A New Shoot – John 12:20-33

“Listen carefully: Unless a grain of wheat is buried in the ground, dead to the world, it is never any more than a grain of wheat. But if it is buried, it sprouts and reproduces itself many times over. In the same way, anyone who holds on to life just as it is destroys that life. But if you let it go, reckless in your love, you’ll have it forever, real and eternal” (Jn 12:24,25).

I visited a friend today who had just lost their Father.  It bought back so many memories of when I had lost my own mother 27 years ago.  The pain and the hurt came flooding back just as if it had happened today just like my friends loss.  We sat and went over the past, remembering all the things that could have been achieved if our parents were still alive. Yet when we looked at what had been achieved, and the memories created, there is not one thing that both of us would probably agree on is that we would never have changed it.  It was only through the pain of this loss that on reflection we experienced some of the biggest growth moments in our lives.

So it is with many things (like the grain of wheat), if they were to remain the same and not go through any transformation there would never be the wonder and amazement of achievement and a sense of satisfaction that any difference could be made.  Whether this be in our own lives or the lives of others.

Enter Jesus.  Without the transformation he created for us on the cross where would we be today? We bathe in his love and grace as a result of what happened on that piece of wood over 2000 years ago. It wasn’t just on that piece of wood that death took hold of, that made the difference, but the transformational change of an empty tomb where the discovery was truly made.

What discovery can you look for today to reflect the change that Jesus has made in your life and share it with someone so they can celebrate it with you?  Better still get them to share their experience also and have a double celebration.

Prayer:  Father, change me and bury the dead wood that is not part of the new life you have offered me.  Help me to sprout and reproduce a reckless love for you that you may be glorified and we can share life with you forever. Amen.

The Zankers