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 KJV

Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. John 12:24 NASB

These things said Isaiah when he saw His glory and spake of Him” John 12:41 KJV

These things Isaiah said because he saw His glory, and he spoke of Him. John 12:41 NASB

Characteristic of the Lord Jesus was that He did not speak of His death in grand heroic terms such as the Greek heroes employed or that filled their mythologies. He spoke of a serpent lifted-up, a temple destroyed, a lamb bearing away sin, an hour approaching, a cup He must drink, a baptism to experience.

There was nothing grandiose or spectacular in His allusions to Calvary. In John 12, He likens His death to simply a corn of wheat, a seemingly small and insignificant seed, falling into the ground and dying. He does not frame His death in the imagery of a mighty warrior sacrificing Himself for the people He loves.

He is not the conquering hero betrayed at the last by one of His own. He is just a corn of wheat falling into the ground, something of which no one would take notice. This alone should move us to worship Him. Such unhypocritical humility and grace are found only in One Man. He is worthy of worship and adoration.

But within the same chapter in which He likens Himself to that corn of wheat, we are told of His rejection by men prophesied by Isaiah (vv 37-41). But then the inspired writer adds that Isaiah spoke these words when he saw His glory. And there can be no mistake that he is referring to seeing the glory of the pre-incarnate Christ! So the corn of wheat falling into the ground is contrasted with the “High and lofty One Who inhabits eternity” (Isa 6:1-9). Set these two pictures side by side, mentioned together here in John 12, and consider the many contrasts.

He is lifted up in glory in Isaiah but falling into the ground in John 12; He is high and lofty and yet just a corn of wheat. When Isaiah saw Him, His train filled the temple; as the corn of wheat, He is alone. Instead of myriads celebrating His holiness, He is insignificant in the eyes of men as a corn of wheat. You can add to the contrasts.

As you go through John 12, despite the lowliness of this Blessed Man, there is a glory linked with Him. In fact, there are as many mentions of glory in the chapter as any other chapter in John. In verses 1-7 He is the glory as the life-giver in the home at Bethany. Then we see Him as the glory of the nation, their Messiah coming as prophesied. Then He is the glory of the nations as Greeks desire to see Him. Here are lowliness and meekness set over against the only true Glory that the world has seen.

Consider:

Go through chapter 12 and look at the direct and indirect references to the Lord’s death on Calvary and note, as well, the mentions of “glory” throughout the chapter.