The Way to True Glory

The words of Jesus in John 12:23-24 unveil a profound spiritual reality: life comes through death. He speaks of Himself as a grain of wheat, declaring that unless it falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone. But if it dies, it bears much fruit. In this simple yet powerful image, Jesus reveals the purpose of His coming—His death on the cross was not an end but the beginning of an abundant harvest. His life was not meant to remain isolated but to be given, planted, and multiplied in the lives of those who would receive Him.

For those who sought to see Him, they would only truly see Him after His death and resurrection. A single grain of wheat is not fully understood in isolation. Only when it is buried in the ground and springs forth into a field of golden grain can its full potential be seen. So it was with Christ—His true glory was not in His miracles, teachings, or earthly ministry alone, but in the giving of His life to bring forth a harvest of redeemed souls. Without the cross, Jesus would have been just another revered teacher, perhaps lost in the pages of history. But because He died and rose again, His life continues to be shared and multiplied in those who abide in Him.

This truth extends beyond Christ’s work to our own lives. Just as He was the grain of wheat that died to bring forth life, so too are His followers called to die to self, surrendering personal ambition, pride, and earthly security, that His life may be fully revealed in them. The great movements of the faith—the Reformation led by Luther, Calvin, and others, the revival through the Wesley brothers, the transformation of hardened men like Charles Colson—these were not merely the result of human effort. They were the fruit of surrendered lives, planted in the soil of God’s will, yielding a harvest that continues to bear fruit even today.

Imagine a candle, unlit, holding within it the potential for light. It remains whole and untouched, but its purpose is unfulfilled. Only when it is willing to be consumed by the flame does it illuminate the darkness around it. It is in the giving of itself that it fulfills its purpose. Likewise, true glory is found not in preservation but in surrender, not in clinging to self but in being consumed by the life of Christ.

Practical Application

Embracing this truth means recognizing that true fruitfulness is found in yielding to God. It is not through striving, personal accomplishment, or self-preservation that life is found, but through surrender. This surrender is not a loss but a gateway to experiencing Christ’s life in us and through us. Every act of yielding—whether in daily decisions, relationships, or personal ambitions—allows the life of Christ to shine more fully.

Prayer of Trust

Father, we thank You that in Christ, You have revealed the way to true life and glory. You have called us not to cling to self, but to surrender to You, knowing that in doing so, Your life is multiplied in and through us. We rejoice in the work of the cross, in the victory of Christ’s resurrection, and in the certainty that Your purposes are always fulfilled. May our lives be a field of abundant harvest for Your glory, as we rest in the finished work of Jesus. Amen.

Final Thought

Life is not found in holding on but in letting go. Just as the grain of wheat must fall to the ground to bear fruit, so too must we yield to Christ, trusting that in every surrender, there is a greater harvest to come.

(Credit: Insights drawn from Immeasurably More, The Grain of Wheat)