Approach Question:
"What do you think is the function of a seed?"

Observations:
I asked myself what points were made by Jesus?
1. Unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground.
2. Unless a kernel of wheat dies, it remains only a single seed.
3. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.

Interpretations:
Point 1: "Unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground."

I asked myself what does Jesus mean by 'unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground'?
Jesus was using a farming analogy to talk about Himself as the KERNEL OF WHEAT.  Now Jesus lets them know in subtle terms that HE WILL BE STRUCK DOWN as the KERNEL OF WHEAT and is WILLING to FALL TO THE GROUND. KERNEL OF WHEAT can also be seen as His body hitting the ground. But Jesus does not stop there as is evidenced by Point 2:

Point 2: "Unless a kernel of wheat dies, it remains only a single seed."

I asked myself what Jesus meant by 'unless a kernel of wheat dies, it remains only a single seed.?'
Once again Jesus was talking about Himself. He was preparing the disciples for His death because only in His willingness to die that the 'kernel of wheat' won't remain a single seed. Jesus did not want to just remain a single seed so Jesus decided to act. That act had to do with sacrifice but more than that I believe Jesus was foreshadowing that the Kingdom of God did not and will not just belong to the Jews but to the Gentiles too. This is evidenced by Point 3:

Point 3: "But if it dies, it produces many seeds."

I asked myself what Jesus meant by, 'But if it dies, it produces many seeds?
Jesus was reminding those listening that He has to die for many seeds to be produced. Those many seeds that are produced goes beyond the Jewish people. It includes the opportunity for Gentiles to come to Him too and be part of His Kingdom. That is exciting to know and is evidenced by what preceded Jesus' declarative statement:

"Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the Feast. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. "Sir," they said, "we would like to see Jesus." Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus. Jesus replied, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. I tell you the truth, 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." (John 12:20-24, NIV)

Jesus was telling His disciples that many Gentiles would one day become His followers because of His death and resurrection when people would turn to Him, as His death on the cross of Calvary opened a way for their Salvation. Jesus became the initiator and many seeds would be produced.

IMPLICATIONS:
I asked myself what are the implications for my own life?  
As I think about Memorial Day and its significance because of all the soldiers who loved the country enough to fall to the ground and die for their country that the people may live and prosper in freedom, I think about what Jesus Christ, the Great Commander in Chief of Heaven and Earth did for us so that we may attain spiritual freedom as we yield to Him. Jesus fell to the ground at the cross so with His precious cleansing Blood He could pay the price to set us free. Even as I remember the flag of red, white, and blue that flies today because of the sacrifice of soldiers, I am also reminded when I have been bruised blue by Satan, Jesus came to shed His precious cleansing red Blood for me so that I can become white as freshly fallen snow as I turn to Him. Thank you Jesus.

Jesus loves me so much that even before I was born, Jesus decided to go to the Cross of Calvary and rescue me from the dominion of darkness by becoming my sacrifice, shedding His precious blood for me. I was reminded today while spending time with the Lord that He gave me a signature verse for my life that says,

 "But life is worth nothing to me unless I use it to do the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus; the work of telling others about God's mighty goodness and love." (Acts 20:24, TLB)

 I ask you now dear friend, what does M.E.M.O.R.I.A.L Day mean to you?
Dear friend, Memorial Day should be remembered as a day to memorialize the soldiers who paid with their lives as they fell to the ground, so we all can have freedom. Memorial Day should also be a day to remember the love of the Savior for you and me. The difference however is that Jesus is alive and will be coming back again. We remember from our memory of what Jesus did for us 2000 years ago that we may have life and freedom from the bondage of sin and death when we turn our lives over to Him.

Even this spiritual freedom with Christ, we cannot overtly enjoy here on earth if it were not for the brave sacrifice of soldiers who died for us so that we may have freedom. So, we need to remember all soldiers that fought for us and for our religious liberties too. Thank you Jesus. When we think about soldiers, we cannot forget the voice of the martyrs who paid with their own lives that we can come to know Jesus as our Lord and personal Savior.

Many years ago, Pastor Ed shared an analogy at Oakland International Fellowship about people who are a certain type of diabetic and no matter what good things they think they do to their bodies such as eating well, exercising, etc will not change the fact that unless they get a shot of insulin daily, they will be in danger of dying.

Then, Pastor Ed talked about many who are spiritually diabetic and are dying because they try to achieve healing in their own ways for their soul but no matter what we do, we cannot save our soul without outside intervention such as that insulin shot. In this case, the outside intervention for spiritual diabetics is a daily shot of grace that can only come through Jesus Christ because of what He has done for you and me.

This needs to be memorable for our own freedom!

So, what does it mean for you and me in the here and now?

Thank the Lord Jesus for what He has done for you that you can receive freedom; "For where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom!"

Now, we can give our life to Him as Romans 12 says by offering our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to Him; for when we think about what He did for us, this is not too much to ask and it should be our spiritual act of worship not out of obligation but out of love being beloved by the King of kings and the Lord of lords. Praise the Lord! Thank you Jesus! This was the theme verse for the Transformer small group that Elder Calvin, who originally led Transformers small group chose as we reflect on Christ and are transformed.

"The Lord lifts the fallen and those bent beneath their loads. The eyes of all mankind look up to you for help; you give them their food as they need it. You constantly satisfy the hunger and thirst of every living thing. (Psalm 145:14-18, TLB)

As stated before, even our religious freedom now would not have been possible without the sacrifice of our soldiers who gave their lives that we can enjoy religious freedom. For me that religious freedom has to be in Christ. So, on this Memorial Day, as we remember the fallen who gave their lives for this country and lift up their families in prayer, let us also remember what Father God did for us and why the Lord Jesus had to act for our freedom.

"Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." (John 3:14-17, NIV)

Friend, Jesus became the kernel of wheat and died so that many seeds can be produced out of the single seed. Jesus wants you to belong to Him and loves you so much. If you were the only one living, Jesus would have still died for you to make a way for you to receive Eternal Life. That is the Heart of the Father.

^"How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!" (1 John 3:1, NIV)

"But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:8-9, NIV)

Friend, we need Jesus because we have been separated from God due to our sin. Because of our sin, Jesus had to pay the price to become our bridge so we can reach God now not of our own good works but because of the finished work of Christ, the Lord on the cross.

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith, and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9, NIV)

Friend, the Good News is also that Jesus did not remain dead but on the third day rose to life and sits at the right Hand of the Father to give life to all those who believe in Him. Yes, friend that includes you and me when we believe in Him. Because of that, one day we will be with Him!

This Memorial Day if you have never thought about what Jesus did for you and reflected on it, won't you do it now even as your remember the soldiers that died for your freedom!

Won't you come to Jesus just as you are and have Him give you the freedom only He can?

Yes, friend no matter where you have been or what you have seen, you are never out of His love and never out of His reach. He loves you as you are!  You and I can have JESUS no matter what the world looks around us in it's confusion, intrusion, and thoughtless pollution. 

"Solution for Confusion"
(c) 2024 By Ramesh C. Reddy

In this month of May
On this Memorial Day!
Remembering lives that had to lay
For our freedom to pay
I wanna say
There is a Way

In a world of  confusion,
When there is no solution?
In a world of intrusion,
When there is thoughtless pollution?

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, this Memorial Day, even as we remember those that have given their lives for this country so that people like us can have freedom, please be with their families and comfort them in their own time of loss. And Lord, even as we experience freedom earthly style, let us not forget about the freedom that you want to offer us that can only come from you. Thank you so much for becoming the kernel of wheat for me and falling to the ground and dying so that many seeds can be produced. You became the sacrifice on the cross of Calvary so by your precious cleansing Blood, I could be saved. Thank you for making a way for me to be saved because you love me so much. Your Word says, where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. We want that freedom that you offer for our soul, in this world of confusion with dangerous intrusion and thoughtless pollution. Help us Oh Lord, God of our Salvation. Thank you for redeeming us and saving us by your blood. Thank you for being my Beloved and loving me so much beyond words can express. Thank you for hearing my prayer and answering me. I give my life to you and come to you as I am.  Thank you for dying for my sin and coming back to life to save me. I confess and repent of my sin. I acknowledge you as my Lord and Personal Savior. Please be my Lord and Personal Savior. Please come into my heart and make my heart your home. Live in me Jesus and I will live for you and serve you as you help me. Thank you so much Jesus for everything you will do for me as I belong to you. I praise you Lord! I pray for the one who does not know you yet Oh Lord that they can come to know you as their Lord and Personal Savior. Guide them and lead them Oh Lord. Thank you so much Jesus. In Your Name I pray Jesus! Amen!