Planted Like Christ

 

Planted Like Christ

Jn. 12:20-33

SUBJECT: SERVANTHOOD

THEME:  Service is like being “planted” like the Lord Jesus.   

RELEVANCY:  we are called to be servants, and to have the heart of a servant regardless of the area in which we serve the church or the role we fill.  Any person who has accepted Jesus Christ as Savior is called to be God’s minister to others in certain areas of need, at particular times, but always with a mind and a heart motivated toward generous service.

INTRODUCTION: Jesus came as a servant, not as a superstar. His three-year ministry was a powerful example of servanthood.  From His first miracle of changing water to wine at a wedding feast to His sacrificial death on the cross in which His own blood flowed freely for the salvation of all who would believe in Him and receive God’s offer of forgiveness from sins.  He is indeed the Servant of all servants and certainly a worthy example for you and me.

In the days immediately preceding His crucifixion, Jesus spoke candidly with His disciples about His impending death and resurrection. Much of what He said they didn’t understand fully at the time He spoke to them; looking back, however, they understood very clearly the meaning of His words.

The Lord Jesus could very easily have become an earthly king over the Jews according to this incident that happened just before Passover.  The people wanted Jesus to make a public, political move to consolidate power and become an earthly ruler in place of both the Roman occupation and what was perceived by many to be an oppressive, legalistic Jewish Temple rulership. How did Christ handle all the confusion surrounding His purpose and mission?

MESSAGE:

I.  Jesus Liken Service to Being Planted (John 12:24-25).

Jesus was not interested in ruling, but serving! Christ’s statements about servanthood not only described His own life and sacrificial death, but it also related to our role as servants today.

A.  A MISCONCEPTION: CHRIST’S MISSION IN THE WORLD IS MISUNDERSTOOD.

Even some Greeks wanted the Lord Jesus to become a leader or philosopher among them (Jn. 12: 20-23).    

       1. The Disciples’ Idea of Glory (Jn. 12:23). Jesus gave this answer: “The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.” (John 12:23). On the surface, this statement must have been taken by the disciples and supporters of Jesus to be a strong signal—“Now is the time!”  To be glorified means to reach your crowning moment, your shining hour.

           2. The Lord’s Idea of Glory (Jn. 12:23-26).  Jesus came to Jerusalem to be glorified, but He explains what that means. No one listening to Him understood because they could not comprehend that glory and suffering go together.

                    a. “They thought in terms of crowns of gold; Jesus thought of a crown of thorns. They thought of a throne; He thought of a cross. They thought of a royal robe; He thought of a death shroud. They thought of a physical empire; He thought of a spiritual one.”—Unknown

                        b. Since Jesus places a requirement upon us every day, what does it mean to be His follower? How can an ordinary mortal share in the life of the Son of God and, in the process, share in His glory? Jesus' twelve disciples thought they were headed for fame and prestige until they discovered Jesus’ definition of glory.

                    c. I challenge you to join the disciples of the Lord Jesus in a major change in the course of your Christian experience. Do you dare receive the glory that belongs to a person who crosses the bridge Jesus established?  Will you serve the Lord Jesus even though the way is paved with trials, hardships, troubles, difficulty, and discouragements?

B.  A CLARIFICATION: CHRIST’S SERVICE IS LIKE PLANTING WHEAT. (John 12:24-25) 

       1.  The Lord Jesus Refused an Earthly Kingdom and Choose Servanthood Instead.

After the popular misconceptions about glory, thrones and a kingdom, the Lord Jesus quickly went on to say this: John 12:24-25, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. [25] He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.    

             a. Jesus Refused to Live by Earthly Motivations. (Temporal/ Physical)  Jn. 12:24        

                1) The Lord’s Mission Was Not Political.  Jesus made it very clear that He was not called to be a political king so that people might experience a better temporal, earthly existence. 

                    a)   Rather, He was destined to die a sacrificial death so that man might experience an eternal, spiritual life.

                    b)  Jesus was not called to become a king over a political domain, but, instead, the King of kings who might reign over an eternal kingdom not made with human hands.

                        c) Many times we embrace wrong motivations in Christian service.  We want to rule and tell people what to do.  We want to control and dominate like a king would, but this is not the image that the Lord give us here. Christian service is not an occasion to put ourselves on a pedestal; it is an opportunity to be of service to others!

               2) The Lord’s Mission Was Spiritual. The means to achieving Jesus’ much higher and more meaningful goal was not to be found in the man-made systems and alliances of this world, but rather through the ultimate act of ministry and servanthood, a sacrificial death.

                        a) Why are suffering and death so difficult to associate with ruling and reigning? Why do we struggle with the concepts of dying in order to live, losing in order to gain, giving in order to receive? Why do we hold so tightly to what we cannot keep? Why do temporal things have such a strong hold on us? What does it take to “give up what I cannot keep to gain that which I cannot lose”? (12:25)

                        b) Jesus’ example of exaltation through crucifixion is our pattern. Like a grain of wheat, He died. But look at the result: many fruitful seeds! Read John 12:23–26. Take some time to reflect on the truth that when we are willing to follow Jesus’ example we will enjoy His reward—much fruit!  But we must first die to self and choose to serve God and others!

         b. Jesus Resolved to Die to Make Eternal Provisions. 

John 12:24, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.

                  1) The Corn.  Jn. 12:24

                    a) “A corn of wheat” is any kind of grain-wheat, or barley.  The “corn” seed is an illustration of the life of Christ.

                    b) “Fall into the ground” refers to being planted in the earth, thereby the seed will be accessible to the proper moisture from the earth.  This illustrates Christ’s death on the cross.

                        c) By way of application, this “corn of wheat” represents the life of a true servant of God planted in the fertile soil of God’s will in Christian ministry.  Like Christ, we must view our primary purpose as serving the spiritual interests of others.  Like a seed we have great potential to be fruitful!

                 2) The Cross.   Jn. 12:24 “Fall into the ground and die”

                      a)  The whole body of the grain, except the germ, dies in the earth or is decomposed once planted.

                      b)  This decomposed substance provides the first nutrition for the tender germ.

                      c)  This is a nutriment completely appropriate for it, fitted to nourish it until it becomes strong enough to secure its nourishment from the ground. In this God has shown his wisdom and goodness.

                      d)  No one thing could be more precisely fitted for another than this provision made in the grain itself for the future needs of the tender germ.

APPLICATION:  Likewise, through the Cross of our Lord Jesus, He provided that which is most fitted for a needy and sinful people–death.  His death provides the appropriate conditions for salvation, eternal life and a great harvest of souls.  This is also the cross that the Servant of the Lord must bear. Through death we facilitate life! This is a key to fruitful Christian service!  Matthew 16:24, Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 

                 3) The Crown.  Jn. 12:23-24

                      a) “Abideth alone” simply means that the seed cannot produce fruit until it is planted and dies in the ground.  It will remain alone never producing the rich and beautiful harvest.

                      b) “the Son of man should be glorified” Jesus carefully intimates that it was only by his death that He would be glorified in the salvation of men, and in the honors and rewards in Heaven!

APPLICATION: The Lord Jesus bore the Cross therefore He now wears the Crown.  He understood that the suffering will be followed with glory.

 Heb 2:9, But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; . . . .

Phil 2:8-9, He humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross; wherefore God also hath highly exalted him. . . . .

Heb 12:2, Who, for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Ephes. 1:20-23, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, [21] Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: [22] And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, [23] Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

               4) The Course.  Jn. 12:26

John 12:26, If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.  Jesus stated that as the sown kernel dies to bring forth a rich harvest, so also the death of the Son of God will result in the salvation of many. 

                     a) We Too Must Serve The Lord. “Serve me” means we are to be Christ’s disciple also.  The principle of death (see v. 24) is also applicable to us His followers. We, too, as His disciples will have to lose our life in service and witness for Him (see Matt. 10:37–39; 16:24, 25).                   

                     b) We Too Must Follow The Lord. “Let him follow me” Christ calls us to imitate Him; to do what He did, bear what He bore, and love what He loves. He is speaking particularly of his own sufferings and death, and this passage has reference, therefore, to calamity and persecution.  Not only did Jesus choose the servant role for Himself—which was actually the heavenly Father’s role for Him—but He called us, His followers, to become like Him, and to be, first and foremost, servants.  The Lord Jesus Calls His True Followers to Servant-hood 

QUOTE: “You see me triumph-you see (me enter Jerusalem, and you supposed that my kingdom was to be set up without opposition or calamity; but it is not. I am to die; and if you will serve me, you must follow me even in these scenes of calamity; be willing to endure trial and to bear shame, looking for future reward.”—Albert Barnes 

                     c) We Too Will Reign With The Lord. “Where I am, there shall also my servant be:” We as His servants will be in Heaven, with the Son of God reigning and glorified with the glorified Messiah.  The design of this verse is to comfort us in the midst of persecutions, ministry hardships, and trials. 

APPLICATION:  We are to follow Him through whatever challenges; realizing that as He was to be glorified as the result of his sufferings, so we also were to look for our eternal rewards.

Rev 3:21, To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne.

John 14:3, And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

John 17:24, Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world. 

2.  The Lord Jesus Viewed His Service To God As Something Glorious Not Degrading.

Jesus concluded, “What shall I say? Father, save Me from this hour:  but for this cause came I unto this hour. Father, glorify thy name.” (John 12:27). 

     a. Jesus did not back away from servanthood or the ultimate act of service—His sacrificial death. 

     b. He did not regard His crucifixion in any way to be a demeaning or diminishing act, but he considered it to be the very purpose for His life and the fulfillment of His time on this earth.

     c. His entire life and ministry had been aimed at this supreme act of service.

John 12:27, Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour:

John 12:28, Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.

           1)  There’s a phrase that embodies this principle: “Make sure that what you are living for is what you are willing to die for.” That’s the way Jesus lived. He lived a life of service, and He died a death that was an act of service. 

           2)  Jesus came to Jerusalem to be glorified through the act of supreme service—His crucifixion. But, the people could not understand Him because they could not comprehend that glory and suffering go together. They thought in terms of crowns of gold; Jesus thought of a crown of thorns. 

           3)  No genuine believer is excluded from Christian service. We each are called to serve God and to serve others in need every day of our lives. God has already identified the precise ways in which He desires for you to serve Him and, thereby, fulfill your purpose in life.                   

QUOTE: “If we refuse to be a corn of wheat—falling into the ground, and dying; if we will neither sacrifice prospects nor risk character, and property, and health; nor when we are called, relinquish home, and break family ties, for Christ’s sake; then we shall abide alone.   But if we wish to be fruitful, we must follow our Blessed Lord Himself, by becoming a corn of wheat, and dying, then we shall bring forth much fruit.”—T. G. Ragland                                

CONCLUSION:

Nobody is excluded from service. We each are called to serve God and to serve others in need every day of our lives. God has already identified the precise ways in which He desires for you to serve Him and, thereby, fulfill your purpose in life. Ephesians 2:10 tells us: “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

Service is the doing of good works as God leads and directs through the power of the Holy Spirit. The works are there for us to do. Our responsibility is to obey God, even as Jesus obeyed the Father, and to serve Him. With all of our lives—every last grain is given Him and to others.