Loving God, you remind us through the image of seeds and growth of how death can bring life and faith can grow and multiply. Open our hearts to your Spirit as we gather together today, that the same life and growth might be found in our lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Although it probably doesn’t sink in right away when you hear today’s gospel, there is a marvellous image of expansion and growth that is there. The primary image is of a grain of wheat being planted in the earth, and dying, and growing up into a plant that “bears much fruit” (Jn. 12:24). It is an image that has several different applications, even just within the reading that we heard today.

First of all, there is the expansion of faith from Jews to Gentiles and from Jesus to the Greeks (Jn. 12:20). In Jesus, the knowledge of God will not be limited only to the Jewish people. Even Greeks will come to see him – Gentiles who would have been shunned as outsiders by many of the Jewish people. In Jesus, the new covenant will be extended to all those who have the knowledge of God written on their hearts, and not just the people whose ancestors stood at Mt. Sinai in the time of Moses (Jer. 31:31-34). So already there is some expansion happening when some Greeks want to see Jesus.

At the same time, the image of the grain of wheat dying and bearing much fruit obviously points to Jesus’ own death and resurrection. As long as Jesus was alive on this earth, he was only one man. However, when Jesus died, and then was raised from the dead and ascended into heaven, his Spirit was able to be poured out on all his followers. All of a sudden, the impact of Jesus’ teaching and healing and ministry was multiplied many times, as his followers continued the “work of the kingdom” which Jesus had started during his time on this earth.

Even now, we are called to continue the ministry and presence of Jesus in this time and this place by the power of the Holy Spirit. We are called to put our old, sinful, self-centred selves to death and to rise to new life, living in the Spirit of Jesus and loving as he first loved us. We are invited to see Jesus in others and to allow others to see Jesus in us. In this way, we are part of the expansion and growth of faith as well.

There is a message that has been circulating via e-mail that helps to remind us of where and how we see Jesus in our day to day lives. I hope that those of you who have already seen it will forgive me for sharing it here:

I Saw Jesus Last Week.
He was wearing blue jeans and an old shirt.
He was up at the church building;
He was alone and working hard.
For just a minute he looked a little like one of our church members.
But it was Jesus, I could tell by his smile.
I saw Jesus last Sunday.
He was teaching a Bible class.
He didn’t talk real loud or use long words,
But you could tell he believed what he said.
For just a minute, he looked like my Sunday School teacher.
But it was Jesus, I could tell by his loving voice.
I saw Jesus yesterday.
He was at the hospital visiting a friend who was sick.
They prayed together quietly.
For just a minute he looked like our pastor.
But it was Jesus, I could tell by the tears in his eyes.
I saw Jesus this morning.
He was in my kitchen making my breakfast.
He then fixed me a special lunch to take with me.
For just a minute he looked like my Mom.
But it was Jesus, I could feel the love from his heart.
I saw Jesus today.
He was praying on his knees all alone.
He then began to cry for those he prayed for.
For just a minute he looked like a lady from our church.
But it was Jesus, I could see the compassion poured out of his prayer.
I saw Jesus the other day.
He was at the grocery store talking to a friend.
He then put his arms around them to comfort them.
For just a minute he looked like a young mother in our ladies class.
But it was Jesus, I could see the concern for others who hurt.
I see Jesus everywhere,
Taking food to the sick,
Welcoming others to his home,
Being friendly to a newcomer,
And for just a minute I think he’s someone I know.
But it’s always Jesus, I can tell by the way he serves.

May someone see Jesus in you today.
“You will be my witnesses,” says the Lord. (Acts 1:8)

In today’s gospel, Jesus says, “where I am, there will my servant be also” (Jn. 12:26). Perhaps it is also true the other way around – where a servant of Jesus is, Jesus is there also. And where two or three are gathered in his name, Jesus is there in the midst of them (Mt. 18:20). Have any of you seen Jesus lately? It’s not just Greeks who want to see Jesus. It’s people here and now – today!

The people who were mentioned in the message called “I Saw Jesus Last Week” were all “bearing fruit.” There were things like love, joy and peace growing in their lives. They were exhibiting faithfulness, generosity and self-control. They were acting with patience, kindness and gentleness. This is the kind of “fruit” that the Holy Spirit produces in people’s lives (Gal. 5:22-23). These are the kind of things that help people to see Jesus.

There is another image of expansion and growth and new life that Jesus might have used had he been teaching today. I can’t help but think about organ donation and how the death of one person can result in new life for many more people. A lung, a heart, a kidney, a liver – each one can bring life to another person who otherwise would have died. And so, in some cases, the death of one healthy person can bring life to many other people. It is true that life can come out of death and the light can shine in the darkness.

In Jesus’ case, though, his entire body and life were given for the life of the world. There is not only the multiplication of his presence and ministry, but also the gift of eternal life through his death and resurrection. This is what Hebrews calls “eternal salvation for all who obey [Jesus]” (Heb. 5:9). The kind of things that we experience are “little deaths” by comparison. Yet, out of each death or loss in our lives, God can bring new life. In fact, we can even “bear much fruit” by the power of the Holy Spirit.

As we continue towards the end of this Lenten journey, may God grant us the eyes to see Jesus, the ears to hear his call to follow and to serve, and the hearts that remain open to life in the Spirit. Amen.

Lent 5(B)      John 12:20-33
March 29, 2009      Jeremiah 31:31-34
St. Luke’s Zion Lutheran Church
Pastor Lynne Hutchison

© 2009 Lynne Hutchison  All Rights Reserved