It’s a very strange story, this story from the last week of Jesus’ life.

Jesus is teaching in the temple. He is talking with individuals and debating with crowds. Off to the side, a couple people came up to Philip. “Can you introduce us to Jesus?” they said. Philip went to Andrew and asked for help. Andrew and Philip went to Jesus and asked, “Can those people see you?”

And the answer Jesus gives seems to have absolutely nothing to do with their request.

Nothing.

He doesn’t seem to say yes. He doesn’t seem to say no.

He just talks. And then he stops talking and disappears from the public eye.

It feels like he is ignoring these people who were seeking him. It feels odd. But maybe it’s like a press conference where, rather than taking one last question, the famous person offers a summary.

“Okay everyone. I’ll be meeting with my closest team, but the rest of you aren’t going to see me as a teacher anymore. In fact, the next time you see me, I’ll be lifted up in disgrace. But here’s the last hint I have for you, the last story to figure out.

You understand farming, some of you.

Putting a seed in the ground feels like throwing it away. You bury it and it’s gone. It doesn’t give you that bit of nutrition you think you need.

But if you bury it, it can do what it’s built to do.

It can germinate and grow and in a little while you will see seeds, more than you started with. And if you plant some of those seeds, even more.

And the one seed in a few generations, can fill the whole field AND provide food.

I’m that seed. Buried and bringing life.

But you can be that kind of seed, too.

Stop clinging to what makes you happy or what satisfies your cravings. Stop making choices based on what you want. And make choices to do the things that are for the good of other people.

Follow my example,” Jesus says.  “Follow me.”