I’m bad to lose things, y’all.  Believe me, I wish it weren’t true but, sadly, it is.  When I first came to this church, one of the very first things I told Cheryl was that I lose papers all the time.  That if there is anything necessary to keep, she’d better keep it.  Keys?  Oh, I’m horrible with keys, ask Natalie.  In fact, for a while I had a little contraption that linked them to my cell phone via Bluetooth.  Ah, but the batteries ran out and, guess what?  I lost its replacement.  That’s why I’m so grateful that Natalie recently put up a key hanger right by the door.  When I use it, it’s never very hard to find them. 

            Yes, to be sure, I lose a lot of things.

            But my life? 

            Well, I should think it relatively self-explanatory that I wouldn’t want to lose that, right?  But what if I would do so, just by loving it?  Ah, see, that would be a different story, wouldn’t it?

            But that’s exactly what Jesus teaches us in this morning’s reading from the Gospel of John.  This morning I read to you from chapter 12, verses 20-26 – “Now among those who went up to worship at the feast were some Greeks.   So, these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” Philip went and told Andrew; Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. And Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.  If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.

            This morning’s reading from the Gospel of John follows two very significant events which help clarify its meaning.  First, this teaching of Jesus comes soon after he’s resurrected Lazarus, one of his friends and the brother of Mary and Martha.  Remember how He goes out to the cave and summons Lazarus.  That’s he’s been dead over 3 days and probably stinks makes no difference.  Jesus calls Lazarus and he emerges from his tomb, ready to live yet again.  Interestingly, it’s this act, this raising of Lazarus from the dead which draws the intense scrutiny of the religious leaders of the time.  In fact, for bringing Lazarus back to life, the religious authorities begin to actively plot to kill Jesus.

            The other factor to keep in mind when coming into this particular reading in the Gospel of John is that it occurs immediately following Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem.  That is to say that John’s Palm Sunday festivities precede this.  And it’s there that we hear the Pharisee’s lament that “the whole world” has gone after Jesus.

            Which is shown immediately to be true as some Greeks are said to have come to “See” him.

            What Jesus was doing there in Judah was making the world take notice.  Among those, Greeks (Gentiles) who were devoted to God.  They’d heard the stories about Jesus, the healings, the resurrection, and they come to meet Him.  Makes sense, right? 

            But Jesus’ answer to their request?  Doesn’t make sense, not at first it doesn’t, that’s for sure.  He begins by stating that “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.  Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.”