Why is sacrifice such an important theme in the Gospel according to John? We're talking about the triumphal entry. Isn't that supposed to be celebratory? Why is Jesus talking about his death again? Why is John juxtaposing the triumphal entry with the grain that falls and dies and Jesus being lifted up? If the grain of wheat does not fall and die, it does not produce life. Paul talks about dying to himself each day (1 Cor. 15:31). New life doesn't come unless the old one has been put to death. We don't enjoy "newness of life" unless we really get this art of dying to self and living to Christ. In v. 17, people are impressed by the resurrection of Lazarus still. Of course, they are! But Jesus turns our attention to death once more.

John and Jesus are persistently putting the death of Jesus in front of us because they don’t want us to miss this fact: We don't get to the resurrection without the death of Jesus Christ. Moreover, once we learn the art of dying to our sinful self, we understand the beauty of living to Christ, and Jesus promises that we will be fruitful when we die to selfish desire and live to Christ!