WHAT IS PLANTED IN WEAKNESS
SPRINGS UP IN GLORY.
JOHN 12:20-28
In
the name + of Jesus.
Marvin Howatt knew a lot about seeds. He planted them in hopes of getting a nice crop. He sold them in hopes of bringing prosperity to farmers. Marvin Howatt knew a lot about seeds.
Jesus Christ knew something about seeds,
too. Having grown up in an area known
for its agriculture, Jesus was familiar with planting and harvesting. One of his parables described a sower casting
his seed to the ground. Some seed did
not take root. Other seed began to grow
but died off before it matured. Other
seed took root and produced a crop 30, 60, or 100 times what was sown. This seed did what it was designed to do.
During Holy Week when Jesus was in
Jerusalem for the Passover, some Greeks came to Jesus’ disciples with a
request. “Sir, we want to see Jesus”
(John 12:21), they said. When they
were introduced to Jesus, we do not hear about Jesus exchanging pleasantries
with them. Jesus immediately told them what
he had come for. “The time has come
for the Son of Man to be glorified.” (John 12:23). Then he spoke about seeds. Actually, Jesus spoke about one seed—himself. He said, “Amen, Amen, I tell you: Unless a
kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it continues to be one kernel.
But if it dies, it produces much grain” (John 12:24).
Jesus is the Seed who died and was planted
into the ground. He is the Seed of the
Woman who was promised back in the Garden of Eden. As soon as sin entered the world through Adam
and Eve, and death came upon all mankind because of that sin, God promised a
Savior to crush the head of the devil and to rectify everything that was cursed
because of sin. The Seed of the Woman, Jesus,
has delivered us from sin by taking up our sins for us. Jesus has delivered us from the curse of
death by enduring the curse on our behalf.
He is the Seed who died and was planted in the earth in burial. Jesus was laid to rest in weakness—having been
beaten and flogged, crowned with thorns, stripped of his garments, and dying a shameful
death. But then Jesus rose from the
grave with his body raised immortal, imperishable, and incorruptible. This is what the promised Seed was designed
to do. The Seed which was planted in weakness
has sprung up in glory to live forever.
Jesus said that if a seed falls to the ground
and dies, it will produce much grain.
Any farmer can testify that this is true. One kernel of corn that is planted produces a
stalk with hundreds of kernels on it. According
to a Google search, the average ear of corn produces about 800 kernels. That is an incredible yield for one kernel of
corn which falls to the earth and dies.
I doubt that every seed that Marvin planted in the ground was successful,
but he certainly gained far more than he planted.
Jesus has had far better success as the Seed
who was sown into the earth. Jesus rose
from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. Jesus is the firstfruits, and millions will
follow at the final harvest. The final harvest
will come on the Last Day, and on that day, what is planted in weakness springs
up in glory.
We will follow the same path that has been
laid out by Jesus. In this world, we
live in weakness and humility. Certainly,
weakness was evident in the final weeks of Marvin Howatt. He had declined from what he once was. He once was very active in the congregation,
serving in many different areas, and in the community, serving with 4-H and the
Wabasha County Fair Board. He was once
vibrant, active, and strong—riding and grooming snowmobile trails and hunting
deer and turkey. But as time goes by, as
it does for all of us, the body’s strength and vibrance fade. Activity gives way to frailty. All this is because of sin which corrupts
every body, mind, and heart. Finally,
the body gives out, and it is sown in weakness.
But just as Jesus Christ has taken away
Marvin’s sin, so he will also deliver Marvin from the grave. The Seed of the Woman has conquered sin,
death, and the devil as promised. Jesus
Christ has authority over the grave. On
the Last Day, he will summon all the dead out of the grave. No one will be left behind. Those who have been clothed in Jesus’
righteousness will be raised up to live forever. At his baptism, Marvin was clothed in Jesus’
righteousness. By the sacrament of the
altar, Marvin was sustained in the true faith unto life everlasting. Even if you recognized Marvin’s decline in
old age, that is not his eternal future.
What is planted in weakness will spring up in glory.
St. Paul wrote of the body that springs up
in glory. He wrote, “What you sow is
not made alive unless it dies. And what
you sow is not the body that will be, but a bare seed, perhaps of wheat or some
other grain. But God gives it a body of
the kind he wanted it to have, and to each of the seeds he gives its own body. …That is the way the resurrection of the dead
will be. What is sown is perishable; it
is raised imperishable. It is sown in
dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is
sown in weakness; it is raised in power.
It is sown as a natural body; it is raised as a spiritual body” (1
Corinthians 15:36-38,42-44). What is
planted in weakness springs up in glory.
Marvin Howatt will be raised by Jesus with a body like Jesus’ risen body. He will forever be strong, vibrant, and active. He will find joy in serving the Lord in the heavenly
kingdom. He has already joined the
choirs of saints and angels. This is the
glory that Jesus has won for him, and we will see that glory with our own eyes
at the resurrection on the Last Day.
Because Jesus lives, Marvin Howatt will live again and live forever.
When the Greeks wanted to see Jesus, Jesus
declared that he would soon be glorified.
The glory of Jesus is that he saves sinners. He lived for us. He died for us. He rose for us. And he promises us, “Where I am, there my
servant will be also. If anyone serves
me, the Father will honor him” (John 12:26). Marvin Howatt was a servant of Jesus
Christ. No, wait. Let me correct that: Marvin Howatt IS a
servant of Jesus Christ. He has gone to
be with Jesus. The Father honors
him. The Holy Spirit who dwelt in him will
raise him back from death to life. What is
planted in weakness will spring up in glory.
Marvin Howatt knew a lot about seeds. He also believed in the Seed of the Woman who redeemed him and set him apart for the glories of heaven. The promised Seed was sown and has sprung to life to produce much fruit. He guarantees that Marvin Howatt will spring up in glory. He guarantees your glory, too.
In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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