今天，我们将结束这两个月来讨论的题目──「害怕死去的麦子」。在结束以前，让我们再来看看希腊人前来求见耶稣时，耶稣所作出的重大决定的结果。

我们的主看到将有三件事情会发生──首先是这个世界要受审判（约十二31）。这与选择十字架有甚么关系？十字架是世界的审判席，我承认在十字架上的耶稣审判我、定我罪、并挑战我。祂的灵面对世界的罪和苦难，以致我的灵好像风暴中的磁针那样颤抖。在十字架上，祂的爱审判我的恨、我的自私、我渴望只为自己而活的心。祂的舍己激发了我的舍己。

我们的主看到将会发生的第二件事是撒但被战胜：「这世界的王要被赶出去」（约十二31）。祂会推翻撒但，不是借着打碎它的头，而是借着容许撒但来打碎祂的心。第三，祂会令十字架变成磁石，借以吸引万人归向祂：「我若从地上被举起来，就要吸引万人来归我」（约十二32）。祂已经作出了选择──盼望我们也能作出选择。我们不再躺在生命的犁沟的边缘，作一颗「害怕死去的麦子」，而是乐意落到死亡的黑暗隧道中，因为我们知道这样做的时候，我们的死会带出讨神喜悦的生命，是多结果子、有益和丰盛的生命。你害怕死亡吗？不，你应该害怕活着才对。因为生命如果没有经历死亡，是没有价值的生命。

It the close of our meditations we look at the results of the momentous choice Jesus made when the Greeks said: "Sir, we would like to see Jesus."

Our Lord saw that three things would happen: first, the judgment of this world (John 12:31). What did choosing the cross have to do with that? This - the cross is the judgment seat of the world. I confess that the Man on the cross judges me, convicts me, challenges me. His Spirit of facing the world's sin and suffering makes my spirit tremble like a magnetic needle in a storm. At the cross, His love judges my hate, my selfishness, my desire to live only for myself. His self-sacrifice inspires my self-sacrifice.

The second thing our Lord saw would happen was the overpowering of Satan: "Now shall the ruler of this world be cast out" (John 12:31, RSV). He would overthrow Satan, not by breaking his head, but by letting him break His heart. Third, He would make the cross the magnet by which He would draw all people to Himself: "But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself" (John 12:32). His choice was made - and hopefully, ours is also. No longer will we lie on the edge of life's furrow - "a corn of wheat afraid to die" - but willingly roll over into the dark channel of death, knowing, as we do, that from our death will come a life that is well-pleasing to God - fruitful, profitable and productive. Afraid to die? No - afraid to live. For life that is not preceded by death is a life not worth living.