The JD

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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 - John 12:24 (NIV)
Sometime back I had a revelation. After thinking through and reflecting it, from the different verses within the bible, I concluded that dying is part of the job description as a disciple of Christ.

Sounds taunting, but think about it. Jesus came to earth as the God incarnate to do what? Die! What did he really say throughout the gospels? In John 12:24, I felt that this is where he has put it so explicitly, that unless we die, we remain only a single seed. Of course, it doesn't really mean physically dying but that's part of the picture.

Let's break the JD down further. The first death we have to go through is perhaps dying to our selfish and sinful self. This is what John 12:24 would have meant, similar to Luke 9:23 where we are exhorted to deny ourselves and take up our cross. In the MSG translation of Luke 9:23, it translates denying ourselves as letting Jesus be on the driver's seat. In other words, it's the same as John saying 'he must become greater, and I must become smaller'. This is perhaps one form of death that is more palatable to most of us, although the thought of letting God taking control forms a sense of resistance even within the most ardent disciples at some point in time.

The second form of death is what I call martyr, the physical dying for the sake of Christ's kingdom. This is the form of death that we often read in the bible. Al the apostles, with the exception of John, died a martyr death - Peter was crucified upside down, Paul beheaded, James beheaded, Thomas speared to death, etc etc etc. Stephen was stoned to death. Jim Elliot, Adonirum Judson and many more modern missionaries all died for the sake of Christ. We are told in the bible that in the last days, we will be persecuted and be held on trial. Jesus said not to be afraid as this would be the chance for us to proclaim the reason why we believe. Our death would lead to His glory more than His disgrace - and this made possible only by His resurrection. As Paul said it quite aptly: "To live is Christ and to die is gain".

I just ask myself "am I ready to die for Christ when the time comes". This used to be the question that was being asked during water baptism. I still can't believe that it is not asked now, taunting or not. But this is one question that I believe as believers and disciples, we ought to think about seriously.

And the day will come when this clause in the JD will be activated.
 

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