John 12:20-33

It is important for us to see today’s Gospel reading in the context of events in which it took place. These were the words of Jesus spoken after his triumphant entry to Jerusalem on Palm Sunday when huge crowds welcomed him with cheers and Hosannas.

But why did the crowds welcome Jesus in the first place? Well, shortly before Jesus came to Jerusalem, he performed one of his biggest miracles. He raised Lazarus from the dead. The news of this event sparked huge excitement about Jesus and caught the attention of the masses.

Who is this Jesus that can bring the dead back to life? This was most likely the question the Greeks in our Gospel reading had in mind when they approached Philip. They said: “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” But let’s pause here for a second and ask ourselves what do these words mean? What were they looking for and what were their expectations? Did they want to see a miracle maker, a person who can make their life here on earth last forever? Or were they looking for a Messiah, a source of a new everlasting life?

It is important for us to ask ourselves this same question. Why are we here at Church this morning? What is it that we’re looking for? Perfect life here on earth, or the one yet to come? What is it that we seek?

No matter what the reason is, I believe you’re here because you have been lead here by the Spirit. You are here because God has a message for you today. You are here because the hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified, (pause) in your life.

And so listen to what Jesus says to you: Very truly I tell you unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Jesus is that grain, that had to give up his earthly life so he could become the source of new everlasting life.

Suppose we are the grain as well. What is it in our life that has to die so that we can grow into something new? The answer is: everything that we hold on too tightly in this world that separates us from God. By refocusing our attention away from these things back to Christ, we will be able to grow into something new.

Are you ready to leave the old behind and move forward? Are you ready to be like the grain that dies to grow into something much more spectacular? Jesus says the hour has come; there is no reason to be waiting.

It’s not easy. Sometimes the things that burden us are the most difficult to get rid of. Guilt, anger, or despair… thoughts that often time result in actions. Actions that pull our families apart and cause the lack of civility, respect and morals in our society. Or there is money, possessions, and high stress schedules that imprison us… How can we get rid of all these things? And who can help us?

And the answer is? Jesus!!! He knew it’s not in our ability to start over by ourselves. We’re too weak, too broken, too tied up and too afraid. That’s why God sent Christ to pay the price. A new journey with Jesus starts at the cross, in the power of death and resurrection, where old things come to an end so that new can begin. This is what happens when Christ enters our lives. This is what happens when he touches our hearts.

Are you going to let him make a difference in your life? Then stop rejecting him and let t him heal you, make you clean, strengthen you and give you a new call and direction . You’re already here. Jesus says: Those who love their life 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 my servant be also.

Very tough words of Jesus, I myself struggled with them a lot. And yet these words are words of hope, words of new perspective and love. I would like to finish this sermon with a story, Pastor Bill shared at the Lenten noon service, I think this story explains these words of Jesus in the best way.

There once was an elf, who spent his time running around with a little wheelbarrow gathering snails and weeds that were destroying the vegetation.

The elf had a prized possession that he kept in his hut, a very soft green blanket. It had fallen from a fairy’s wagon as she went through the woods and he had never returned it to her. At night he wrapped himself up in it. It was very cold there in the woods and he was warm in it and he slept soundly through the night. In fact, he slept so soundly that he never had the occasion to see the King of the World who was said to come early each morning to make all things fresh and new. But the elf was so wrapped up in his warm, green blanket that he never was up to see the King of the World.

One time a shepherd met this elf out in the woods and said, “Have you ever seen the King of the World?” And the elf said, “No, as a matter of fact I never have. I’ve never been able to quite manage it.” And the shepherd was shocked to hear this, living in the woods that way, and the shepherd came up very close to the elf, and he looked deeply into his eyes and deeply into his soul. He said, “I seem to see something there that looks strangely like a blanket.” And the elf knew the shepherd had discovered his secret, and that his secret was that he would rather be wrapped up in the warm green blanket than to get up early enough to see the King of the World, who made all things fresh and new.”

May you see Jesus in your life every day.

Amen