LightGrams
April 2, 2026
Volume 30, Number 12
In my time of growing up, I observed (and participated in) serious gardening. My father was devoted to having a well-kept garden, and he always had more produce than our family could eat. Planting began in March and the harvesting might go as late as October. His gardens were always well tended with clean straight rows and weeds carefully removed throughout the year.
Occasionally he would put a stake in the ground at the head of a row and attach the seed packet to the stake, just to remind him what was planted in that row. You could tell, therefore, where the corn was planted, the carrots, etc. The packets would fade within a few weeks, but by that time the plants would have emerged from the ground.
Suppose a novice had come along, wanting to pick up tips on how to grow a productive garden. Seeing the stakes with seed packets attached, they decided to do the same. But after a few days, no sprouts were visible. “What am I doing wrong?” they may have asked. “Did you plant the seeds before attaching the packet to the stake?” It sounds obvious, but novices sometimes don’t pick up on the obvious. Yes, seeds must be planted to yield the desired produce.
Jesus once spoke about this principle of plant growth in John 12:24: “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.” That’s the idea we’ve been discussing. I may love the seed I’m holding in my hand, and I want more seeds like it. To do that, however, I must put that seed in soil so it will “die”. Only then will new life spring forth leading to more seeds like it. That’s how gardening works.
Though Jesus spoke truth about an agricultural principle, He wasn’t referring to agriculture; He was referring to what was ahead for Him. In the previous verse Jesus had said, “The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified” (John 12:23). In verse 27 He went on to say, “Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour?’ But for this purpose I came to this hour.” In hindsight we can see that Jesus was referring to His approaching death on the cross.
But how can Jesus’ death be illustrated by planting a seed? Were there several clones of Jesus that arose after His physical body was planted in the grave? No, not that, but here’s how Paul described the effects of Jesus’ death and subsequent resurrection: “But each one in his own order: Christ, the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming” (1 Corinthians 15:23).
Placing Jesus’ lifeless body in the tomb was akin to planting a seed in the ground. Though dead at the time, “it was not possible that He should be held by” death (Acts 2:24). And by coming forth out of the earth, He set in motion the resurrection to life of all who follow in His steps.
Jesus possessed powerful seed when He came to the earth. But that seed had to be planted before its power could be unlocked. Only in this way could we enjoy “newness of life” (see Romans 6:3,4).
Come to the light God offers! Study His word, the Bible. Worship Him in spirit and truth (John 4:24). Get in touch with us if you’d like to discuss these ideas further.
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Copyright, 2026, Timothy D. Hall. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise noted, are from the New King James Version (Copyright, 1990, Thomas Nelson, Inc.).
“LightGrams” is produced by the Central Church of Christ, 2722 Oakland Avenue, Johnson City, Tennessee, 37601, and is written by Tim Hall, minister. It is sent free of charge every Thursday to all who request it. To subscribe or to receive more information, write to “Tim@GraceMine.org” (our E-mail address), to the U.S. mail address above, or call (423) 282-1571.
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