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Observe here, 1. How our blessed Saviour entertains his followers with a discourse concerning his approaching death and sufferings: The hour is coming that the Son of man shall be glorified.
Observe, 2. How he arms his disciples against the scandal of the cross, by shewing them the great benefit that would redound by his death unto all mankind: and this by a similitude taken for grain, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground, and die, it abideth alone.
That is, as corn unsown, lodged in the barn, or laid up in the chamber, never multiples nor increases: but sow it in the field, and bury it in the earth, and it multilplies and increases, and brings forth a plentiful crop; so if Christ had not died, he had remained what he was, the eternal Son of God, but he had had no church in the world; whereas his death and sufferings made him fructify: that brought a plentiful increase of exaltation to himself, and salvation to his people.
Observe, 3. How plainly our Saviour dealt with his followers; he did not deceive them with a vain hope and expectation of temporal happiness, but tells them plainly, that all that will be his disciples must prepare for sufferings, and not think their temporal life too dear to lay down for him when he calls them to it, this being the surest way to secure unto themselves life everlasting. He that loveth his life shall lose it, but he that hateth his life in this world, shall keep it unto life eternal.
Learn hence, That the surest way to attain eternal life is cheerfully to lay down our temporal life, when the glory of Christ, and the honour of religion, requires it at our hand.