John 12:24-26 Truly, truly, I say to you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it stays alone: but if it die… We will suppose that the Prince of Wales is wrecked on a certain voyage, and is cast on shore with only one companion. The Prince falls into the hands of barbarians, and there is an opportunity for his companion to escape; but he says, "No, my Prince, I will stay with you to the last, and if we die, we will die together." The Prince is thrown into a dungeon; his companion is in the prison with him, and serves him and waits upon him. He is sick — it is a contagious fever — his companion nurses him — puts the cooling liquid to his mouth — and waits on him with a mother's care. He recovers a little: the fond attendant carries the young Prince, as he is getting better, into the open air, and tends him as a mother would her child. They are subject to deep poverty — they share their last crust together; they are hooted at as they go through the streets, and they are hooted at together. At last, by some turn in Providence, it is discovered where the Prince is, and he is brought home. Who is the man that the Queen will delight to honour? I fancy she would look with greater affection upon the poor servant than upon the greatest statesman; and I think that as long as she lived she would remember him above all the rest, "I will honour him above all the mighty ones in the land." And now, if we shall be with Christ, the King's Son, if we shall suffer with Him, and be reproached with Him, if we shall follow Him anywhere and everywhere, making no choice about the way, whether it shall be rough or smooth — if we can go with Him to prison and to death, then we shall be the men whom heaven's King delighteth to honour. "Make room for Him, ye angels! Stand back ye peers of heaven's realm Here comes the man; he was poor, mean, and afflicted; but he was with My Son, and was like My Son. Come hither, man! There, take thy crown, and sit with My Son in His glory, for thou wast with My Son in His shame." (C. H. Spurgeon.) Parallel Verses 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. |
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