Except a corn of wheat shall die, it shall abide alone—
These words begin the law of life, decreed by Heaven’s throne.
But if it die, from death itself the seed of life will spring,
And through the minor chords of death the song of life will ring.
We saw it in the cruel death of Christ upon the cross,
For by His death our hearts were purged from sin’s condemning dross
And we were born anew into the kingdom of God’s Son—
By that which seemed to be defeat, our victory was won!
We saw it in ourselves, when in our Saviour’s death we died,
And daily Christ commands that sinful self be crucified.
And yet that death is not an end—incredible, but true—
For now our Saviour lives in us and gives us life anew!
Now once again we’ve come to face the mystery of death,
For one we love lies silent, having neither life nor breath.
Shall we concede that life is o’er and sorrowfully grieve?
Oh, no! For death’s the door to Heav’n when we His grace receive!
And those of us who sorrow here may rest in comfort sweet
That there will come a time when we again this one will meet;
For, having merely passed beyond the earthly bounds of time,
Our loved one lives with Jesus Christ in peace and joy sublime!
May the sorrow of death be swallowed up in the joy of victory!
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. He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. John 12:24-25
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, Who loved me, and gave Himself for me. Galatians 2:20
And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with Me in Paradise. Luke 23:43
And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:14-16
