Bumper Crop

Bible Reading: John 12:23-33; Galatians 5:22-23

Seth was helping his dad plant watermelon in the garden. He closed his eyes and licked his lips. “I can almost taste it now,” he said.

Dad chuckled. “There’s nothing like planting your own watermelon.” He handed Seth some more seeds. “Here, plant these in the next row.”

As he poked holes in the dirt, Seth furrowed his brows. “Dad, there’s something I’ve been wanting to ask you.”

“Sure, Seth. What is it?”

“Why did Jesus have to die to save us from our sins?” Seth thrust up his hands and shook his head. “I mean, I know why He did it, but couldn’t He have saved us another way that wasn’t so gruesome and painful?”

Dad looked up and gazed across the garden, then stared at the seed in his hand. Finally he answered. “Did you know that in order for you to have the delicious watermelon you love so much, this seed has to die?”

“The seed dies?” asked Seth. “It sounds so brutal.”

“Yes,” said Dad. “When you cover it up with dirt, the first thing it does is go through a dying process, and the outer shell of the seed breaks apart. Then it comes back to life as roots and a shoot sprout from the broken seed and a plant begins to grow. When the plant is fully grown, it begins producing fruit.”

“And you can get several watermelons from just one seed,” said Seth.

Dad nodded. “It’s the same with Jesus. He had to shed His blood and die to take the punishment for our sins so we could live, grow, and bear fruit. Otherwise, we would remain spiritually dead.

“Just like the seed dies so the vine can live and bear fruit,” Seth added.

“You’ve got it,” said Dad. “It’s only because of His death and resurrection that we’re able to have life and serve Him.”

Seth started poking more holes and filling them with six seeds instead of the usual three.

“What are you doing?” Dad asked.

Patting the dirt in place, Seth exclaimed, “I’m digging mass graves for the seeds so they’ll give us a bumper crop!”

Dad laughed. “We’re going to be swimming in watermelon!” – Beth Anne Ingram

How About You?

Have you been made alive in Jesus by accepting what He did for you on the cross? Are you bearing good fruit by showing His love to others? Jesus suffered, died, and rose again so that we could have eternal life with Him, and He fills the lives of those who trust in Him with a bumper crop of spiritual fruit. Trust Him to give you life and make you grow. (To learn more, click the “Good News!” button in the right column of this page.)

Today’s Key Verse: Philippians 1:11 [May you be] filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ. (NIV)

Today’s Key Thought:

Jesus died to give us life