Easter: A Time for Planting- The Crosswalk Devotional - April 17
Easter: A Time for Planting
By Lynette Kittle
Bible Reading:
“Jesus replied, ‘The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds’”--John 12:23-24
When we think of Easter, what comes to our minds? Many think of cultural and family traditions like Easter egg hunts, colorful baskets, chocolate bunnies, and family gatherings.
Of course, as Christians, we recognize and understand the importance of the death and resurrection of Jesus, of His shed blood atoning for our sins, and giving us new, eternal life in Him.
But do we also consider Easter as a time to plant seeds that bring others to Salvation? Jesus understood much more than we do how His death would produce many seeds and how vital it is for our world to be reconciled to God.
Losing Our Lives to Keep Them Eternally
In John 12:25-26, Jesus tells us, “Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves Me must follow Me, and where I am, My servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves Me.”
Still, it’s hard for countless individuals who don’t want to pay the price for serving Christ in this world by dying to themselves and giving up their lives so that others may live. It’s too high of a cost for some, and where many individuals decide to go another way.
Some think it was easy for Jesus to go to the cross, but in speaking of His coming death, He said,
“’ Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? “Father, save Me from this hour”? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify Your name!’ Then a voice came from heaven, ‘I have glorified it and will glorify it again.’ The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to Him” (John 12:27-28).
Even though Jesus was troubled by what was to come, His suffering and death on the cross, He submitted to the Father’s will, laying down His life so that others may live.
Seeds Lead to Life Eternal
Jesus knew that the dying of one seed releases many seeds that bring forth a harvest. Like in nature, when a seed falls to the ground and dies, producing many seeds, so do spiritual seeds that die.
As a hospice chaplain, my husband knows too well that funerals are a time when many people consider their lives, how they’re living, and where they will go for eternity.
Growing up, there was a tragic accident that occurred in our church family, where a girl in our youth group lost her life. It struck the hearts of our youth group deeply, and I still vividly remember sitting in the crowded, overflowing church balcony during her funeral.
As heart-wrenching as it was, we knew she was with Jesus now, alive and living everlasting with Him. Her death and testimony of faith in Jesus touched many hearts that day, softening them and leading them to Salvation in Christ.
Like Jesus taught, her single seed dying, as sad and tragic as it was, produced and planted many seeds in the lives of those who knew, loved, and heard of her faith in Christ.
Seeds Need Watering
As Jesus emphasized, seeds dying and being planted in the lives of others are vital for spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ, and we all play a part in helping those seeds grow and flourish in the lives of those where they are planted.
Like the Apostle Paul describes in 1 Corinthians 3:7-9: “I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose and will each be rewarded according to their own labor. We are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.”
Intersecting Faith & Life:
Has your life or the lives of people you know been spiritually influenced by the passing away of a loved one, friend, co-worker, or neighbor? If so, you understand what Jesus was teaching and how the faith of one person who dies can impact and bring life to countless lives.
Further Reading:
Patient in the Work
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/leolintang
Lynette Kittle is married with four daughters. She enjoys writing about faith, marriage, parenting, relationships, and life. Her writing has been published by Focus on the Family, Decision, Today’s Christian Woman, kirkcameron.com, Ungrind.org, StartMarriageRight.com, and more. She has a M.A. in Communication from Regent University and serves as associate producer for Soul Check TV.
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