The apple tree
Image by Markus Winkler www.pexels.com
Recently I popped round to see one of my neighbours, and we sat in the garden chatting together.
We sat in the shade of an apple tree, laden with fruit. Many apples had already fallen to the ground, and yet there were still plenty dangling from its branches.
I was offered some of the apples, but declined, as we had already been given a small box full from some other neighbours, who also had a bumper crop of apples.
This year has been very good for apples in our area, and we have enjoyed eating them!
What struck me was the vast amount of fruit from just one tree. Many years ago one small seed was planted and now it has grown and developed and is producing multiple apples.
When Jesus was on the earth he talked about this principle…
“Very 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.”
Jesus, referring to his imminent death, used the illustration of a seed ‘dying’. As it goes into the ground, it transforms into something with the capacity to produce even more seeds – the fruit.
Those listening to Jesus at that time would be fully aware of these basic farming practises, but would not have known the full extent of what Jesus was saying.
The impact of Jesus’ death and resurrection has been fruitful for over 2000 years! Today the global Christian Church is about one third of the entire population. How good is that!
When people become Christians and followers of Jesus, there is a death that takes place. It’s not a physical death, but a dying to the old self, with its ways of thinking and living. As that life dies, Jesus promised that a new life emerges: that person is ‘born again’.
This new person, filled with God’s Spirit, begins to live a new way. God’s internal transformation affects everything, for the better.
This has been true for me, and I see it in the people in our church, and in other Christians I meet.
God bless you :)
Gary Bastin - Hope Community Church leader