep it unto life eternal. 26 If
any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my
servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour. 27 Now
is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but
for this cause came I unto this hour. 28 Father,
glorify thy name. (John
12:21-28 (KJV)
From this text, the Seed is revealed though veiled in mysteries that only the
redeemed can fully grasp. This text is preceded by the announcement that
certain Greeks came down for the Passover feast inquiring of Philip to see
Jesus. We are reminded in our Lord's response that the hour comes when it will
be too late to seek our Lord. Just as the five virgins without oil in their
lamps arrived too late to be admitted to the Marriage Banquet and found the
door closed and barred; so will the day come when time will be no more and
appeal can no longer be made to the Throne of Mercy. The Greeks come too late,
for it is the time of the Lord's Passion.
The greater mystery revealed here is of the Seed of Promise made to Abraham and
reaffirmed through the lineage of David the King - Jesus Christ. Jesus makes
reference to Himself as the corn of wheat (or seed) that must fall into the
earth and die if newness of Eternal Life is made available to those who are the
Elect of God. The death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord has borne fruit
far greater than one hundredfold. Now it is this Seed of which our
devotion is written today. We too must die to self and live for Christ as He
died for us and rose for us.
Remember when the Sower of Matthew 13 went forth to sow - observe what happens:
Behold, a sower went forth to sow; And
when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured
them up: Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and
forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: And when
the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered
away. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them: But
other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some
sixtyfold, some thirtyfold. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
(Matt 13:3-9)
The four different types of soil represents the different kinds of heart that
receive the Word of God (Seed). Jesus clearly expresses this: Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. When
any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh
the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he
which received seed by the way side. But he that received the seed into
stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth
it; Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when
tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is
offended. He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth
the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke
the word, and he becometh unfruitful. But he that received seed into the good
ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth
fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
(Matt 13:18-23)
Well, now, what is the Word of the Kingdom? It is none other than the Eternal
Word of God pre-existent from all eternity past - that Word which was made
flesh and dwelt among us. That Word is the fruitful Seed promised to Abraham.
Please bear in mind Isaac came by miraculous birth. He was placed on the altar
by his father as an offering to God. Any offering placed on an altar is holy
and dedicated to the Lord - thus the spiritual descendents of Isaac (you and
me) who believe in the miraculous "new birth" in Christ.
We all know that Jesus is the lineal descendent, according to the law of
descent, of King David. There are two lines of descent given in Scripture for
the 'legal' descent of Christ who was the only Begotten of the Father in
reality. The first lineage given in Matthew renders the legal lineage of Christ
through the Royal line of David and Solomon. That given in the Gospel of Luke
provides the priestly and prophetic lineage of Christ through Nathan.
Interestingly, there is one harlot (Rachab) and one Moabitess (Ruth) included
in the lineage of Jesus. Matthew's lineage begins at Abraham to whom the
Promise of a Redeemer was given, and descends down to Joseph - the 'presumed'
father of Jesus. Luke's Gospel begins with Jesus and goes all the way back up
to God because He made the privileges of Heaven available to His people and
ascended to the Father.
In all of this, we see the Seed of Promise being fulfilled and culminated in
Christ. Please note the mathematical precision of biblical prophecy: So all
the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David
until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the
carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations. (Matt 1:17)
Knowing that the Word is the Incarnated Christ, we must love every single word
of it without omission, and every jot and tittle thereof. Each Word of the
Bible is a direct reflection on the greater Masterpiece of which the image of
our Lord is comprised. So the Word is also the Seed of Promise made to Abraham.
Let us examine a few germane verses on the topic:
21 Tell
me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law? 22 For it is
written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a
freewoman. 23 But he who
was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by
promise. 24 Which
things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount
Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. 25 For this
Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is
in bondage with her children. 26 But
Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. (Gal 4:21-26) The child
of Hagar was carnally conceived, but Isaac was the child of promise which was
forerunner to the miraculously conceived Lord. We are subject to one of
two covenants - that of the Law, or that of Grace. If that of the Law, we are
doomed for none can be perfect in obedience. If by Grace, then none of our
works or actions could satisfy God's justice. Therefore we are drawn according
to the Grace of God to the Throne of Mercy.
23 Of
this man's seed (David) hath God according to his promise raised unto
Israel (both the Old testament Church as well as the New) a Saviour,
Jesus. (Acts 13:23)
13 For
the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to
his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. 14 For if they
which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none
effect: 15 Because the
law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression. 16 Therefore
it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure
to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which
is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all. (Romans 4:13-16) When these
verses are read without some theological bias, one can see clearly that no race
of people stands in favor with God apart from Faith in His only Begotten Son.
Many of national Israel felt they were children of God by right of carnal
descent, but God does not view the matter that way. We are heirs and children
of Abraham through faith in the promise made to Abraham of the Redeemer who has
now come.
6 Not
as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel,
which are of Israel: 7 Neither,
because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac
shall thy seed be called. 8 That is,
They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God:
but the children of the promise are counted for the seed. 9 For this is
the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sara shall have a son. 10 And not
only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father
Isaac; 11 (For the
children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the
purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that
calleth.)
(Romans 9:6-11) Does God
here say anything about a chosen race apart from the varied peoples, nations,
and tongues that have believed the promise made to Abraham? 6 Even
as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. 7 Know ye
therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. (Gal 3:6-7) What did
Abraham believe? The Promise! Through the eyes of immeasurable faith, Abraham
believed. Your father Abraham rejoiced to see
my day: and he saw it, and was glad. (John 8:56) Our Father
is not the God of the dead, but of the LIVING!
18 For
if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to
Abraham by promise.
19 Wherefore
then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed
should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the
hand of a mediator. (Gal 3:18-19)
Are
we of the modern true church the children of Abraham? I hope so for the Bible
clearly tells us: 29 And
if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the
promise.
(Gal 3:29) Does the
world, and her worldly church, hate us? Yes, they may, but what a blessed hate
it is! 28 Now
we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. 29 But as then
he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit,
even so it is now. (Gal 4:28-29)
Yes, even so now does the fleshly people of the world and of the church
persecute the children of promise - the children of the Promised Seed of
Abraham.
