Why must a kernel of wheat be planted and buried in order to reproduce?
A kernel of wheat left in a granary abides alone and never reproduces. It must be planted, meaning buried; then moisture, sunshine, and activity in nature cause it to die and rot, and from that death comes a new green shoot, stem, and many kernels.
Les teaches that Jesus uses a common, everyday example. A kernel of wheat left in a granary will never reproduce; it abides alone. To reproduce, it must be planted, and planting literally means burying it. Through that burial, moisture, sunshine, and all the activity in nature cause the kernel to die and rot. Yet out of that death comes a new green shoot, then a stem, and maybe a hundred kernels. Jesus applied this simple illustration to His own death, burial, and resurrection, spoken just about 48 hours before the cross.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.
More Questions
Why does the kernel of wheat have to fall into the ground and die?
A kernel of wheat that lays by itself has to die before it can bring forth life; if it dies it brings forth much fruit, but if it stays alone it abides alone.