The Great Paradox

Now among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks.  They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.”  Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus.  Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.  Very truly I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.  Those who love their life in this lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.  Whoever serves me must follow me and where I am, there will be my servant also.  Whoever serves me, the Father will honor.”                                                    John 12:20-26

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of our hearts be always acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, our Strength and our Redeemer.   Amen

I don’t know about you, but I think this Gospel reading can be a bit puzzling.  I picture myself, like Philip and Andrew, walking into my boss’s inner office and telling her that some foreigners have asked to meet with her. And her reply is to start talking about seeds and plants, about death and glory and servants.  If you knew my boss you would know that for me it would just be another normal day at the office.  I would spend the rest of the day wondering if I should call them back and schedule an appointment or wait and ask her again when she might be a little less distracted.

It is significant that it is Greeks, not Romans or some other group, has come seeking and audience with Jesus. The Greek culture, to whom John is writing his Gospel, had long been known as a culture of seekers.  Greece is the home of philosophy; philosophy is the science of seeking truth. Therefore, Greeks seeking to see Jesus is further proof to John that Jesus is the Messiah.

Also of importance in this passage is the major change that is signified in the earthly ministry of Jesus. He is done with parables and performing miracles. It is time to do what He came to do. I’d like to examine in more detail two sentences in this passage.

Those who love their life in this lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.  Whoever serves me must follow me and where I am, there will be my servant also. 

This statement, in various forms, occurs an incredible six time in the gospels; twice each in Luke and Matthew and once each in Mark and here in John.  And that doesn’t include John 15: 13: “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”  This is the very heart of His ministry.  He asks no more of His followers than He is willing to demonstrate with His own actions. 

Jesus is, of course, foretelling His death, but, here comes the great paradox.  Death, He tells us, produces life!  He uses the analogy of a seed to demonstrate this indisputable truth.  It is pretty easy to understand this for a seed, but how can the death of a human produce life?

Look at the result of the Cross.  Having stood by while the Leader they loved was brutally beaten and then crucified, the followers are transformed into leaders almost immediately after the crucifixion! Did they know that speaking about their faith would cost them their lives?  I think they did.  Today we celebrate the feast day of Ignatius of Antioch. On the way to his martyrdom, condemned to be thrown in with wild beasts, he wrote that “we are not only to be called Christians but to be Christians.” Our faith, he tells us, requires action.

I became a military wife during the Vietnam War.  I have never met a Medal of Honor recipient but I knew some very brave men who had sacrificed a lot for their country, for their families and friends.  It may sound strange to compare military men in war to Jesus, but some of them were willing to lay down their life for their friends.  Isn’t that what Jesus did? 

When Jesus said, “Whoever serves me must follow me and where I am, there will be my servant also” He is telling His disciples that they may also follow Him to the cross. Answering His call to serve Him requires that we give up our own desires, our own wills and agree to follow the path he has for each of us. As Patricia said earlier today, “It is really about giving yourself away.”

When we answer His call, we die to our selves in order to receive new life in Him, new life with Him. Listen again to the wonderful promise given at the end of this passage.  “The servant will be where the Master is and the His Father will honor the servant!”

Servants, please join me in praying the prayer attributed to St. Francis found on page 833 in the prayer book:

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.  Where there is hatred, let us sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is discord, union; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. Grant that we may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love.  For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.  Amen