Daily Devotional | Beyond a Single Kernel

Although I grew up in a city, my mom always had a vegetable garden. Each spring she would purchase plants at the farmer’s market to transfer to our backyard. When my wife and I moved into our home, I continued the tradition. However, I loved planting seeds because the process of seeing seeds transform into living plants that produce vegetables has always fascinated me.

In John 12, some Greeks approached Philip with the request to see (or speak with) Jesus (vv. 20–21). Both Andrew and Philip shared this request with Jesus (v. 22). In turn, Jesus made a startling announcement: “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified” (v. 23). This seems to have been prompted by the desire of these Greeks to see Jesus.

Previously in his Gospel, John had made it clear that Jesus’ time had not come (John 7:6, 8; 16:25). Jesus’ initial outreach was to the Jewish people, but something evidently had changed. Could it be that these non-Jews were seeking Jesus? That’s why Jesus said, “Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds” (v. 24).

By using this illustration of the seed, Jesus was explaining the impact His death would have on all people, including these Greeks. A seed, once planted, will grow, transform, and produce fruit. Jesus would lay down His life on the cross, but through that sacrifice He would draw people from around the globe to Himself (vv. 32–33).