Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die
William MacDonald teaches that true spiritual fruitfulness and salvation come only through self-sacrifice and dying to self, following Christ's example of the corn of wheat that must fall into the ground and die.
In this powerful sermon, William MacDonald explores the profound truth found in John 12:24 about the necessity of dying to self to bear spiritual fruit. Using vivid illustrations and historical examples, he reveals how Christ’s sacrificial death is the model for all believers who desire to see lasting impact in their lives and ministries. MacDonald challenges listeners to embrace sacrifice as the pathway to abundant spiritual blessing and eternal life.
Text
“Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone; but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.” (John 12:24)
One day some Greeks came to Philip with the noble request, “Sir, we would see Jesus!” But why did they want to see Him? Perhaps they wanted to take Him back to Athens as a popular new philosopher. Or perhaps they wanted to save Him from crucifixion and death, which now seemed inevitable.
Jesus answered with one of the great laws of harvest: a kernel of grain must fall into the ground and die if it is to become productive. If He were to save Himself from death, He would abide alone. He would enjoy the glories of heaven by Himself; there would be no saved sinners there to share His glory. But if He died, He would provide a way of salvation by which many would enjoy eternal life. It was imperative for Him that He die a sacrificial death rather than live a comfortable life.
T. G. Ragland once said, “Of all plans of ensuring success, the most certain is Christ’s own, becoming a grain of wheat, falling into the ground and dying. If we refuse to become grains of wheat…if we will neither sacrifice prospects, nor risk character, and property and health; nor, when we are called, relinquish home, and break family ties, for Christ’s sake; then we shall abide alone. But if we wish to be fruitful, we must follow our Blessed Lord Himself, by becoming a corn of wheat, and dying, then we shall bring forth much fruit.
Years ago I read of a group of missionaries in Africa who had labored tirelessly for years without seeing any lasting fruit for God. In desperation, they finally announced a conference where they would get before God in prayer and fasting. In the discussion that followed, one of the missionaries said, “I don’t think we’ll ever see blessing until a corn of wheat falls into the ground and dies.” Shortly afterward, that same missionary took sick and died. Then the harvest began - the blessing which he had predicted.
Samuel Zwemer wrote:
There is no gain but by a loss,
You cannot save but by a cross;
The corn of wheat to multiply
Must fall into the ground and die.
Wherever you ripe fields behold,
Waving to God their sheaves of gold,
Be sure some corn of wheat has died,
Some soul there has been crucified—
Someone has wrestled, wept and prayed,
And fought hell’s legions undismayed.
Sermon Outline
-
I
- The request of the Greeks to see Jesus
- Possible motives behind their request
- Jesus’ response about the necessity of death
-
II
- The law of the harvest illustrated by the corn of wheat
- The necessity of death for fruitfulness
- The consequence of avoiding sacrifice
-
III
- Examples of sacrifice from missionaries
- The connection between sacrifice and spiritual blessing
- Samuel Zwemer’s poetic summary of the principle
-
IV
- Application of the principle to believers’ lives
- The call to follow Christ’s example in self-denial
- The promise of abundant fruit through sacrifice
Key Quotes
“Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone; but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.” — William MacDonald
“If we refuse to become grains of wheat…then we shall abide alone. But if we wish to be fruitful, we must follow our Blessed Lord Himself, by becoming a corn of wheat, and dying, then we shall bring forth much fruit.” — William MacDonald
“There is no gain but by a loss, You cannot save but by a cross; The corn of wheat to multiply Must fall into the ground and die.” — William MacDonald
Application Points
- Embrace self-sacrifice as essential for spiritual growth and fruitfulness.
- Follow Christ’s example by being willing to risk comfort and security for God’s purposes.
- Trust that through dying to self, God will bring abundant blessing and salvation to many.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the corn of wheat symbolize in this sermon?
It symbolizes Jesus Christ and believers who must die to self in order to bear spiritual fruit.
Why is death necessary for fruitfulness according to the sermon?
Because just as a seed must die to produce a harvest, believers must sacrifice and die to self to produce lasting spiritual fruit.
How does this teaching apply to modern Christians?
Christians are called to embrace sacrifice, risk, and self-denial to follow Christ and experience spiritual growth and blessing.
What example from history does the speaker use to illustrate the principle?
He uses the example of missionaries in Africa who saw fruitfulness only after one missionary died following a time of prayer and fasting.
What is the ultimate outcome of following the principle of the corn of wheat?
The ultimate outcome is abundant spiritual fruit and the salvation of many through Christ’s sacrifice.