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I. THE FACTS.

1. The symbolical corn of wheat has a real existence — Christ.

(1) Wheat! The Word of God is called by this name. It is not like chaff; it has nourishment in it, and is preeminent among all words, as wheat is among grain. Believers are called wheat. The wicked are chaff, tares, which have no value in them. Christ is the Word of God in a higher sense than scripture, and between Christ and believers there is union. The rank which wheat holds among cereals may remind us that Christ is chief among ten thousand; the delicate purity of it, that He is the Holy One of God; and the great purpose that it serves, that He is the bread of life.

(2) A corn of wheat. There is life in that, so there is in a blade or leaf; but these cannot propagate their life, whereas that has life to give away. Their life, too, is dependent and continually derived from the stem and root from which they must not be divided; but that has life that it carries with it wherever it goes. So the life that is in Christ comes not by transmission. He is "the Life."(3) Acorn of wheat keeps its life a long time. It has been found in the hand of a mummy after thousands of years. The Son of God became a corn of wheat, for the purpose expressed in our text, before the foundation of the world.

2. The corn of wheat, has fallen into the ground. This is a figurative expression of the fact of the incarnation. When the vital powers of wheat are to he called into action it is necessary to take it from the garner and sow it. One corn of wheat was taken from the Father's bosom and put into this sinful world. How great an abasement! The Creator became a creature, and was subjected to a creature's duties and obligations.

3. When a corn of wheat falls into the ground it dies. One corn of wheat has died because it was sown. If the Eternal Son had not been sent down His death would not have taken place. He was made under the broken, offended law which slew Him with its curse.

4. When a corn of wheat dies its life-giving power is developed. One corn of wheat has not remained alone. Christ's death has great results. It was to Him what the deep sleep was to Adam — it gave Him a spouse. His death is the root, the collective Church is the stem, and individual believers its fruit with which the stem is laden. "When thou shalt make His soul," etc. He saw this seed at Pentecost and at many a Pentecost since, and will continue to see it till the Church is complete. And when He sees His seed He recognizes them, and that because of their likeness to Himself. When a corn of wheat produces seed, it is seed of its own nature. So the seed of Christ are like Him.

II. THE DEATH OF CHRIST.

1. Its character.

(1) Glorious. The shame was outward and transient, the glory essential and imperishable.

(2) Fruitful. In this its glory largely consists. The consequences are destined to cover the earth and outlive time.

(3) Not a natural death but a death of violence. There are various kinds of violent deaths.

(a) Martyrdom. This is glorious, and has fruits. Christ was a martyr.

(b) That of a soldier. A peculiar lustre attaches to Wolfe, Nelson, and the heroes at Thermopylae, who conquered while they died, as did Christ.

(c) The felon's death, which answers useful ends. And Christ suffered the punishment sin deserved. The holy law was trampled underfoot; His death lifted it up and took away its reproach.

(d) The death of a substitute, such as David wished for when Absalom was slain, and Paul, in Romans

1. The ram substituted for Isaac and the sacrifices of Judaism were examples of the same thing. Christ's death was vicarious. "The Lord laid on Him," etc.

2. Its necessity.

(1) The simple fact proves this. Christ was not capable of throwing away His life, and God would never have given it had it not been necessary.

(2) Its character proves this — as that of a warrior, martyr, etc.

(3) But there was a special necessity for it. "Except a corn of wheat," etc. Had He not died He had been a head without a body, a shepherd without a flock, a king without a kingdom, etc.

(A. Gray.)

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KJV: Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.

WEB: Most certainly I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains by itself alone. But if it dies, it bears much fruit.