John 12:24  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.  

This chapter in John has such a range of emotions.  Starting with the triumphal entry of Christ into Jerusalem.  Such joy, such hope.  It would seem this event is the spark that would bring about the kingdom of Christ as the savior of the world.  But it was instead a final celebration before suffering and death.

Victory through death?  YES

Christ made clear that the triumph He sought was not by His own strength and popularity.  It would be in suffering and dying.  Jesus shared a model for us to follow.  We do not become a more powerful person by asking God to just bless our lives.  By asking Jesus to give us more of what we want in life.  It is rather us dying to our desires and plans to allow something new to birth in our soul and heart.

The hour has come to die then God glorifies

Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified…  ^27 “Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. ²⁸ Father, glorify your name!” It was not the entry into the city that was triumphal,  it was His death that produced much life.

What you feed grows and what you starve dies.

We can walk around and try to be a good  Christian by our own power.  It will not work.  It is the act of dying to our desires and allowing some issues of our heart like anger, lust,  pride, judgementalism to die so God can birth something holy into our life.  One statement I remember from college is the statement “what you feed grows and what you starve dies.” I will be first to say, God is dealing with me to put to death some of my emotions and desires of my sinful nature that wants to rise up.

The Cross is the path to Resurrection.

Allow the Holy Spirit to identify areas in your life that need to die so that God can birth a resurrection of healing and life.  There will always be tension between our desires and following God.  As we come to the Cross and lay down our heart and desires before God,  His righteousness, and the power of Christ’s death takes that offered seed and produces much fruit.  Are you frustrated in sins and attitudes,  place them on the altar to die.  God will birth the power of His presence and the Holy Spirit to produce more than you could ever be on your own.

Die to God and watch your lightnside burn bright with resurrection power.