Sermon Video: "unless a kernel of wheat falls" - John 12:24-32

With the Triumphal Entry mere moments behind him, Jesus begins to impress upon his disciples that "the hour" is at hand.  The purpose that brought the Son of God to dwell among men will culminate in his own death.  This death will not be an accident, rather it will be the fulfillment of the divine plan which envisioned the self-sacrifice of the Christ.  The life which Jesus will willingly lay down will accomplish infinitely more than he could have by trying to preserve it.
The same principle which Jesus proves in his own life applies to our lives as well.  If we believe that our lives are our own, and hold them tightly in our grasp, we will in the end lose that life just the same to no purpose.  If, however, we believe that our life is a gift of God, a stewardship for which we must one day give account, we will throughout our lives give of ourselves to show the love of God to others and in the end be rewarded by God for our faithfulness.
It may be a paradox, but the Son of Man will destroy sin and death by taking the world's sin upon his back and dying.  The moment of supreme victory for Lucifer's campaign of rebellion against Heaven will instead be the moment of complete defeat as Jesus rises from the grave in victory once-for-all ending the enslavement of mankind to sin and reconciling the world to God.  The cross, a symbol of brutal Roman oppression will in time become the symbol of hope for lost, the poor, and the hopeless.  In death, Jesus will provide life; in death, victory.
The question then becomes: Will we follow suit?  Will we walk in the footsteps of Jesus, give our lives freely to a life of service?

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Sermon Video