Jesus used the kernel of wheat to teach that He had to die, be buried, and rise again before He could become the object of faith for Gentiles.
Like a seed that must fall into the ground and die before it can bring forth much fruit, Jesus had to experience the cross before salvation could be offered to the whole human race. Les Feldick explains that the Greeks who asked to see Jesus could not have Him as an object of faith until His death, burial, and resurrection had taken place.
John 12:24 — This is the verse where Jesus directly uses the kernel of wheat analogy to answer the Greeks' request to see Him.
John 12:23 — This verse introduces Jesus' statement that His hour of glorification had come, setting up the kernel of wheat teaching.
Romans 6:4-5 — Paul later uses the same planted-seed language to describe the believer's burial with Christ, which Les connects to the analogy.
The Bible records that certain Greeks came up to worship at the feast and said, "Sir, we would see Jesus" (John 12:20-21). Jesus answered, "The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified. 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" (John 12:23-24). The passage shows Jesus responding to the request by speaking of His death and the fruit that would follow. Scripture also presents the same planted-seed picture in Romans 6: "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" (Romans 6:4-5).
Les Feldick explains that the Greeks who came to Philip were Gentiles — most likely curiosity seekers rather than proselytes — who had heard about Jesus' miracles while visiting Jerusalem for the feast. Philip was unsure how to handle the request because Jesus' earthly ministry was almost exclusively to the nation of Israel, with only two exceptions. When Jesus said, "The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified," He was pointing to His crucifixion, which was only a few days in the future. The kernel of wheat was the perfect illustration: a seed left in a granary or sack never reproduces, but once it is buried in the soil and dies, it brings forth new life and much fruit. In the same way, Jesus could not be the object of faith for these Greeks until He had died, been buried, and risen from the dead. His death, burial, and resurrection opened the gospel to the whole human race, not just Israel. Les also applies the analogy to the believer: as Paul writes in Romans 6, unless we are planted in the likeness of His death — buried with Him — we cannot have new life. Every seed planted in a garden, Les says, rehearses the whole plan of salvation.
Les says the Greeks at the feast were Gentiles — probably curiosity seekers who had heard about Jesus and His miracles. Philip did not know how to handle the request because Jesus' three years of earthly ministry were almost exclusively to Israel, with two exceptions. Instead of arranging a meeting, Jesus answered with the kernel of wheat analogy, explaining that He could not yet be the object of faith for Gentiles — that could only happen after His death, burial, and resurrection.
Les explains that when Jesus said, "The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified," He was referring to His coming death, burial, and resurrection, which were only a few days in the future. The seed must be planted and die before it can produce much fruit — so the Son of man must go to the cross before salvation can be extended beyond Israel.
Les takes the analogy further: as a seed is buried and dies before new life appears, so the believer must be planted in the likeness of Christ's death. He references Paul's words in Romans 6 — being buried with Him by baptism into death — and says that unless we have been buried with Him, we cannot have new life. Old Adam is reckoned on the cross, and the moment we believe, the Holy Spirit comes in and dwells with us.
Gentiles Who Came to the Feast
Les explains that the Greeks at the feast were Gentiles — likely curiosity seekers who had heard about Jesus' miracles — and that Philip was unsure how to handle them because Jesus had almost nothing to do with Gentiles during His earthly ministry.
The Seed That Dies Brings New Life
Les teaches that a seed left in a granary never reproduces; it must be buried and die to bring new life. Jesus was referring to His coming death, burial, and resurrection, and He could not be an object of faith for the Greeks until that happened.
Planted in the Likeness of His Death
Les connects the kernel of wheat to Romans 6: unless we have been planted in the likeness of His death — buried with Him — we cannot have new life. Before the cross, Jesus could not be the true object of faith for a Gentile.
John 12:24 Read in Context
Les reads Jesus' answer about the kernel of wheat and explains the natural reality: until a seed is put into the ground, it stays in its container and nothing happens.
The Seed Rehearses the Plan of Salvation
Les emphasizes that Jesus was speaking of His death, burial, and resurrection, and that every time a farmer plants a seed, he is rehearsing the whole plan of salvation.
The Gospel Goes to the Whole Human Race
Les teaches that Jesus' ministry was almost exclusively to Israel, and only after His death, burial, and resurrection does He become the object of faith for the whole human race — including the Gentiles who asked to see Him.
The Seed Dies Before It Can Sprout
Les describes the natural process behind the analogy: a seed must be taken from its container, placed in the ground for moisture and sunlight, and for practical purposes die before it can sprout new life.
Identification With Christ's Death
Les ties the kernel of wheat to the believer's salvation: the Law convicts us as sinners, and the moment we believe, old Adam is reckoned on the cross and the Holy Spirit comes to dwell in us.
John 12:20-21: And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast: The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus.
This is the setting — Greeks request to see Jesus, prompting the kernel of wheat teaching.
John 12:23: And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.
Jesus ties the Greeks' request to His approaching glorification through the cross.
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 kernel of wheat analogy itself, directly answering the question.
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 uses burial-with-Christ language that matches the planted-seed picture.
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:
Being 'planted' in death leads to resurrection life, just like the buried kernel.
Les explains that Jesus was referring to His own coming death, burial, and resurrection. Just as a seed must be buried in the soil and die before it can sprout new life and produce much fruit, Jesus had to experience the cross before salvation could be offered to the whole human race.
Les does not think so. He says they were most likely curiosity seekers — Gentiles visiting Jerusalem who had heard about Jesus and His miracles and wanted to see Him, rather than proselytes.
Les teaches that up until His death, burial, and resurrection, Jesus' ministry was almost exclusively to Israel, with only two exceptions. The kernel of wheat analogy shows that the work of the cross had to be accomplished first — then He could become the object of faith for the whole human race.
Les connects the analogy to Romans 6 — unless we are planted in the likeness of His death, that is, buried with Him, we cannot have new life. The moment we believe, we are identified with Christ's death, where old Adam was reckoned on the cross, and the Holy Spirit comes to dwell in us.
Watch the Teaching: Romans 6 & The Old Man Crucified With Christ — Finally Explained