THE K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
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though both holy, could not produce afte r th e ir kind. None of th e disciples were like Him. This was manifested in th e ir self-seeking and selfishness. They became like Him afterw ard, bu t not un til th e seed fell into th e ground and brought fo rth life. How insignificant seems one grain of cord, of w heat; yet in one grain, if sown and re-sown, th ere is a world h a r vest. The increase is marvellous. In th e acorn is contained th e oak, and in the oak, ships, buildings, articles of commerce; so, in one grain of wheat, we can see food for a whole world. Christ seemed to be a helpless man. Never more so th a n a t th is tim e when He was about to be delivered over to His enemies. In a few days th e seed would fall into th e ground. In a few more it would fructify and bring forth th ree thousand-fold (Acts 2 :4 1 ). The Roman government pu t Him to death bu t in a few years th is same govern m ent acknowledged Him as God. There can be no life save through death. A fter Pentecost, th e weak and wavering disciples became sturdy, strong soldiers, yielding themselves to death, th e ir m arty r blood becoming the seed of th e church. This is in accord ance w ith th e unchanging law of God, “Every seed afte r its kind” (Gen. 1: 12; 1 Cor. 15:35-38; Isa. 53:10-12). Jesus stood th a t day alone, like “ a handful of corn in th e earth upon the top of the m ountain” bu t the fru it of th a t lonely life has become like Leba non (Heb. 2 :9 , 10). “I! n t w e se e J e s u s , w h o w a s m ad e a little lo w e r th a n th e a n g e ls f o r th e s u f f e rin g o f d e a th , c ro w n e d w ith g lo ry a n d h o n o u r; t h a t h e b y th e g ra c e o f God sh o u ld ta s te , d e a th fo r e v e ry m an . F o r i t b ecam e h im , fo r w h om a re a ll . th in g s , a n d b y w h om a re a ll th in g s , in b rin g in g m an y so n s u n to g lo ry , to m a k e th e c a p ta in o f th e ir s a lv a tio n p e rfe c t th r o u g h su ffe rin g s .’* “ If any man serve me, let him follow Me” (v. 26). This is the universal law of God. It is illu strated in the cross and in diseipleship. “Follow Me, and
(2 ) The Decision of our Lord’s Soul, vs. 27-30. (3 ) The Drawing Power of the Crucified Christ, vs. 31-36. In tro d u c tio n : The Greeks, or Hellenes, were per sons of Greek nationality, h u t not iden tical w ith those called "G recians” in Acts 6:1. These la tte r were Jews who spoke Greek. The Greeks referred to here were Gentiles of th e Greek race, coming, perhaps, from some of th e Greek cities n ear by, of which th ere were several in Decapolis and were probably w hat were known as “prose lytes of th e gate,” or “ strangers w ithin th e gates.” They came to Philip, no doubt, because he was of Bethsaida and had a Greek name. They came a t th e la st hour, too late to see any of His miracles, for He was through w ith th e work of attestation and was now preparing for th e g reater work of th e redemption of fallen man. Their coming was prophetic, shadow ing fo rth , as in a vision, th e coming to Christ of th e Gentiles from the four qu arters of the earth to acknowledge His lordship. They had heard of Jesus, for they must first h ear before they would have a desire to see (Rom. 1 0 :14 ). P erhaps Philip had been th e light-bearer to convey to them thq tru th concerning his Master, and had th u s aroused th e if in terest« in Him. Their coming afforded th e Lord an opportunity to set forth these marvellous tru th s concerning His suffering and glory. (1) THE DEATH OF THE SEED, vs. 20-26, “Except a corn of wheat die” (v. 24). The Lord here sets forth, in figure, th e g reat tru th s of His death and resu r rection,— the sowing of His own pre cious life and th e reaping of a harvest of saved 'souls. The germ of life was in H imself, as a. seed. It could not germ inate so long as He lived in this world. His teaching and example,
A CHANCE TO HELP THE K. B
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