How can a seed die, and still become a plant?
For the longest time I drew issue with this language, that a seed would need to die in order to become a plant. Why did I have trouble with this? Mostly because, in my mind, a seed doesn’t die when it becomes a plant. Quite the opposite, in fact; a seed is full of the potential of life (and continues to be so) as it becomes a plant!
The problem, though, was with how I viewed the process. I was looking at it from a very… well, scientific perspective. The seed is planted, it undergoes some sort of process (it varies a little bit on the plant type, but remains essentially the same), and then a sprout appears, and grows into a full fledged plant.
But what of the seed? Can you dig up the plant, and find it’s seed down at the bottom, with plantybits growing from it’s insides? No! It’s essentially died to itself! It ceases to be a seed in order that the plant would live, it can no longer find it’s identity in that of it’s old self, a seed. And in this way, it has died, it has ceased to exist as it’s original self.
It’s become something far different, and lives a new kind of life. From the “potential” of life that is contained within the seed comes a new life, capable of producing fruit. Where a seed cannot produce fruit, it’s plant form can. It can’t do this on it’s own, though, it needs to be planted, nurtured, and nourished.
Some seeds, though, do not ‘die to themselves.’ Perhaps they are rotten, or are lacking some necessary element, be that internal or external (such as fertilizer, soil, or sunlight), or they just don’t take a proper hold in the ground. These seeds do not grow into anything other than themselves, and they are eventually forgotten, lost in the dirt, or thrown into a fire to be burned.
This is seen both in the process of an unbeliever becoming a believer, as well as an Christian who is raised to life in Christ, in the resurrection of the dead.
Do you agree with this observation, or do you see it in a different light?
“35 But someone will ask, “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body do they come?” 36 You foolish person! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. “ – , ESV
“23 Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. “ – , NIV
“13 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. 2 And great crowds gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat down. And the whole crowd stood on the beach. 3 And he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. 5 Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil,6 but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away. 7 Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. 8 Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9 He who has ears, let him hear.”” – , ESV
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35 But someone will ask, “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body do they come?” 36 You foolish person! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. (ESV)
23 And Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 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. (ESV)
13:1 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. 2 And great crowds gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat down. And the whole crowd stood on the beach. 3 And he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. 5 Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, 6 but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away. 7 Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. 8 Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9 He who has ears, let him hear.” (ESV)