Christ came as a grain

Truly, truly, I say to you,
Unless the grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies,
it abides alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.
​John 12:24

This “much fruit” became Christ’s increase in resurrection. This increase is the glory into which Christ entered through His death and resurrection (Luke 24:26). The portion from v. 23 of this chapter to the end of ch. 17 is a discourse on the mystery of this glory.

Love the Lord

Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth!
​For your love is better than wine.
​Song of Songs 1:2

The kisses of the mouth are the most intimate kisses. This yearning to be kissed by Christ is a response to Christ’s cheering love, which is better than wine (v. 2b), and to His charming name (equivalent to His person), which is like ointment (the all-inclusive, compound, life-giving Spirit as the realization of Christ’s person — 1 Cor. 15:45; Exo. 30:23-25 and note 251) poured forth with the pleasant fragrance of the anointing oils (v. 3a). No one can resist Christ’s cheering love and His charming person (cf. Matt. 4:18-20).