Yes—Jesus used the picture of a seed dying in the ground to explain why His own death, burial, and resurrection were necessary.
A kernel of wheat left alone produces nothing, but when it is buried and dies it springs up into new life and much fruit. Jesus applied that directly to Himself, and Paul connects it to believers being planted with Christ and raised to new life (Clips 3, 4, 6, 7).
John 12:24 — Jesus' central statement that a seed must fall into the ground and die to bring forth much fruit.
Romans 6:4-5 — Paul shows the same planting/burial language connecting death and resurrection to the believer.
Jesus used a seed to explain why His death would result in new life. In John 12:24 He said, “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.” The seed is not the point by itself—the dying and the fruit it produces are the lesson. Paul carries the same picture into the believer's union with Christ. Romans 6:4-5 says, “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection.” Scripture therefore links burial and planting to death, and then to resurrection life.
Les Feldick explains that the seed must be taken out of its container and put into the ground where it gets moisture and sunlight. Once planted, the seed for all practical purposes dies, and out of that death comes a new green shoot and eventually much fruit (Clip 3, Clip 4). If a kernel of wheat is left in the granary, it never reproduces, but if it is planted—and thereby buried—it produces perhaps a hundred kernels (Clip 4). Les then shows this was Jesus' own illustration of His death, burial, and resurrection. He also connects it to Romans 6: “unless we have been planted in the likeness of His death... unless we've been buried with Him, we cannot have new life” (Clip 1). In the same way, when Christ died we died; when He was buried we were buried; when He arose we arose out of deadness in the old Adamic sins and into new life (Clip 7). He also sees the principle throughout nature: every springtime, every planting of crops, and every seed that germinates is a constant reminder of the resurrection, because Jesus Himself used that analogy (Clip 5). The whole sphere of springtime is a picture of death, burial, and resurrection (Clip 2).
Jesus said the seed that stays where it is remains alone. It must be put into the ground, receive moisture and sunlight, and die before it can sprout and bring forth fruit. Les says Jesus was using this simple illustration in reference to His own death, burial, and resurrection (Clips 3, 4).
Les ties the planting of a seed directly to Romans 6. He says Paul uses the analogy that unless we have been planted in the likeness of His death—unless we have been buried with Him—we cannot have new life. The tomb is the burial place, and just as Christ was buried and raised, those identified with Him are planted together with Him and will share in His resurrection (Clips 1, 6).
Les points out that the whole system of nature pictures death, burial, and resurrection. Everything that produces seed in the fall drops that seed so it can die and spring up into new life. Every time crops are planted and spring comes, Les says, it is a reminder of the resurrection because Jesus Himself used that seed analogy (Clips 2, 5).
Greeks came to Philip and said, 'Sir, we would see Jesus.' Philip went to Andrew, and Jesus then gave the seed illustration. Les explains that up until His death, burial, and resurrection, Jesus could not be the true object of faith to a Gentile—the seed had to die first before new life and fruit could come (Clips 0, 1).
Greeks Ask to See Jesus
Philip and Andrew are approached by Greeks asking to see Jesus, providing the occasion for Jesus' seed analogy.
Seed Death, New Life, and Gentile Faith
Les connects the buried seed to Romans 6 and says that before Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection He could not be the true object of faith to a Gentile.
Springtime Pictures Death, Burial, Resurrection
Les uses a planted kernel of wheat to show that death comes first, then new life, and says the whole system of springtime pictures death, burial, and resurrection.
The Seed Must Die
Les explains that a kernel of wheat must be removed from its container, placed in the ground, and die before it can sprout new life.
Left Alone vs. Planted
Les says a kernel left in a granary never reproduces, but when planted and buried it rots and dies, and out of that death comes a new shoot with many kernels—Jesus' picture of His own death, burial, and resurrection.
Nature Screams Resurrection
Les sees every springtime and planting as a reminder of the resurrection because Jesus Himself used the seed that must die.
Planted Together in His Death
Les connects the tomb and burial to Romans 6:5—being planted together in the likeness of Christ's death means the old Adam is crucified and resurrection life is ahead.
Christ Died, We Died; Christ Rose, We Rise
Les summarizes the analogy: when Christ died we died, when He was buried we were buried, and when He arose we arose to new life out of deadness in old Adamic sins.
John 12:24: 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.
This is the foundational verse where Jesus uses the seed as a picture of His own necessary death and the fruit it produces.
Romans 6:4: Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Paul connects burial with Christ to resurrection life, matching the seed's burial and new growth.
Romans 6:5: For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
This is the verse Les points to when he says we must be planted in the likeness of Christ's death in order to have new life.
Jesus said a corn of wheat that falls into the ground and dies brings forth much fruit, but if it does not die it abideth alone. Les explains this means the seed must be buried and die before it can produce new life, just as Christ's death and burial led to resurrection and much fruit.
A kernel placed in the ground is buried, dies, and out of that death springs a new plant with many kernels. Jesus used that picture of His own death, burial, and resurrection, and Paul applies the same language to believers in Romans 6—we are buried with Him and raised to new life.
In nature, a seed germinates by dying—it rots and is changed, and from that death comes a new stem and fruit. Les sees this as a constant reminder of resurrection because Jesus Himself used the analogy, and the same principle appears in Romans 6 for the believer.
Watch the Teaching: Redemption Explained: From Law to Grace (Romans 3 & 6)