Current Events > What does John 12:24 mean?

(+) Yeah! (+)

"Verily, verily I say unto you, unless a grain of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone; but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit."

Albedo was quoting this and I'm trying to figure out wtf it means. Is it saying that it is good for something to die if it is for the benefit of others?

He may be referring to his own death and resurrection.
---

Here is another translation:
Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.

So I guess it only serves it's purpose and is fulfilled in death.
Context is usually vital in funding the meaning in a verse, so you should read the verses before and after that verse and see if that helps.
---

CrimsonAngeI posted...

He may be referring to his own death and resurrection.

Yeah, here is more context

Jesus Predicts His Death
20 Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the festival. 21 They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. “Sir,” they said, “we would like to see Jesus.” 22 Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus.

23 Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Very truly 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. 25 Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.
---

People would be a lot less confused if they didn't insist on reading what might as well be another language.

I can't wrap my head aolround why anybody would read a translation from literally 400 years ago that made compromises in its translation to achieve the goal of being easy to understand. 400 years later, it's about as understandable as a literal translation and shares none of the benefits.
---

He was referring to his own death using an illustration.

The seed "dying" is it being buried in the dirt.
---

Dat_Cracka_Jax posted...

CrimsonAngeI posted...

He may be referring to his own death and resurrection.

Yeah, here is more context

Jesus Predicts His Death
20 Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the festival. 21 They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. “Sir,” they said, “we would like to see Jesus.” 22 Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus.

23 Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Very truly 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. 25 Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.

Oh, that makes a lot more sense. :o Thank you.

Well, I find it to be a bit deeper than this.

23 Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Very truly 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. 25 Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.

From my understanding, Jesus is not only talking about his own death on our behalf, reconciling us to God, but given the next few verses he is actually talking about how we ourselves are to also die that we might bring forth much fruit. See, this is spread throughout all the gospel, "whoever would follow me, must first deny himself" "We died and we've been raised with Christ in his resurrection" there's this idea impregnated in the whole message that you have to die, if you want to be born again, it's what baptism means, you are dying to yourself and to everything that you were before you came to know Jesus, and you are being resurrected by the power of his resurrection, it's a supernatural thing. Romans talks about us being buried in baptism -
Romans 6:4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

Now what he's saying in John is that if we would only live unto ourselves and not die in this fashion, denying ourselves and following Jesus, we would just be another seed that never really reaches it's potential to become a fruit-bearing tree. We'll dry up in the ground and just "abide alone".
---

It means that all the disciples were drunk psuedo-intellectuals
---

Unless a grain of wheat is buried it will not become a blade of wheat producing many more grains. Jesus had to die to pay the penalty for our sin, but also to show his power over death. His resurrection proves he has eternal life. Because he is God, he can give the same eternal life to all who believe in him.
---