Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there also will my servant be. The Father will honor whoever serves me. (Jn 12:24-26)
Jesus has spoken in parables about the kingdom using seeds: seeds that are sown in the rocky ground, among the thorns etc, and good seeds are sown while weeds get sown by the enemy, mustard seed etc. All these parables spoke about the kingdom and some values of the kingdom.
Here he gives a one sentence parable (!!!) but directed towards the followers. Seed has to be sown to the ground and get decayed. Fruit is produced only after the decaying of the seed. In the same way life also should be lost if it has to be preserved. Preservation is through losing (destruction).
Follower of Jesus should follow him physically that is move with him or behind him to wherever he goes. Yes a follower has to go to Jerusalem. Service is not doing something in the name of Jesus or for Jesus’ sake rather it is following him. The Father recognizes such a service only.
